The Playbook for Resisting a Public Health Collapse

Now that you know the threat, here’s how to fight back.

This Playbook is a strategic response guide, building on the foundation laid out in the power play analysis. If you’re looking for an in-depth breakdown of how we got here, read No CDC, No FEMA, No Safety Net—The Deliberate Collapse of Public Health Has Begun first. This Playbook focuses solely on what can be done now.

This isn’t about fear—it’s about preparation. The goal is to provide clear, actionable strategies so you’re not caught off guard as public health infrastructure deteriorates.

You’ll find a range of options here, which might feel overwhelming. You don’t need to implement every strategy—just focus on what fits your circumstances and capabilities. The Playbook is comprehensive, with some recurring themes to ensure that no important point is missed, especially if you are reading individual sections in isolation.

I will be releasing tactical mini-guides across all areas of systemic collapse. These will break down resistance strategies into targeted, actionable steps across multiple fronts. Stay tuned.

Resistance will take all of us, doing what we can, when we can.

This is not mismanagement. It’s a deliberate strategy to privatize care, erase accountability, and consolidate control for corporate and political gain. This Playbook provides an intelligence-driven framework to:

• Identify key threats and vulnerabilities in the collapsing system.

• Track early warning signs to anticipate policy shifts before they hit.

• Implement decentralized resistance strategies to bypass systemic failures.

• Advocate for state-level protections to counter federal rollbacks.

• Build community resilience through mutual aid, independent health networks, and survival planning.

Public health is being dismantled in real-time. Resistance must be strategic, decentralized, and prepared for long-term adaptation.

---

Step 1: Intelligence-Driven Threat Analysis

Identifying Key Threats – Who is Dismantling Public Health and Why?

• Corporate & Political Forces: Pharmaceutical giants, insurance conglomerates, and far-right deregulators are driving privatization, weakening public oversight, and consolidating control over healthcare pricing and access.

• Authoritarian Strategy: A collapsed public health system weakens resistance—those burdened by illness and medical debt have less power to fight back.

• Judicial Enablement: Supreme Court rulings favor corporate dominance, further eroding public health protections and reinforcing private sector control. Recent decisions have weakened government regulatory agencies and reinforced private sector dominance in healthcare.

Systemic Vulnerabilities – Where is the System Weakest?

• Federal Disease Surveillance is Collapsing: The CDC, WHO partnerships, and FEMA coordination are being eroded, limiting outbreak tracking and emergency response.

• Hospital Infrastructure is Overburdened: Rural hospitals are closing, and emergency response teams are being defunded, creating healthcare deserts.

• Medical Supply Chains are Privatized: Corporate monopolies are limiting access to vaccines, antibiotics, and essential care. Drug shortages will worsen as supply chains become more centralized.

• Public Health Misinformation is Strategic: Government agencies are being infiltrated by anti-science operatives, fostering disinformation that undermines trust in vaccines, medical guidelines, and disease tracking.

Tactical Forecasting – How Will This Play Out?

These phases do not necessarily happen in order. Some states are already in Phase 3, while others are still in Phase 1.

• Phase 1: Narrative Control – Public health dismantling is framed as ‘efficiency’ or ‘modernization.’

• Phase 2: Structural Changes – Agencies are purged, oversight bodies are defunded, and private corporations take over functions of government health programs.

• Phase 3: Policy Implementation & Capital Controls – Medicaid and public funding are slashed; medical rationing and corporate price-setting dictate access to care.

• Phase 4: Crisis Normalization – Preventable disease outbreaks rise, and mass deaths are reframed as "natural corrections."

Early Warning Signs of Public Health Collapse

• Mass layoffs in CDC, FDA, NIH, and USDA disease control teams.

• Data suppression limiting public access to outbreak and hospital ICU reports.

• State & federal privatization bills transferring public health functions to corporations.

• Rising drug shortages & costs for insulin, antibiotics, and vaccines.

• Defunding of pandemic preparedness—cutbacks in vaccine production, disease surveillance, and emergency response.

