Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 18/05/2026i would like to have a serious sit-down discussion with the past version of myself who was really into accessorizing with newsboy-style hats bc she haunts all my social media memories 000
Reposted by Nicole OrtizBen Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 19/03/2026This is a pretty incredible mission statement for a working journalism company. 20122689
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 11/02/2026Another year of me incorrectly thinking I'm done covering the Super Bowl, because this year was all about the pharma ads—particularly for GLP-1s. But if it continues in future games all comes down to how TV advertising regulations pan out. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2026...healthcare-brew.comBig Pharma tackles Super Bowl advertisingThis year’s game was punctuated by more pharma commercials, though some experts wonder if regulations might squash that momentum. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 28/01/2026In January alone, the Big 3 insurers who own PBMs—UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, and CVS—were grilled by Congress for vertical integration practices as a bipartisan spending bill calling for greater transparency advanced. Here's my latest: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2026...healthcare-brew.comNew year, continued legislation against PBMsA new bipartisan spending bill looks to create greater transparency within the PBM space. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 23/01/2026I wrote about the NYC nurses strike happening now with 15,000 @nynurses.bsky.social from some Montefiore, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Mount Sinai facilities. Negotiations are still ongoing, and only complicated by today's uncertain healthcare landscape. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2026...healthcare-brew.comNYC nurses, hospital leaders continue to clash in ongoing strikesNegotiations stall as execs find union requests to be “unrealistic” and union members see execs as “greedy.” 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 18/12/2025I wrote a story for the @timesunion.com about how real estate has changed in New York's Hudson Valley region since the Covid-19 pandemic—both for buyers, who are proving more cautious, and sellers, who are trying (and sometimes failing) to break even. www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...timesunion.comAs pandemic boom fades, some Hudson Valley sellers are left waitingWhile some who bought in 2020 and 2021 are trying to sell at those prices, many are holding out for stability. 010
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 15/12/2025I spoke with @elilillyandcompany.bsky.social and Bain Capital about the pharma giant's sustainability efforts and how those help contribute toward making pharmaceuticals—which don't have the best environmental track record—a little greener. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comA look into Eli Lilly’s sustainability efforts and what it suggests about the trend in Big PharmaLeaders in pharma are collaborating on efforts like reprocessing and securing greener supply chains. 021
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 25/11/2025Since mass layoffs left 10,000+ federal health agency staffers unemployed earlier this year, Fired But Fighting (underneath the umbrella of the National Public Health Coalition) has been, well, fighting back. I spoke with exec directors about its mission. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comNonprofit of fired HHS workers advocates for better public health policy, change on a federal levelThe volunteer-run National Public Health Coalition provides resources, calls to action, and more to bridge the divide between federal workers and the public. 020
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 19/11/2025I spoke with community-centric nonprofit Mixteca in Brooklyn about how it's working with Mexican, Latino, and Hispanic immigrants to provide care through a mobile unit and onsite testing. See my story here: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comNonprofit helps make receiving care a little less overwhelming for Hispanic, Latino immigrantsMixteca provides a mobile unit for women’s health care and helps community members get enrolled in NYC Care coverage. 030
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 05/11/2025The Trump admin and HHS are pushing Kenvue to update Tylenol's safety label to include info about a potential link to autism if used by pregnant people. But researchers and trade orgs say this lacks scientific evidence and causes "unnecessary anxiety." www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comResearchers, trade orgs speak out against Tylenol, autism linkMost recently, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared to walk back some of his prior assertions. 020
Reposted by Nicole OrtizHealth Care Without Harm U.S. & Canada @us.noharm.org · 14/10/2025From Healthcare Brew: Dr. @lisapatel.bsky.social of @docsforclimate.bsky.social says health systems must leverage their voice in clean energy policy decisions—"it both affects their operations and it affects the health of their populations." Read more: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comCommonwealth Fund ranks which states are best, worst for health and climate change preparationRegions prone to extreme weather events like heat waves, hurricanes, and severe winter weather scored the worst. 133
