The PBM black box, Marion County’s dirty air, and the CDC’s vaccine slow-walk

"Nuclear family month" executive order 🙄, vaccine guidance in limbo, and the politicization of NIH grants

HOOSIER HEALTH MATTERS SEASON 2, EPISODE 16 DATE: 6/5/2026 TITLE:  "NUCLEAR FAMILY MONTH" EXECUTIVE ORDER 🙄, MORE VACCINE POLICY CHAOS, AND THE POLITICAL TAKEOVER OF NIH GRANTS 0:00- Intro 1:57- Infant mortality rate for Indiana steady [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/preliminary-data-shows-indiana-infant-mortality-remains-steady-at-record-low-in-2025/?emci=1535a3f1-ec59-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=48c1839a-885a-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=663853] but remains higher than the national rate 3:11- Indiana sues federal government [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/28/rokita-wants-to-block-federal-marijuana-shift/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_indianapolis&stream=top\]over a proposed change to marijuana policy 5:10- June declared "nuclear family month" by Governor Braun, despite the fact that families look a lot of different ways, and only 18% of Hoosier households meet this definition 7:02- Many more tick bites this year so check yourself [https://events.in.gov/event/idoh-release-hoosiers-urged-to-take-precautions-against-tick-borne-disease-as-risk-increases-with-warmer-weather?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_indianapolis&stream=top]  7:49- FSSA halts new ABA provider enrollment [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/indiana-pauses-autism-therapy-provider-signups/?emci=03994d1d-b85e-f111-8fcb-000d3a14b640&emdi=b09abe92-3f5f-f111-8fcb-000d3a14b640&ceid=663853] 8:33- HHS ACIP charter proposal pulled and ACIP is in shambles [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5883776-acip-charter-amendment-error/?emci=685678bb-bf53-f111-8ef3-000d3a14b6d6&emdi=d6af5d12-3b54-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=6522495] 10:30- New federal executive order [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/05/realigning-united-states-core-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-with-best-practices-from-peer-developed-countries/] sets the stage for major vaccine schedule changes 12:14- FDA report: no child deaths associated with COVID vaccine [https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/cidrap-op-ed-manufacturing-scandal-what-fda-s-covid-vaccine-pediatric-death-review] 13:03- Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is the 3rd largest on record (not something to worry about, but not a good situation and any Americans who get ebola will not be treated in the United States (breaking from previous policy) 16:05- National smoking rate down to 9% [https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/smoking/121528?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2026-06-01&mh=1821085f09e8c82b1dc217081194ca6f&zdee=gAAAAABn9my4keDY9LGMf2tjLpT38aZfRaQdK3rkXVLrg2UCQgMyOxEz9JayXVMc23QA_iDwBf8PhxHImUJX8vrs2tGTydN7vA%3D%3D&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Evening%20-%20Randomized%202026-06-01&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition]! 17:13- Proposed rule change [https://elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of-key-changes-in-ombs-proposed?r=4qv3fx&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true] will make devastating changes to research grants in the United States (read the statement by Academy Health [https://academyhealth.org/blog/2026-06/threat-science-keeps-americans-healthy]) 22:37- Go to a pride celebration and join GTC for the annual meeting on Monday June 8th on zoom! 24:23- Wrap up Editing assistance on this episode by Elijah Bosslet Become a member of the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/join-only] (free!) Donate to support the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/donate-and-join] Thanks for listening! Follow us on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/goodtroublein.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goodtroublein/]

