Why do they call it a break? As we anticipate the end of our winter / holiday break, the thought of getting back into the regular routine makes us want an actual vacation. Even though a “break” seems to imply a rest from regular work, a “break” is defined as an interruption of continuity (we looked it up). So, naturally, we replace an interruption of the normal but totally crazy pace of life with a set of over-the-top and stressful activities. Yes, there is fun and hopefully some reflection, but why do Americans manage to design the holiday season so that there is mandatory overshopping, overeating, oversleeping, and over-everything?? Maybe that’s why The Holdovers movie was so appealing – a well-acted and decidedly melancholy story about a boring and terrible holiday break (with the requisite glimmers of hope for a better tomorrow). So, how do we get back into the routine? Read our One Thoughtful Paragraph below for our best suggestion.
Normally we put the week’s news about health information policy here, but there wasn’t any. Instead, we give our reviews of the movies we watched over the break:
- Maestro. If Bradley Cooper fails to receive the multiple awards he is due for this tour de force, then we will know the world is actually coming to an end. You don’t have to be a music nerd to grasp that the movie’s storytelling was a uniquely powerful reflection of the persona and complex life of the genius that was Leonard Bernstein. (But it helps to appreciate all of it if you happen to be a music nerd.)
- Poor Things. Do NOT see this movie with your children, no matter how old your children are and how open you are about adult topics. Just because Emma Stone and Paul Ruffalo are in it does not make it family viewing.
- Rebel Moon. If you don’t watch this, that’s ok. We love Star Wars, but this was like a confusing and less adorable version of Star Wars.
We know that getting back into the swing is a challenge. Maverick Health Policy is here to help. Our glide path for you is a free, relatively painless webinar that will review what just happened in Q4 2023, and a little look into what is in store for 2024. Our focus will be health information technology policy topics like AI, price transparency, interoperability, telehealth, and data privacy. But we will also review the biggest merger & acquisition activity, the plans to address social determinants of health, and the latest utilization management / prior auth / insurance coverage concerns. If you need this glide path back into things, click here and join us on January 8, 2024, at noon ET.