Historical Case Studies & Resistance Takeaways

Soviet Post-Collapse (1990s): The Human Cost of Overnight Privatization

When the Soviet Union collapsed, healthcare was rapidly privatized, leading to a surge in mortality, declining life expectancy, and the return of preventable diseases. Millions lost access to care, while foreign-backed reforms prioritized profit over public health.

Takeaway: When systems collapse, corporate vultures move in. Parallel health networks must be built before public services fail.

Neoliberal Rollbacks (Reagan, Thatcher Eras): Defunding Public Health for Corporate Gain

Reagan and Thatcher slashed public services, shifting healthcare toward privatization. Reagan’s cuts to mental health services and public programs led to rising homelessness and increased medical costs, while Thatcher’s policies weakened the UK’s National Health Service.

Takeaway: Public health cannot survive without government funding. Municipal and state-level protections are critical to resisting privatization.

Hurricane Katrina (2005): Disaster Capitalism and Public Health Abandonment

Katrina exposed how unprepared and unwilling governments are to protect the vulnerable. FEMA’s failure left thousands without medical aid, while private corporations profited from disaster relief. Many Black residents were permanently displaced.

Takeaway: Disaster capitalism thrives when public systems fail. Governments will not save you—community-level preparedness is essential.

COVID-19 Pandemic (2020s): The Weaponization of Misinformation

The Trump administration suppressed data, undermined public health agencies, and fueled misinformation, turning pandemic response into a political weapon. Corporate profiteering and public distrust led to preventable deaths.

Takeaway: Misinformation kills. Decentralized intelligence-sharing networks are necessary to counter propaganda and protect public health.

Flint Water Crisis (2014–Present): Deliberate Health Negligence

Flint’s water switch exposed how governments knowingly endanger public health to cut costs. Officials ignored warnings, falsified reports, and delayed action, leaving residents with lasting health damage.

Takeaway: Public health failures are often deliberate. Community-led investigations and independent testing are critical to exposing and pressuring for change.

Black Panther Party’s Free Health Clinics (1960s–70s): Community-Led Public Health Resistance

The Black Panther Party established over a dozen free health clinics across the U.S. to serve Black communities neglected by the government. These clinics provided free medical care, sickle cell anemia screenings, and health education while resisting systemic racism in healthcare. The government responded with harassment and sabotage rather than support.

Takeaway: When the state abandons public health, communities must build their own. Independent, community-driven healthcare networks are critical to surviving systemic neglect.

How to Track Public Health Failures in Real Time

• Government Data Suppression: Monitor the CDC’s website archives on the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) to track deleted public health data.

• Disease Surveillance Networks: Use international sources like ProMED (promedmail.org) and the WHO’s Disease Outbreak News (who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news) to stay informed.

• State-Level Policy Changes: Follow groups like the Kaiser Family Foundation (kff.org) for Medicaid policy changes.

• Drug Shortages & Supply Chain Failures: Use the FDA’s drug shortage list (fda.gov) and third-party trackers like GoodRx to anticipate shortages before they hit public awareness.

  ---

Step 2: Expanding Decentralized Healthcare: Medical Access Outside the System

As public health infrastructure collapses, communities will need parallel healthcare systems to bypass corporate-controlled medicine. This means:

1. Finding independent medical providers.

2. Building supply chains outside corporate monopolies.

3. Protecting healthcare operations from state surveillance.

How to Find and Support Independent Medical Providers

• Direct Primary Care (DPC) Networks: These are subscription-based clinics where patients pay a flat monthly fee rather than relying on insurance. Find a provider near you at:

  • dpcfrontier.com/mapper

  • freeclinics.com for uninsured access to care.

  • Check local community health centers (CHCs), which are partially funded but still independent of corporate insurance.

  • Indigenous Health Networks often provide care with a different model than corporate hospitals.

• Medical Tourism as a Backup Plan: In some cases, going abroad for treatment or medication may be necessary. Countries like Mexico, Canada, and Thailand have cheaper, higher-quality healthcare in certain sectors. Use:

  • Patients Beyond Borders (patientsbeyondborders.com) for reputable hospitals and specialists.

