Dr. Joseph Varon: Who Is Actually Practicing Medicine? When the Insurance Company Becomes the Doctor
Doctors remain responsible for their patients—but increasingly, insurers, prior authorization systems, and algorithms can determine whether the care they recommend actually happens. In a new article, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon asks a fundamental question: If physicians are accountable for patient outcomes, shouldn’t they also have a real say in treatment decisions?
Read now: https://imahealth.org/who-is-actually-practicing-medicine-when-the-insurance-company-becomes-the-doctor/
Doctors remain responsible for their patients—but increasingly, insurers, prior authorization systems, and algorithms can determine whether the care they recommend actually happens. In a new article, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon asks a fundamental question: If physicians are accountable for patient outcomes, shouldn’t they also have a real say in treatment decisions?
Read now: https://imahealth.org/who-is-actually-practicing-medicine-when-the-insurance-company-becomes-the-doctor/
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LIVE TONIGHT! Oral Medicine: The Missing Link in Whole-Body Health
On tonight's show, IMA Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole will be joined by IMA Senior Fellow, Dentistry and Nutrition Dr. Jennifer Hibberd for an important discussion on the connection between oral and whole-body health—and why what happens in the mouth shouldn’t be treated separately from the rest of the body. Wednesday, September 2nd at 7pm ET.
Ways to watch:
• Register to watch live on Zoom: https://geni.us/register-for-webinars
• Livestream on X: https://x.com/Honest_Medicine
• Livestream on Rumble: https://geni.us/IMA-Rumble-Sep2
• Livestream on YouTube: https://geni.us/IMA-YT-Sep2
On tonight's show, IMA Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole will be joined by IMA Senior Fellow, Dentistry and Nutrition Dr. Jennifer Hibberd for an important discussion on the connection between oral and whole-body health—and why what happens in the mouth shouldn’t be treated separately from the rest of the body. Wednesday, September 2nd at 7pm ET.
Ways to watch:
• Register to watch live on Zoom: https://geni.us/register-for-webinars
• Livestream on X: https://x.com/Honest_Medicine
• Livestream on Rumble: https://geni.us/IMA-Rumble-Sep2
• Livestream on YouTube: https://geni.us/IMA-YT-Sep2
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The Health Freedom Movement Is Here to Stay
A new Axios article, 𝟣 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘔𝘈𝘏𝘈 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘍𝘒 𝘑𝘳., examines whether the ideas behind MAHA will endure beyond RFK Jr.—and why demands for greater transparency, accountability, and scrutiny of medical institutions are likely to remain part of the national conversation.
IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon weighs in on why the health freedom movement is only gaining momentum. Read now: https://geni.us/axios-future-of-health
A new Axios article, 𝟣 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘔𝘈𝘏𝘈 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘍𝘒 𝘑𝘳., examines whether the ideas behind MAHA will endure beyond RFK Jr.—and why demands for greater transparency, accountability, and scrutiny of medical institutions are likely to remain part of the national conversation.
IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon weighs in on why the health freedom movement is only gaining momentum. Read now: https://geni.us/axios-future-of-health
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CIA Records: Officials Privately Cited Far Higher COVID Infection & Far Lower Fatality Risk, Then Followed the Pharma Playbook Anyway
FULL STATEMENT: Washington, DC – The Independent Medical Alliance (IMA), the nation’s largest coalition of independent physicians, researchers, and clinicians, today called for a formal investigation into newly released records from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) showing that senior officials privately acknowledged, as early as May 2020, that COVID-19 had already spread far more widely than the public was told, thereby collapsing the fatality assumptions used to justify historic lockdowns, school closures, mask dictates, and later mRNA shot mandates. 1/2
FULL STATEMENT: Washington, DC – The Independent Medical Alliance (IMA), the nation’s largest coalition of independent physicians, researchers, and clinicians, today called for a formal investigation into newly released records from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) showing that senior officials privately acknowledged, as early as May 2020, that COVID-19 had already spread far more widely than the public was told, thereby collapsing the fatality assumptions used to justify historic lockdowns, school closures, mask dictates, and later mRNA shot mandates. 1/2
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The records also place a sitting Pfizer director inside the room briefing decision-makers.
