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Dr. Jessica Edwards is a board-certified family medicine physician and health policy expert, as well as the founder of Zahra Medical, a hybrid care platform focused on accessibility and affordability. With real-world experience in both medicine and motherhood, and deep insight into U.S. health policy, Dr. Edwards is a trusted authority for demystifying complex healthcare topics—especially when it comes to public funding, pharmaceutical influence, and social equity.

In this myth-busting episode of The Humanity of Fame, host Kali and Dr. Jessica Edwards break down what people think they know about Medicare and Medicaid—and what’s actually true. From misunderstood budget cuts to the eye-opening fact that 30% of Medicare’s budget goes to pharmaceutical costs, this conversation exposes the lobbying, legislation, and miscommunication that shapes national healthcare conversations.

Dr. Edwards also highlights how most of Medicaid’s spending doesn’t even go to who people think it does—with large chunks allocated to end-of-life care and neonatal intensive care for sick babies. She discusses how misinformation affects voting, how policies harm the most vulnerable (including pregnant women in states like Texas), and how oversimplified narratives allow devastating decisions to pass under the radar.

Key Takeaways:

• 30% of Medicare’s budget goes to pharmaceuticals, mostly due to legislation that prevented price negotiation
• Only about 50% of Medicaid funding supports women and children—the rest is heavily weighted toward nursing homes and neonatal care
• State efforts to cut Medicaid often ignore their own reliance on federal funding
• Misleading headlines lump all funding together, leaving voters unaware of the human cost of budget cuts
• In states like Texas, women often can’t access Medicaid until 20 weeks into pregnancy, missing critical early screening and care

Guest Contact:
🌐 ZahraMedical.com
📣 Follow Dr. Edwards for fact-based, no-fluff commentary on U.S. healthcare reform, patient advocacy, and public health education.

Find out more about Kali and the show HERE: https://humanityoffame.com/