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 14/10/2025A September study from @commonwealthfund.org ranked states on how prepared they are for extreme weather events and resulting healthcare needs across things like air quality, extreme heat, and flood risk. I wrote about what that might mean for providers. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comCommonwealth Fund ranks which states are best, worst for health and climate change preparationRegions prone to extreme weather events like heat waves, hurricanes, and severe winter weather scored the worst. 010
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 07/10/2025The University of California, Irvine Health will be opening its new all-electric hospital on Dec. 10, which it says is the first facility in the US that doesn't use natural gas at all. This even includes having electric-only appliances in its kitchen. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comUCI Health’s new all-electric hospital reinforces system’s commitment to sustainabilityThe facility focuses on reducing its direct carbon emissions by cutting reliance on fossil fuels. 082
Reposted by Nicole OrtizPractice Greenhealth @practicegreenhealth.org · 29/09/2025As #ClimateWeekNYC wraps, #HealthCare proves #Sustainability is smart for the planet & business. 🏥💚 Highlights from our Benchmark Report trends analysis + @nicoleortiz.bsky.social Healthcare Brew story: ✅ $203M saved ✅ 185K MT GHG avoided ✅ 140% ↑ in resilience ✅ 50% cutting plastic 101
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Nonprofits Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth recently released their annual trend report on sustainability initiatives. What the report found was, despite changes on a federal level, hospital leaders are still committed to these initiatives. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comTrend report suggests sustainability is still important to hospital leadersDespite changes in the federal government, some health systems are committing to sustainability initiatives and reaping cost-savings. 021
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 22/09/2025It probably doesn't surprise anyone to hear that healthcare has a huge single-use plastic problem. But a recent survey shows just how bad it is—as well as estimations on how much worse it can get. I wrote about study findings below. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comNew study analyzes plastic waste in healthcare, suggests potential solutionsResearchers estimate plastic waste could increase 35%–40% by 2040 if things remain the same. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 10/09/2025Serena Williams is mostly known for being the GOAT in tennis, but recently, she also became known as a satisfied GLP-1 user. I spoke with Ro about its new partnership and influencer marketing agency Obviously about how Big Pharma's marketing might evolve. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comSerena Williams as Ro’s celeb ambassador could mark ‘a big shift’ in pharma advertisingPharma isn’t known for big-name celebrity appearances, but Ro’s approach could change the landscape. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 27/08/2025Americares is awarding grants to 13 free clinics and community health centers to help them buy supplies to combat extreme heat. The nonprofit is also awarding an additional eight grants so facilities can get supplies when extreme heat is forecasted. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comAmericares provides grants to help 13 clinics, community health centers combat extreme heatAs temperatures climb due to climate change, patients are at an increased risk for heat-related illness or death. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 09/07/2025I went to my first #upfronts this year for healthcare company PatientPoint. Though it didn't have the usual excitement of more traditional presentations, it did have influencer Dr. Mike and a pitch on why Big Pharma might want to advertise on its screens. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comThis healthcare company takes part in marketing upfronts. Is it working?PatientPoint is using the TV industry’s favorite pitch forum—upfronts week—as a marketing tool. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 25/06/2025ICYMI: I looked at what Iowa's new law against pharmacy benefit managers means for the major players CVS Caremark, United's Optum Rx, and Cigna's Express Scripts. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comLeading PBMs face increasing scrutiny from statesIowa is the latest to impose limits on how PBMs can operate in the state. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 21/05/2025I spoke with Mount Sinai's environmental chair and Health Care Without Harm about the potential long-term impacts of research and staffing cuts that have been happening since January. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comExperts outline potential long-term impacts of environmental health research, staffing cutsFunding for research was already slow, but recent layoffs and grant cancellations could make for an even longer process. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 12/05/2025President Trump signed an executive order this morning saying he would cut drug prices to compete with the lower costs other countries offer. So far, the response from the healthcare industry has been mixed. Read more in my story below. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comTrump signs EO to lower drug prices, industry response is mixedPharma companies love the news, but analysts express concern over how it may impact payers and hospitals. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 08/05/2025Another update on Optum's "corporate takeover" in the Hudson Valley: NY Congressman Pat Ryan organized an inquiry into patient care after receiving complaints from Optum patients, which he's sent to the FTC, DOJ, and HHS for further investigation. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comOptum faces legislative pushback in Hudson Valley regionNew York representatives are speaking out about the health system’s prior acquisitions and quality of patient care. 000