USPSTF turmoil, moms.gov propaganda, and modernizing Indiana's HIV laws

HOOSIER HEALTH MATTERS SEASON 2, EPISODE 15 DATE: 5/22/2026 TITLE:  USPSTF TURMOIL, MOMS.GOV PROPAGANDA, AND MODERNIZING INDIANA'S HIV LAWS 0:00- Intro 1:33- Physician in charge of the Hantavirus oubreak [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/05/16/hantavirus-health-brian-christine/90116228007/] has no public health experience but does have a podcast called "The Erection Connection" 2:30- United States Preventative Services Task Force quietly being dismantled [https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/washington-watch/121375] 4:13- Marty Makary resigns as head of FDA [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/12/makary-fda-resign-white-house-00916014]- we now have no CDC director, no FDA director, no surgeon general 5:42- Nicole Saphier, nominee for Surgeon General, is a grifter [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/04/who-is-nicole-saphier-trump-surgeon-general-nomination?emci=991d4ea5-3b4e-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=88ba2ae3-ba4e-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=6522495] 7:10- NIH doesn't have enough grant managers [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01537-1?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cfas&utm_content=newsletter] to pay out all the grants that have been awarded 8:34- Federal government had been holding up immigration visas [https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/workforce/121171?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2026-05-08&mh=1821085f09e8c82b1dc217081194ca6f&zdee=gAAAAABn9my4keDY9LGMf2tjLpT38aZfRaQdK3rkXVLrg2UCQgMyOxEz9JayXVMc23QA_iDwBf8PhxHImUJX8vrs2tGTydN7vA%3D%3D&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Evening%20-%20Randomized%202026-05-08&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition] for doctors but it looks like they are going back on that 9:38- Updates in abortion 12:08- Moms.gov [https://www.moms.gov/] is a really shitty website 14:36- New FSSA plan [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/15/indiana-unveils-medicaid-overhaul-aimed-at-pressuring-hospitals-to-lower-prices/?emci=b67493c8-d24f-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=7394697d-5150-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=663853] to attempt to reign in Indian Healthcare costs is a novel attempt to acheive this 18:30- Thoughts about legalizing marijuana in Indiana may be changing [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/04/29/braun-signals-openness-to-marijuana-legalization-as-outside-report-outlines-policy-considerations/] 19:57- Interview with Dr. Carrie Foote about the HIV Modernization Movement [https://hivmodernizationmovement.org/] to reform scientifically outdated laws that criminalize Hoosiers living with HIV.  35:00- Join Good Trouble for its annual meeting [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/AmXg48cDRnysD_LbncSBIA#/registration] (on Zoom) on June 8! 35:53- Wrap up This episode was edited by Elijah Bosslet. Become a member of the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/join-only] (free!) Donate to support the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/donate-and-join] Thanks for listening! Follow us on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/goodtroublein.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goodtroublein/]

RFK doesn't want you using antidepressants, armed forces no longer require flu vaccine, and Tracey teaches us all about mifepristone

HOOSIER HEALTH MATTERS SEASON 2, EPISODE 14 DATE: 5/8/2026 TITLE:  RFK DOESN'T WANT YOU USING ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ARMED FORCES NO LONGER REQUIRE FLU VACCINE, AND TRACEY TEACHES US ALL ABOUT MIFEPRISTONE 0:00- Intro 1:33- GTC is looking for an executive director!  More info here [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/about/executive-director] 2:11- Casey Means is out for Surgeon General, Nicole Saphier [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/04/who-is-nicole-saphier-trump-surgeon-general-nomination]is in 3:20- 988 Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis, is being reinstated [https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2026/05/05/wisconsin-senator-988-lifeline-lgbtq-] and a JAMA paper shows that it has saved a lot of lives [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2848066] 4:25- RFK, Jr wants people to stop using antidepressants [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/science/rfk-antidepressants-ssris-hhs-maha.html]  5:58- Indiana Medicaid seeking return of $200 million of payments [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/04/23/fssa-seeks-return-of-200-million-in-improper-payments-to-attendant-care-providers/] for attendant care providers 7:40- 400 new FSSA workers [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/04/29/fssa-hiring-400-medicaid-eligibility-checkers-ahead-of-work-requirements/] just to check eligibility with the new rules (holy crap) 9:23- 340B program changes will not apply to FQHC clinics [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/01/health-clinics-exempt-from-drug-discount-rule-change/] (good news) 10:17- Audit of Marion County Office of Public Health and Safety not good [https://mirrorindy.org/indianapolis-office-public-health-safety-ophs-audit-contracts/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_indianapolis&stream=top] 11:12- Indiana drops involvement in lawsuit regarding section 504 [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/indiana-withdraws-from-lawsuit-challenging-federal-disability-protections/?emci=cd7dc611-dc47-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=baca0ec0-7548-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=663853] of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which is good) but for reasons that aren't great 12:04- Pentagon ends requirement [https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4464967/hegseth-flu-vaccine-optional/] for active duty military to be immunized against flu (which is bad policy) 13:37- COVID vaccine paper that HHS would not publish has been leaked and you can read it here [https://insidemedicine.substack.com/api/v1/file/ab3d90bd-5bb8-4b2a-bf5e-0eccb93e0230.pdf] 14:26- Tracey's primer on medication abortion and shenanigans by the 5th circuit [https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/04/politics/supreme-court-abortion-mifepristone?emci=fe89b844-c348-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=cd777fbe-3a49-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=6522495] court of appeals  19:17- Ban on medicaid billing for Planned Parenthood up for grabs in Congress 20:09- Happy National Nurses Week!  And get to know the candidates in your district who won their primaries 21:02- Wrap up Become a member of the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/join-only] (free!) Donate to support the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/donate-and-join] Thanks for listening! Follow us on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/goodtroublein.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goodtroublein/]