“How much worse does this have to get before someone is held to account?” asked Dr. Joseph Varon, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer. “Officials had data showing the virus was already widely circulating and far less lethal than the models they released to the public. They buried that reality, kept the emergency machinery running, and cleared a path for a product that made pharmaceutical companies billions.”
“I can tell you that, on the ground we were seeing numbers far different than the ‘experts’ were spouting on cable news,” said Dr. Varon, who spent 715 consecutive days treating COVID patients at a hospital with one of the nation’s highest survival rates.
On May 7, 2020, CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis led a briefing with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, member of the CIA’s External Advisory Board, and, by then, a director of Pfizer, which stood to gain billions of dollars with the mRNA shot.
The Agency’s summary of the meeting, classified for more than six years until Sen. Paul’s August 29, 2026 release, states that, on ‘herd immunity,’ Dr. Gottlieb discounted 2 early major studies from Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties, including one led by now NIH Director Dr. Jay Battacharya, showing much higher early rates of seroprevalence and much lower risk of mortality.
But Gottlieb then says that he believes nationally, the seroprevalence is “about 20–25%” which, in his opinion, was “still insufficient for herd immunity at the R₀ (BRR) value of 3.” That private figure is four to five times higher than what Dr. Gottlieb was telling the public at the same time. On April 17, 2020, he estimated a national infection rate of about 5 percent. In an August 2020 CBS News appearance, he cited roughly 8 percent. The classified number was never shared with the families whose lives were being reordered by policy.
“If twenty-five percent of the country had already been infected by early May 2020, then official infection-fatality models used to lock down cities, empty classrooms, and later compel an mRNA product were dramatically overstated,” said Dr. Varon. “Herd immunity was building fast, but the big pharma PR machine and product pipeline was building faster.”
By the time the shots were rolled out in December 2020, months of additional spread had almost certainly pushed population immunity even higher.
The Santa Clara County study led by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, released in April 2020, had already shown local seroprevalence far above case counts and an infection fatality rate far below early official projections. A similar Los Angeles County finding pointed the same way. At a basic reproduction number of 3, classical herd-immunity thresholds sit near two-thirds of the population.
“Transparency and honest medicine took a back seat,” Dr. Varon said. “Congress should follow Sen. Paul’s record where it leads: who knew the infection-fatality picture was overstated, who decided the public would not hear it, and who stood to gain from keeping the country on a pharmaceutical footing.” 2/2
“How much worse does this have to get before someone is held to account?” asked Dr. Joseph Varon, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer. “Officials had data showing the virus was already widely circulating and far less lethal than the models they released to the public. They buried that reality, kept the emergency machinery running, and cleared a path for a product that made pharmaceutical companies billions.”
“I can tell you that, on the ground we were seeing numbers far different than the ‘experts’ were spouting on cable news,” said Dr. Varon, who spent 715 consecutive days treating COVID patients at a hospital with one of the nation’s highest survival rates.
On May 7, 2020, CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis led a briefing with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, member of the CIA’s External Advisory Board, and, by then, a director of Pfizer, which stood to gain billions of dollars with the mRNA shot.
The Agency’s summary of the meeting, classified for more than six years until Sen. Paul’s August 29, 2026 release, states that, on ‘herd immunity,’ Dr. Gottlieb discounted 2 early major studies from Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties, including one led by now NIH Director Dr. Jay Battacharya, showing much higher early rates of seroprevalence and much lower risk of mortality.
But Gottlieb then says that he believes nationally, the seroprevalence is “about 20–25%” which, in his opinion, was “still insufficient for herd immunity at the R₀ (BRR) value of 3.” That private figure is four to five times higher than what Dr. Gottlieb was telling the public at the same time. On April 17, 2020, he estimated a national infection rate of about 5 percent. In an August 2020 CBS News appearance, he cited roughly 8 percent. The classified number was never shared with the families whose lives were being reordered by policy.