Reposted by Nicole OrtizJosh Sternberg @joshsternberg.com · 17/04/202515 years ago, we got the Affordable Care Act. Seems like every year, GOP politicians try to scale it back. Now, that may just happen. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comHow the ACA has transformed healthcare—and what its future may holdMassive federal budget cuts spell uncertainty for the ACA. 074
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 23/04/2025Excited to share that I'll be at this year's Association of Health Care Journalists conference (with the ENTIRE Healthcare Brew team!) as one of the New York Health Journalism fellows. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 01/04/2025Healthcare Brew is an honoree for this year's Webby Awards in the Websites and Mobile Sites - Health, Wellness and Lifestyle category. 🔥 vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting... So, why don't ya just subscribe already so you can say you knew us when?!? 👉🏼 www.healthcare-brew.com/subscribehealthcare-brew.comHealthcare Brew | SubscribeHealthcare Brew covers pharmaceutical developments, health startups, the latest tech, and how it impacts hospitals and providers to keep administrators and providers informed. 000
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 11/03/2025Walgreens announced it will sell to private equity firm Sycamore Partners last week, ending a will they/won’t they speculation that’s been going on since December. I spoke to experts about what it means for retail pharma and PE in healthcare overall. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comWalgreens sells to private equity firm Sycamore PartnersAfter some will they/won’t they speculation, the sale officially went through on March 6. 021
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 06/03/2025Later today, I’ll be serving as a part of the Media Jury in the Connect: Smart Health virtual pitch panel, where I’ll be judging health tech startups as they pitch their ventures. Excited to see what these startups bring to the table! 010
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Guess I can’t escape writing about #SuperBowlLIX ads even if I’m not reporting on marketing! Lawmakers and health advocates have called on the FDA to remove Hims & Hers’ 60-second spot for potentially “misleading patients.” www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...healthcare-brew.comLawmakers, health experts call on FDA to pull Hims & Hers Super Bowl adAdvocacy group and bipartisan letters urged the FDA to take action and pull the ad from running during Sunday’s game. 031
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 24/01/2025I attended a town hall where 1199SEIU workers from Optum and Summit Health discussed the "corporate takeover" of Hudson Valley facilities. Attendees on the call discussed their own personal experiences and workplace experiences that affect patient care. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025....healthcare-brew.comHudson Valley officials, hospital union discuss ‘corporate takeover’United Healthcare Workers East discussed workplace changes following Optum and Summit Health acquisitions. 010
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 24/01/2025I was a guest on @onepitchsaas.bsky.social's Coffee With a Journalist podcast where I discussed what sorts of pitches I'm looking for (and not looking for!) at Healthcare Brew. Find the full convo here: blog.onepitch.co/coffee-with-....blog.onepitch.coCoffee with a Journalist: Nicole Ortiz, Morning Brew, IncNicole Ortiz is a Healthcare Editor at Morning Brew, Inc. Nicole shares insights on her editorial preferences, well-researched pitches that correctly target her current role at Healthcare Brew, and ti... 010
Reposted by Nicole OrtizEric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 10/01/2025The letter signed by >15,000 physicians re: RFK Jr www.documentcloud.org/documents/25... 782400540
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 09/01/2025A yearlong Senate investigation concluded that PE-backed hospitals prioritized investment payouts over patient care. The report focused on PE firms Apollo Global Management and Leonard Green & Partners (LGP). My story for Healthcare Brew here: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025....healthcare-brew.comSenate report says PE-backed hospitals prioritize profit over patientsPrivate equity firms Apollo Global Management and Leonard Green & Partners were the focus of the report. 010
Nicole Ortiz @nicoleortiz.bsky.social · 21/11/2024the other day i watched a mouse eat pasta in a tiktok, and that inspired me to change my dinner plans and order pasta for dinner. anyway, i guess this is my first bluesky ... post? tweet? what are we calling these things? 470