The PBM black box, Marion County’s dirty air, and the CDC’s vaccine slow-walk

HOOSIER HEALTH MATTERS SEASON 2, EPISODE 13 DATE: 4/24/2026 TITLE:  THE PBM BLACK BOX, MARION COUNTY’S DIRTY AIR, AND THE CDC’S VACCINE SLOW-WALK 0:00- Intro 2:00- The Good Trouble Coalition is hiring an executive director- look out for an email from GTC! 2:40- Governor Braun moves $200 million to the childcare development fund [https://mirrorindy.org/indiana-to-resume-child-care-vouchers-after-15-month-freeze/] to provide more vouchers for daycare access 4:19- CDC delays release of MMWR report [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/study-covid-vaccine-effectiveness-halted-publication-cdc-rcna341623] outlining COVID vaccine efficacy 5:24- Erica Schwartz nominated [https://www.science.org/content/article/after-long-wait-trump-nominates-cdc-director] to run CDC- most reliable people think she is a good choice 6:33- ACIP charter revised by RFK, Jr [https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/09/new-acip-charter-cdc-vaccine-advisers-rfk-jr-address-legal-defeat/] to allow his "experts" to participate 8:15- RFK, Jr walks back his antivaccine stance to congress 9:54- Trump Administration dropped the court fight [https://jm-aq.com/trump-administration-retreats-on-effort-to-slash-nih-grant-indirect-costs/] over major changes to NIH funding rates 11:15- American Lung Association's State of the Air report [https://www.lung.org/research/sota] demonstrates Marion County failed all measures. Not good. 12:29- Indiana Supreme Court will hear the abortion ban challenge [https://www.wfyi.org/health/2026-04-21/indiana-supreme-court-to-take-up-rfra-based-lawsuit-against-abortion-ban] (and skip the appellate court) 13:15- Louisiana case challenging mifepristone now at the 5th circuit court of appeals and plaintiffs have asked for an injunction [https://lailluminator.com/briefs/murrill-abortion-drug/] on its use without face to face visit 14:42- EPA releases list of Human Health Benchmarks for Pharmaceuticals [https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/2026-human-health-benchmarks-pharmaceuticals-hhb-rx] that includes abortion and oral contraceptive medications 17:43- Interview with Veronica Vernon, Pharmacist and Butler Professor, about Pharmacy Benefit Managers [https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/12/some-inconvenient-truths-about-pharmacy-benefit-managers/?matchtype=&keyword=&cid=21980845176&agid=&device=c&placement=&creative=&target=&adposition=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax-articles-only&utm_term=&utm_content=&hsa_acc=5862992171&hsa_cam=21980845176&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21980847726&gbraid=0AAAAADjVleS7pBjqtkOa2k1eLRu98pPwb&gclid=CjwKCAjwhqfPBhBWEiwAZo196vtCvqxz1ruJDVKA27f6n3RbCdwez0zP-JuN9sJzvesQohgxVW9ykxoClWYQAvD_BwE] and what in the heck they do 35:15- VOTE IN THE PRIMARY 36:06- Wrap up Become a member of the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/join-only] (free!) Donate to support the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/donate-and-join] Thanks for listening! Follow us on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/goodtroublein.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goodtroublein/]

SCOTUS sparks conversion therapy controversy, ideology drives Title X changes, and Indiana’s $207M plan for rural health

HOOSIER HEALTH MATTERS SEASON 2, EPISODE 12 DATE: 4/10/2026 TITLE:  SCOTUS SPARKS CONVERSION THERAPY CONTROVERSY, IDEOLOGY DRIVES TITLE X CHANGES, AND INDIANA’S $207M PLAN FOR RURAL HEALTH 0:00- Intro 1:15 - Join the Good Trouble Coalition Board [https://forms.gle/WYGw4cmTULtmbPzs6] 2:01- SCOTUS rules that Colorado cannot ban conversion therapy [https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/supreme-court-sides-with-therapist-in-challenge-to-colorados-ban-on-conversion-therapy/], but Gabe has complicated thoughts about this ruling 12:01- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library fully funded in all 92 Indiana counties [https://mirrorindy.org/dolly-parton-imagination-library-in-all-92-counties/] 12:40- Tracey explains to all of us what Title X [https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10051]is and why new funding through Title X is bad 15:58- Match day [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match_Day_(medicine)] just passed- we explain what that is and how match results demonstrate the mess that is payment incentives in medicine 21:05- Interview with Cara Veale, the CEO of the Indiana Rural Health Association [https://www.indianaruralhealth.org/] about the Rural Health Transformation Grant 37:17- It is time to vote in the primary- between now and May 5th. Find your ballot and an early voting site at https://indianavoters.in.gov/ 38:38- Wrap up Become a member of the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/join-only] (free!) Donate to support the Good Trouble Coalition [https://www.goodtroubleindiana.org/donate-and-join] Thanks for listening! Follow us on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/goodtroublein.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goodtroublein/]