  • PharmacyChecker (pharmacychecker.com) for vetting safe international pharmacies.

• Independent Pharmacists & Compounding Pharmacies:

  • Compounding pharmacies can create custom medications when mass-produced options disappear.

  • Find a local independent pharmacy at independentpharmacydirectory.com.

  • Ask pharmacists directly if they stockpile or have alternative sources for essential meds.

Securing Medical Supplies & Alternative Supply Chains

Public health collapses often lead to shortages of essential medications and supplies. Here’s how to prepare without triggering red flags:

• Legal Prescription Stockpiling

  • Request a 90-day supply instead of 30-day refills (many insurance plans allow this).

  • If traveling, ask your doctor for an emergency or travel supply exemption—some states permit up to 6-month prescriptions for travelers.

  • Consider telemedicine providers that offer legitimate online prescriptions for routine medications.

    • HeyDoctor (U.S.)

    • Push Health (U.S.)

    • Maple (Canada)

• Emergency & Off-Grid Medical Supplies

  • While no longer available without a prescription, fish antibiotics (amoxicillin, doxycycline, etc.) are identical to human antibiotics. Research how to safely use them at Doom and Bloom Medical (doomandbloom.net).

  • Buy bulk medical kits from trusted survival suppliers:

    • MyMedic (Advanced medical kits)

    • Rescue Essentials (Trauma supplies)

• Where to Find Alternative Medication Sources

  • Online pharmacy verification at pharmacychecker.com ensures non-U.S. pharmacies meet safety standards.

  • International prescription services:

    • Canada: pharmacy.ca

    • Mexico: Many medications are available without a prescription but verify via Medismart.mx

  • Mutual aid networks can help connect people who need medications with those who have them. Check MutualAidHub.org, Reddit groups, Facebook groups, and Signal channels for local exchanges.

Protecting Underground Health Networks from State Crackdowns

• State Restrictions on Alternative Clinics:

  • Expect local/state governments to criminalize unlicensed medical care to force people back into corporate-controlled healthcare.

  • How to Counter It:

    • Legal defense funds for alternative health providers can help resist shutdowns. Support organizations like Institute for Justice (ij.org), which fights medical licensing laws that limit access to care.

    • Public pressure & media exposure—state crackdowns often crumble when challenged legally & publicly.

• Digital Security for Medical Resistance Networks:

  • Use encrypted messaging apps like Signal, Element (Matrix), or Session for organizing healthcare mutual aid.

  • Do NOT discuss medication-sharing or supply networks on mainstream social media—these platforms monitor and report flagged activity.

  • Secure documents & medical data using CryptPad (cryptpad.fr) or offline password managers.

• Building Long-Term Off-Grid Health Networks:

  • Train in basic and advanced first aid. Use free online courses from:

    • Stop The Bleed (stopthebleed.org) for trauma care.

    • Wilderness Medicine Institute (nols.edu) for off-grid survival medical training.

  • Create local health cooperatives—groups of trusted providers, midwives, and caregivers who can function outside traditional hospital systems.

  • Map out independent healthcare providers in your area, including:

    • Midwives and doulas for reproductive health.

    • Alternative medicine practitioners for non-emergency care.

    • Underground abortion access networks, such as Aid Access (aidaccess.org).

---

Step 3: State-Level Advocacy & Community Resistance

Public health rollbacks are not uniform across the country. Some states will resist federal rollbacks, while others will accelerate them. State-level action is one of the most critical and immediate areas where resistance can be effective.

State-Level Policies to Fight For

Even in red states, localized efforts can slow down or counteract federal dismantling by creating independent healthcare protections.

• Expand Medicaid & Public Health Funding

  • What to Push For: States can expand Medicaid even when federal policies cut funding.

  • Action: Pressure state legislators and governors to pass Medicaid expansion (38 states have already done so, but more can adopt stronger protections).

  • Tracking Tool: Follow Kaiser Family Foundation (kff.org) for real-time Medicaid policy changes in your state.

• Protect Pandemic & Disease Surveillance Programs

  • What to Push For: States can maintain independent tracking of disease outbreaks even if federal data is suppressed.

