Lown Institute

11/14/2025

We're thrilled to announce Dr. Bayo as a guest host of the 2025 Shkreli's, the Lown Institute’s annual award show calling out the worst examples of greed and dysfunction in health care!

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell is the Medical Director for Saint Mary’s Urgent Care Group and the Washoe County Sexual Assault Response Team in Reno, NV, and the founder/CEO of the Beyond Clinic Walls podcast. She's also active on TikTok and hosts a "hot takes" series on Youtube where she digs into health care topics of the day. At her core, she's an advocate dedicated to helping you get the care you deserve with confidence, joy, and the knowledge that your voice matters.

Grab your virtual seat and join Dr. Bayo at this year's Shkreli awards on Thursday, December 11 at 1pm (ET)!

Don't wait! Register @ lowninstitute.org/shkrelireg

11/13/2025

Every year we hold the Shkrelis, an awards show where we shine a light on the worst in profiteering and dysfunction in healthcare. Ahead of this year’s event on Thursday, December 11, we’re revisiting some the past winners who reappeared in headlines this year.

Check out the Shkreli class reunion @ lowninstitute.org/ShkreliWATN

11/11/2025

The Shkreli Awards are coming early this year! On Thursday, December 11 at 1pm, we'll be hosting our annual roast of the most shameless behavior in healthcare. It's cathartic. It's pointed. It shines a bright light where it's needed most.

Here's what to expect:
- The top ten list of 2025’s most egregious stories
- Sharp commentary from Lown Institute hosts and special guests
- An open chat where you can join in the fun

Find out this year’s top ten winners live at our webinar on Thursday, December 11 at 1 pm.

Don't wait! Get your virtual seat @ https://ow.ly/4tZK50XpH6p

11/07/2025

A North Carolina woman's doctor referred her to a rheumatologist, but she never received care because the receptionist wouldn’t let her see a doctor due to unpaid bills. Interviewed by WOSC-9 about the rising trend of providers refusing to provide care due to outstanding bills, Lown Institute president Dr. Vikas Saini said “I think at the end of the day, there is a question, if you’re making money and you’re making a living, you know, how much is enough? At what point would you be willing to say, listen, we can cut you a break.”

Read more @ https://ow.ly/Ltjv50XnflH

11/06/2025

Primary care is the bedrock of a good health care system, but getting a new patient appointment can take weeks, if not months. To understand how serious this access issue has become, Lown Institute researchers reached out to primary care offices affiliated with hospitals in the greater Boston region to try to schedule a new patient appointment.

We called 86 hospitals and primary care offices to see how long it would take to get a new patient appointment. Here's what we found.

11/05/2025

Lown Institute Director of Research, Data Science Kelsey Chalmers spoke on the Fostering Health Equity through Health Administration panel at the 2025 annual conference. Pictured left to right: Kelsey, Moyouri Bhattacharjee @ SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, School of Public Health, Swapna Reddy @ ASU Health, Mirna Amaya @ Cornell University, Abigail Wong @ The University of Chicago, and Pavani Rangachari @ University of New Haven.

Learn more about the panel discussion @ https://apha.confex.com/apha/2025/meetingapp.cgi/Session/72814

11/03/2025

Lown Institute president Dr. Vikas Saini was interviewed in the Houston Chronicle about efforts in Congress to fast-track the approval of new Cancer detection tests by bypassing the usual years-long review process. But these tests are unproven and could skyrocket Medicare costs. Furthermore, some of those behind the push are receiving huge campaign donations from the makers of these same tests.

Read more @ https://ow.ly/IZfY50XlNm1

10/28/2025

U.S. hospitals performed more than 200,000 unnecessary back surgeries on Medicare beneficiaries. That’s one low-value back procedure every 8 minutes. Check out this video to see which states & hospitals ranked the highest in this form of medical overuse.

Check out Lown Institute’s video.

10/24/2025

These hospitals excel at avoiding unnecessary with overuse rates below half the national average.

These hospitals are bucking the trend of back surgery overuse with rates below 5% for both spinal fusion and vertebroplasty.

10/22/2025

How did your local hospital rank on the list for spinal fusion overuse? Check out our new report and find out at lowninstitute.org/overuse.

10/17/2025

How did your state rank on the list for spinal fusion overuse? Check out our new report and find out at lowninstitute.org/overuse.

10/15/2025

Last week, we launched our report about the prevalence of back surgery overuse in the U.S. Check out our latest blog post to see our key takeaways - including the best /worst hospitals & states for overuse - the factors driving these surgeries, & potential solutions.

Watch the video recording and see our key takeaways from the latest Lown Institute event on back surgery overuse.