Watch: ‘Robust’ Primary Care, Transparency Top Employers’ Reform Wish List
In this “How Would You Fix It?” interview, Julie Rovner, KFF Health News’ chief Washington…
Watch: ‘Robust’ Primary Care, Transparency Top Employers’ Reform Wish List
In this “How Would You Fix It?” interview, Julie Rovner, KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent and host of the What the Health? podcast, sat down with Elizabeth Mitchell, the president and CEO of the Purchaser Business Group on Health, which represents many large employers and other institutional buyers of healthcare coverage. Mitchell noted that…
Insurers Hedge on Trump-Backed Pledge To Improve Denials Process
One year after the Trump administration announced that dozens of health insurers had signed a six-part pledge promising to reduce barriers to doctor-recommended care, some insurers now say they won’t implement all the promised initiatives. Meanwhile, patients, their advocates, and clinicians say little has improved. “It has never been this bad for patients,” said U.S….
Healthcare Groups Praise Unanimous Committee Approval of MA Prior Auth Bill
The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced a bill to reform Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements. The post Healthcare Groups Praise Unanimous Committee Approval of MA Prior Auth Bill appeared first on MedCity News.
Why CMS Is Trying to Ban Third-Party Remote Patient Monitoring
CMS’ proposed 2027 Physician Fee Schedule would bar Medicare payment for remote monitoring services delivered by third-party vendors, following OIG reports that flagged widespread fraud in the space. The post Why CMS Is Trying to Ban Third-Party Remote Patient Monitoring appeared first on MedCity News.
Trump’s CDC Nominee Praises Vaccines, Without Vowing Independence From Kennedy
Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed support for vaccines — including mRNA-based covid shots — in a Senate hearing on Wednesday, though she didn’t dispel concerns the agency has lost any independence from the White House. “I have been vaccinating people throughout my entire career…
Why Do We Hear More About High Drug Prices Than About Hospital Prices?
In this JAMA Health Forum post, KFF’s Larry Levitt outlines four reasons why high drug prices are in the spotlight more than hospital prices, even though hospitals accounted for 40% of the growth in national health spending from 2022 to 2024, and explores the potential for policy action to restrain them.
Lilly Expands Its Mind to Psychedelics With $2.8B AtaiBeckley Acquisition
Eli Lilly’s AtaiBeckley acquisition marks a dozen M&A deals for the pharma company so far this year. AtaiBeckley’s lead program is an intranasally administered psychedelic drug in pivotal testing for treatment-resistant depression. The post Lilly Expands Its Mind to Psychedelics With $2.8B AtaiBeckley Acquisition appeared first on MedCity News.
WHO’s 2026 Cancer Report
This month, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual report on cancer titled Global status report on cancer 2026: the future we choose together. I provide a high level Q&A summary of see key statistics. How many cancer cases were there in 2024? “In 2024, there were 20.6 million new cancer cases worldwide5 (19.5…
What Happens to Independent Medicine When Private Equity Shows Up With a Checkbook
This is not an argument against capital in independent medicine. Practices need infrastructure, and physicians have legitimate reasons to seek liquidity. It is an argument that the exit stage carries a risk this market has not yet priced. The post What Happens to Independent Medicine When Private Equity Shows Up With a Checkbook appeared first…
A Closer Look at Deficiencies in Nursing Homes
Amid changes to federal oversight of nursing homes during the Trump administration — including rescinding the nursing home staffing rule issued by the Biden administration, prioritizing inspections that are triggered by complaints over routine inspections, and suspending the deadline to report detailed ownership information — this issue brief provides an overview of the nursing home…