“If twenty-five percent of the country had already been infected by early May 2020, then official infection-fatality models used to lock down cities, empty classrooms, and later compel an mRNA product were dramatically overstated,” said Dr. Varon. “Herd immunity was building fast, but the big pharma PR machine and product pipeline was building faster.”
By the time the shots were rolled out in December 2020, months of additional spread had almost certainly pushed population immunity even higher.
The Santa Clara County study led by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, released in April 2020, had already shown local seroprevalence far above case counts and an infection fatality rate far below early official projections. A similar Los Angeles County finding pointed the same way. At a basic reproduction number of 3, classical herd-immunity thresholds sit near two-thirds of the population.
“Transparency and honest medicine took a back seat,” Dr. Varon said. “Congress should follow Sen. Paul’s record where it leads: who knew the infection-fatality picture was overstated, who decided the public would not hear it, and who stood to gain from keeping the country on a pharmaceutical footing.” 2/2
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Chatbots, Isolation & Teen Mental Health: What Parents Need to Know
As more teens turn to AI chatbots for mental health advice and emotional support, what happens when technology starts replacing real human connection? This morning, IMA Senior Fellow, Psychiatry Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring joined host Jan Jeffcoat on The National Desk to discuss the risks of teens leaning on highly agreeable AI chatbots—and why parents should prioritize real-world social connection, physical activity, purpose, and access to human support. Watch now.
As more teens turn to AI chatbots for mental health advice and emotional support, what happens when technology starts replacing real human connection? This morning, IMA Senior Fellow, Psychiatry Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring joined host Jan Jeffcoat on The National Desk to discuss the risks of teens leaning on highly agreeable AI chatbots—and why parents should prioritize real-world social connection, physical activity, purpose, and access to human support. Watch now.
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Dr. Joseph Varon: Saving Lives Should Not Require Permission
In his latest Brownstone Institute article, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon looks back at more than two centuries of medical progress—and argues that protocols should support clinical judgment, never replace it. From the earliest efforts at resuscitation to lessons from COVID, he makes the case for restoring responsibility, flexibility, and courage at the bedside.
Read now: https://brownstone.org/articles/saving-lives-should-not-require-permission/?cb=1788446488796
In his latest Brownstone Institute article, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon looks back at more than two centuries of medical progress—and argues that protocols should support clinical judgment, never replace it. From the earliest efforts at resuscitation to lessons from COVID, he makes the case for restoring responsibility, flexibility, and courage at the bedside.
Read now: https://brownstone.org/articles/saving-lives-should-not-require-permission/?cb=1788446488796
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'Oral Medicine: The Missing Link in Whole-Body Health'
On this week's show, IMA Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole was joined by IMA Senior Fellow, Dentistry and Nutrition Dr. Jennifer Hibberd for an important discussion on the connection between oral and whole-body health—and why what happens in the mouth shouldn’t be treated separately from the rest of the body. Watch now: https://imahealth.org/oral-medicine-the-missing-link-in-whole-body-health/
On this week's show, IMA Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole was joined by IMA Senior Fellow, Dentistry and Nutrition Dr. Jennifer Hibberd for an important discussion on the connection between oral and whole-body health—and why what happens in the mouth shouldn’t be treated separately from the rest of the body. Watch now: https://imahealth.org/oral-medicine-the-missing-link-in-whole-body-health/
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Vitamin K for Newborns: Understanding the Risks, Benefits & Alternatives
Vitamin K is routinely given to newborns to help prevent a rare but real bleeding disorder—but what options do parents have? IMA Senior Fellow, Pediatrics Dr. Katherine Welch joins us to discuss vitamin K deficiency bleeding, what’s in the standard vitamin K shots, the oral vitamin K alternative, and why it’s important for parents to keep asking questions and make informed decisions. Watch now.