  • Action: Demand state health departments maintain funding for pandemic preparedness and emergency stockpiles.

  • Tracking Tool: Monitor state public health budget reports (check your state health department website).

• Regulate Big Pharma & Hospital Price Gouging

  • What to Push For: Some states have price caps on essential drugs like insulin—others can pass similar laws.

  • Action: Push state lawmakers to cap drug prices, limit hospital service fees, and increase transparency in medical billing.

  • Tracking Tool: Follow National Conference of State Legislatures (ncsl.org) for state-by-state pharmaceutical and hospital regulations.

• Legal Protections for Alternative Healthcare Providers

  • What to Push For: States can shield community health clinics and independent medical providers from federal interference.

  • Action: Lobby for "safe haven" policies that protect low-cost community clinics and allow providers to operate without being forced into corporate hospital systems.

  • Tracking Tool: Monitor state medical board regulations to track threats against alternative providers.

• Shield State Health Data from Federal Rollbacks

  • What to Push For: States can continue collecting and publicly reporting disease outbreak data even if federal sources are shut down.

  • Action: Pressure state agencies to commit to independent disease tracking and demand local governments fund these efforts.

  • Tracking Tool: Follow state epidemiology reports and local health departments.

How to Pressure State Lawmakers & Agencies

Corporate lobbyists are actively working against public health. Here’s how to counter them at the state level:

• Flood State Legislators with Targeted Pressure

  • Call your state representative and demand action on Medicaid, drug pricing, and pandemic response funding.

  • Use legislative bill trackers (openstates.org) to monitor state bills affecting public health.

  • Attend statehouse hearings—many are live-streamed, and public comment can influence policy.

• Force Public Health onto the Local Ballot

  • Many public health policies are controlled at the county and city level.

  • Push for local ballot initiatives to protect community clinics, prevent privatization, and enforce drug pricing laws.

  • Join efforts to elect health-focused candidates to city councils, county boards, and state legislatures.

• Expose Corporate Influence in State Policy

  • Follow the money – Track which state legislators are funded by pharmaceutical companies, insurance giants, and hospital chains.

  • Use OpenSecrets (opensecrets.org) and FollowTheMoney (followthemoney.org) to identify corporate influence in your state’s policy decisions.

  • Publicly expose state lawmakers who accept donations from corporations while cutting public health funding.

• Organize Community Resistance to State Rollbacks

  • If your state is slashing public health funding, mobilize community groups to demand budget transparency.

  • Contact local journalists to cover healthcare cuts and corporate takeovers.

  • Build pressure campaigns on social media, town halls, and local protests to make public health rollbacks politically costly for lawmakers.

How to Track State-Level Public Health Rollbacks

• State Budgets & Health Department Funding → Check your state health department website for budget proposals and cuts.

• Legislation Targeting Public Health → Use BillTrack50 or OpenStates to monitor state-level healthcare bills.

• Corporate Influence on State Lawmakers → Use FollowTheMoney to investigate pharmaceutical and insurance donations to politicians.

• Local Public Health Initiatives → Monitor county health boards and state medical boards for changes to regulations, licensing, and funding.

Local & Statewide Mutual Aid Efforts

If state-level action fails, local health networks can step in to provide care where the government won’t.

• Build Community Health Funds → Crowdfund for local medical clinics and emergency health aid in vulnerable communities.

• Establish Medication Exchange Networks → Connect people who need medications with those who can legally access them via trusted mutual aid networks.

• Secure Local Government Cooperation → Some city governments resist state rollbacks—push mayors and city councils to pass local public health protections.

• Create Community-Based Disease Tracking → If your state suppresses health data, collaborate with local researchers, journalists, and healthcare workers to report disease spread.

Why State-Level Action Matters

• Some states will fight back. Even in red states, there are pockets of resistance.

• Local victories set national precedents. Progressive states can build parallel health systems that others can adopt.

• State funding decisions determine survival. State Medicaid, hospital funding, and pandemic response budgets will decide who lives and who dies.

