Building The Noise with Brandon Macsata: EPISODE 005

Why are patients losing trust in the healthcare system and who’s actually listening to them anymore?In this episode, healthcare advocate Brandon Macsata joins us for a raw and honest conversation about patient advocacy, the failures of modern healthcare, insurance denials, AI in medicine, HIV activism, and why patients are still being excluded from decisions that directly impact their lives.Brandon has spent over 30 years fighting for patients at the intersection of healthcare policy, HIV advocacy, and public health reform. From the early days of the AIDS crisis to today’s debates around AI-driven healthcare decisions, this conversation dives deep into the systems, incentives, and policies shaping patient care in America.If you’ve ever felt ignored by the healthcare system, frustrated with insurance companies, or concerned about where medicine is headed next — this episode is for you.In This Episode: Why patients don’t trust healthcare anymore  How HIV advocacy changed modern healthcare policy  The hidden reality of prior authorization denials  Why AI in healthcare could become dangerous  How patient voices are being replaced by systems  The truth about healthcare advocacy funding  Why “Nothing About Us Without Us” still matters  The real battle over 340B and patient access  How grassroots advocacy actually changes policy About Brandon MacsataBrandon Macsata is a nationally recognized healthcare and HIV/AIDS advocate with more than three decades of experience in patient advocacy, healthcare policy, and public health leadership. He serves as CEO of ADAP Advocacy and PlusInc, focusing on patient access, health equity, HIV policy, and healthcare reform.Why This Conversation MattersHealthcare impacts every person eventually but too often, patients are left out of the conversation. This episode explores how advocacy movements shaped healthcare as we know it today, why trust in the system is eroding, and what patients can do to reclaim their voice.Support the showBuilding the Noise with Matt Toresco