Volv Concierge #53

Hey fam,

Priyanka here. I’m worried about how close we are to another all-out war in the Middle East. Everyone online is questioning why mainstream media won’t refer to Israel’s device explosions in Lebanon, which also affected the medical community, as “terrorism.” Lebanon seems to have become the new Gaza… Hezbollah has now targeted Israel’s economic center, Tel Aviv, for the first time, and now Israel may be preparing to invade Lebanon. It’s really upsetting…

The other thing everyone is talking about right now is Diddy’s arrest. Resurfaced pics have A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, and Usher struggling to distance themselves from the hip-hop mogul. Eminem and Justin Bieber seem to have hinted at his crimes years ago and we’re just connecting the dots. And now Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher might be getting separated?! Even Jay-Z could be wrangled into the trial. The scandal surrounding his ‘Freak Parties’ also has netizens scratching their heads about why anybody would need 1,000 bottles of lube — even brothels say that’s too much.

Anyway, I’ve got my usual top articles for you this week and a deep dive into Trump’s and Harris’ positions on healthcare (a topic that isn’t getting much attention this election cycle). Stay tuned!

👍👎 What’s trending

What’s in: Gen Z corporate girlies + Moo Deng! + Bros in politics + milk perfumes
What’s out: Pints + weighted blankets + Louis Vuitton and Chanel (in China)

📈 Headlines that caught my eye:

• Israelis are now offering boat tours to view the destruction in Gaza…..

• TikTok admits defeat against Spotify

• ChatGPT is texting users first—and everyone is freaking out

• It's feeling very 2021 in Silicon Valley right now

• A 3-year-old is selling paintings for $300,000

📌 Tips from building Volv: 

There are countless students eager to gain experience. You can leverage this platform to hire interns from various colleges and this to connect with talented high school students. They might be young, but they are proactive and motivated, and that's what matters. It's also great to hear their perspectives and ideas, especially if they are part of your target audience!

✨ Vibes of the week

When I have a lot going on, I find it helpful to play background music while I work (or read). Absolutely no lyrics, I find it distracting. Apparently, this is also a hack for people with ADHD. Here’s my playlist.

I just started reading this book. I need know what the hype is about.

🗞️ Let’s dig into what Trump’s and Harris’ positions are on healthcare

Trump on healthcare when he was president:

1. Trump signed executive orders to lower drug prices and tie Medicare payments for certain drugs to international prices.

2. Trump also signed an executive order making it easier for Americans to access alternative policies that have lower premiums than Affordable Care Act plans – but in exchange for fewer protections and benefits such as access to short-term health plans.

3. Trump tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), but the Senate rejected this.

4. He wanted to replace it with the American Health Care Act (ACHA), which would have amended Medicaid eligibility and weakened protections for those with preexisting conditions.

5. Increased Medicare premiums for higher-income beneficiaries.

6. Signed the bipartisan No Surprises Act into law, protecting patients from unexpected medical bills when receiving out-of-network care unknowingly.

7. His administration challenged anticompetitive behavior, including healthcare mergers.

Trump’s current position on healthcare:

1. Has called ACA “lousy” and vowed to “never give up” in his attempt to repeal it.

2. Said he has the “concepts” of a plan to replace Obamacare.

3. Claims his plan would cost less and provide better care — but did not provide any details.

4. His campaign website says he would continue his earlier efforts regarding surprise medical bills, price transparency, and prescription drug prices.

5. Proposes to sign an executive order to establish international reference pricing for prescription drugs.

6. Trump would veto a federal law banning abortion. Trump thinks that each individual state should set their own laws on abortion. Regarding IVF treatments, Trump has proposed that the government or insurance companies cover IVF costs. This could be a significant benefit to individuals and families dealing with infertility.

Kamala Harris’ position on healthcare:

1. As California AG, she has taken on insurance companies and Big Pharma, getting them to lower prices.

2. She cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which allowed Medicare to negotiate the price of some prescription drugs for the first time in history. She supported expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing benefits, though this wasn’t ultimately included in the Act.

3. She has previously championed Congressional bills to improve pregnancy care and reduce racial and ethnic disparities.

4. The Biden-Harris administration enacted the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), temporarily expanding eligibility for and increasing ACA Marketplace subsidies.

5. The administration fixed the ‘family glitch,’ allowing dependents of people with unaffordable employer-based family coverage to receive ACA subsidies.

6. She has promised to make affordable healthcare a right by expanding ACA.

7. Wants to make permanent the Biden-Harris tax credit enhancements that are lowering health care premiums for millions.

8. She cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which allowed Medicare to negotiate the price of some prescription drugs for the first time in history.

9. The IRA also insulin prescriptions at $35 and capped out-of-pocket costs at $2,000

10. Harris seeks to build on the current administration’s success in lowering the cost of lifesaving prescription drugs.

11. Promises to work with states to cancel medical debt for more Americans.

That’s it, for today. If somebody you know sent you this newsletter, make sure you sign up here. I’d also love to hear your feedback, so please do share it with us.

This newsletter was edited by Ishita Sen. 

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