Learn more: https://imahealth.org/the-newborn-vitamin-k-shot-your-questions-answered/
Vitamin K is routinely given to newborns to help prevent a rare but real bleeding disorder—but what options do parents have? IMA Senior Fellow, Pediatrics Dr. Katherine Welch joins us to discuss vitamin K deficiency bleeding, what’s in the standard vitamin K shots, the oral vitamin K alternative, and why it’s important for parents to keep asking questions and make informed decisions. Watch now.
Learn more: https://imahealth.org/the-newborn-vitamin-k-shot-your-questions-answered/
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LIVE THIS WEEK: Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
This week, host and IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole will be joined by Dr. Keith Berkowitz—a founding member of FLCCC (now IMA) and founder and medical director of the Center for Balanced Health—for a discussion on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), including common symptoms, potential triggers, diagnosis, and approaches to managing the condition. Don’t miss it! Wednesday, September 9th at 7pm ET. Register now: https://geni.us/register-for-webinars
This week, host and IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole will be joined by Dr. Keith Berkowitz—a founding member of FLCCC (now IMA) and founder and medical director of the Center for Balanced Health—for a discussion on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), including common symptoms, potential triggers, diagnosis, and approaches to managing the condition. Don’t miss it! Wednesday, September 9th at 7pm ET. Register now: https://geni.us/register-for-webinars
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LIVE TONIGHT! Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
On tonight's show, host and IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole will be joined by Dr. Keith Berkowitz—founding member of FLCCC (now IMA) and founder and medical director of the Center for Balanced Health—for a discussion on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), including common symptoms, potential triggers, diagnosis, and approaches to managing the condition. Don’t miss it! Wednesday, September 9th at 7pm ET.
Ways to watch:
• Register to watch live on Zoom: https://geni.us/register-for-webinars
• Livestream on X: https://x.com/Honest_Medicine
• Livestream on Rumble: https://geni.us/IMA-Rumble-Sep9
• Livestream on YouTube: https://geni.us/IMA-YT-Sep9
On tonight's show, host and IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole will be joined by Dr. Keith Berkowitz—founding member of FLCCC (now IMA) and founder and medical director of the Center for Balanced Health—for a discussion on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), including common symptoms, potential triggers, diagnosis, and approaches to managing the condition. Don’t miss it! Wednesday, September 9th at 7pm ET.
Ways to watch:
• Register to watch live on Zoom: https://geni.us/register-for-webinars
• Livestream on X: https://x.com/Honest_Medicine
• Livestream on Rumble: https://geni.us/IMA-Rumble-Sep9
• Livestream on YouTube: https://geni.us/IMA-YT-Sep9
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From Treatment Guides to Medical Education
Over the past six years, millions have turned to IMA’s trusted treatment guides for COVID, long COVID, “long vax,” cancer, and so much more. Now, IMA Academy is bringing the medicine behind these guides into the classroom—with accredited courses that educate clinicians and are open access for patients, caregivers, and families.
And we’re just getting started. A new 10-part Integrative Cancer Care Series is already in production. Right now, every gift is matched dollar for dollar up to $250,000. Help us build the future of independent medical education today: https://imahealth.org/support-IMA-academy/
IMA Academy - Learn more: https://academy.imahealth.org/
Find IMA’s free treatment guides: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/
Over the past six years, millions have turned to IMA’s trusted treatment guides for COVID, long COVID, “long vax,” cancer, and so much more. Now, IMA Academy is bringing the medicine behind these guides into the classroom—with accredited courses that educate clinicians and are open access for patients, caregivers, and families.
And we’re just getting started. A new 10-part Integrative Cancer Care Series is already in production. Right now, every gift is matched dollar for dollar up to $250,000. Help us build the future of independent medical education today: https://imahealth.org/support-IMA-academy/
IMA Academy - Learn more: https://academy.imahealth.org/
Find IMA’s free treatment guides: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/
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