  ---

Step 4: Final Action Plan: What to Do Now

This plan is divided into two critical steps:

1. Immediate Actions (What to do within 24 hours, 1 week, and 1 month)

2. Ongoing Resistance Strategies (How to sustain the fight after your initial actions)

Take Action Now

Immediate Actions (First 24 Hours - 1 Month)

• Secure Personal Healthcare: Find a Direct Primary Care provider (DPC), check prescription refills, and stockpile over-the-counter medications.

• Engage in State-Level Advocacy: Identify your legislators (openstates.org), track Medicaid & public health funding cuts, and join local advocacy groups.

• Build Alternative Health Networks: Locate independent providers, compounding pharmacies, and mutual aid groups.

• Monitor Policy & Supply Chains: Track drug shortages (fda.gov), pandemic surveillance cuts, and corporate influence on public health laws.

• Secure Digital Communications: Move sensitive organizing efforts to encrypted platforms like Signal, Element, or Session.

• Pressure Lawmakers & Expose Corporate Ties: Attend statehouse hearings, push for policy changes, and expose which politicians are funded by Big Pharma.

Ongoing Resistance Strategies

• Expand Community Health Networks: Support free clinics, crowdfund medical aid, and advocate for local public health protections.

• Counter Disinformation & Data Suppression: Archive policy changes, expose false narratives, and work with local journalists.

• Prepare for Retaliation: Protect underground healthcare efforts, secure financial independence from employer-based insurance, and train in emergency medicine.

Stockpile Medications & Supplies

• Work with doctors to get extra prescriptions and explore legal online pharmacies for backup supplies.

• Use telemedicine providers like HeyDoctor (U.S.), Push Health (U.S.), or Maple (Canada) for routine prescriptions.

• Track drug shortages before they happen. Monitor FDA drug shortage lists, GoodRx price trends, and global supply chain reports.

Establish Local Health Networks

• Locate independent providers using DPC networks, free clinics, and community health centers.

• Join mutual aid groups that facilitate healthcare access. Find groups using Mutual Aid Hub or activist networks focused on medical solidarity.

• Support community-run clinics that serve vulnerable populations outside corporate hospital systems.

Track Public Health Rollbacks

• Archive and document policy changes to expose the step-by-step dismantling of public health systems.

• Monitor state budget allocations to track funding cuts before they impact hospitals, Medicaid, or disease surveillance.

Strengthen State & Community Resistance

• Advocate for laws blocking public health privatization. Work with local organizations to draft legislation that expands state protections for healthcare access.

• Pressure state legislatures to fund Medicaid, control drug prices, and regulate hospital price gouging.

• Expose corporate influence on lawmakers using OpenSecrets and FollowTheMoney.org to reveal who funds anti-public health policies.

Expose & Counter Disinformation

• Combat propaganda tactics that justify healthcare rollbacks.

• Use reliable sources like Kaiser Family Foundation, ProPublica, and investigative health reporters to counter corporate-backed misinformation.

• Call out state-level efforts to erase disease tracking, suppress statistics, or downplay public health crises.

Prepare for Government Retaliation

• Secure digital communications. Use encrypted messaging apps for healthcare organizing and mutual aid coordination.

• Protect alternative healthcare networks from state crackdowns. Support legal defense funds for community clinics targeted by restrictive laws.

• Achieve financial independence from employer-tied healthcare. If your job is your only access to healthcare, begin researching alternative insurance, healthcare co-ops, or international options.

---

This Is Systemic Violence—But Resistance is Possible.

Public health dismantling is a strategy of control. This playbook is ours. Now, we fight back.

Subscriber Fee Transparency: Currently, 100% of subscription fees are going into journalism and publications that make my research possible.

Prefer a one-time support option?

Further Reading

Analyses - In-depth breakdowns examining the systems driving democratic collapse—exposing threats, tactics, and timelines to empower informed resistance.

Playbooks - Actionable strategic guides that directly respond to each analysis, providing step-by-step resistance plans designed for immediate implementation.

Insights - Timely, targeted pieces highlighting critical events, emerging threats, and essential context—keeping you ahead of developments as they unfold.