Feb 21, 2026

1. Subject: The dark side of VIP medicines

   Sender: newsletter@kevinmd.comD

   Summary: This newsletter from KevinMD explores how the pressure to satisfy wealthy patients in VIP medical care contributes to the opioid crisis through overprescribing and physician moral injury. Additional features include discussions on physician obesity affecting patient care, misleading low-calorie food marketing, reflections on a new attending physician’s first week, lessons in practice-building, addressing patient suicide impact, leadership through mentorship, fostering trust in healthcare AI, embracing ordinary joy to combat burnout, focal therapy for prostate cancer, and a medical student’s experience in Tanzania demonstrating healthcare disparities. The issue encourages staying informed with various insights and stories.

2. Subject: 🏥 Mass General’s 2025 in 5 Charts

   Sender: hospitalogy@workweek.comD

   Summary: This detailed analysis of Mass General Brigham’s (MGB) 2025 performance highlights MGB as a large academic medical center facing multiple challenges such as regulatory scrutiny, operational inefficiencies, the end of its Dana-Farber cancer care partnership, and rising pharmacy revenues linked to specialty drug use. MGB is growing its provider-sponsored plan membership, hospital-at-home program, and contending with rising labor and supply costs. Despite financial pressures, MGB maintains a strong balance sheet, navigates regulatory constraints, and continues restructuring efforts including clinical integration. The newsletter invites feedback from those familiar with MGB or the Massachusetts healthcare market.

3. Subject: Issue 107 of Happiful magazine is here

   Sender: hello@happiful.comD

   Summary: Happiful’s February 2026 digital issue encourages readers to live intentionally and break free from rigid routines by embracing rest, pursuing passions without guilt, and seeking personal fulfillment. The editor’s letter highlights topics such as listening to one’s body, stepping off the beaten path, cultivating a growth mindset at any age, and making time for joy and self-care. Happiful offers science-backed wellbeing articles, expert advice, journaling pages, and monthly subscriber rewards. The issue champions defining a life well-lived on one’s own terms.

4. Subject: Influencers’ hot new wellness drug? Nicotines

   Sender: newsletter@statnews.comD

   Summary: This STAT newsletter examines the emerging trend of wellness influencers promoting nicotine as a natural stimulant and nootropic akin to caffeine, despite its addictive nature and limited evidence for health benefits. It also reports on FDA’s increased scrutiny of SSRIs used during pregnancy and RSV monoclonal antibodies following safety concerns under new leadership. The newsletter covers shifting NIH funding models involving state governments, a postponed federal vaccine advisory committee meeting amid political tensions, and an ethical debate on AI outperforming clinicians in medical diagnostics. Additional science, policy, and health news round out the issue.

5. Subject: ⚕️ Medicare Advantage’s futures

   Sender: caitlin@axios.comD

   Summary: Axios’s in-depth report discusses Medicare Advantage’s (MA) changing landscape amid proposals to freeze MA payment rates in 2027, which insurers warn will force benefit cuts or premium hikes. The program faces a “market correction” after years of rapid growth and generous federal payments. Analysts note that although some supplemental benefits are being reduced, many enrollees still gain value, and the program remains broadly stable. The report contrasts MA benefits with traditional Medicare’s gaps, highlights insurer withdrawal from some markets causing coverage disruptions, and discusses implications for seniors and future health plan options.

6. Subject: The “godfather of biotech” and more at Breakthrough Easts

   Sender: marketing@statnews.comD

   Summary: Announcing the STAT Breakthrough Summit East on March 19, 2026, in New York City (and online), this newsletter invites readers to join a premier biotech event featuring Stelios Papadopoulos, dubbed “the godfather of biotech,” alongside former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, social media health misinformation fact-checkers, leading neuroscience drug developers, and top R&D leaders from prominent biopharma companies. The summit will also include an interview with CMS’s deputy administrator. The email encourages early registration as passes are limited.

7. Subject: ‘Universal’ vaccine protects mice from multiple pathogenss

   Sender: briefing@nature.comD

   Summary: Nature’s briefing highlights breakthrough research showing a nasal-spray vaccine that activates the innate immune system to protect mice against diverse viral, bacterial pathogens, and allergens for months, potentially paving the way for a universal vaccine in humans. Additional news covers a blood test that may predict Alzheimer’s onset via abnormal tau protein levels, the Trump administration’s nominee for NSF leadership who breaks precedent as a non-scientist, and how increasing global military budgets might steer science funding priorities. The edition also features stories on AI hiring humans for tasks, data storage innovations, and scientific insights into laughter.

Stay Well!