The Latest

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  US names first drugs to face price hike penalty

  Under the Inflation Reduction Act, pharma companies owe rebates to Medicare for price increases they take that exceed inflation. But they won’t need to pay until 2025.

  Government

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  FTC says health privacy key priority in 2024 budget request

  The agency cited its need to take on bigger and more complex cases in areas like health privacy in its request on Tuesday for a $160 million funding boost.

  Government

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  Oscar Health names current physician leader new CMO

  Sean Martin is stepping up as chief medical officer of the New York-based insurer, after Oscar’s old CMO left to become CMO of L.A. Care Health Plan in December.

  Payer

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  Healthcare companies may turn to big banks after SVB collapse

  The fall of SVB created a chasm in life sciences financing that could be filled by bigger banks, but might hamper access to quick, short-term cash for startups.

  Finances

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  Google plans to boost Medicaid information during redeterminations

  Google also shared an updated version of its medical artificial intelligence that can answer clinical questions at an “expert” level at an annual event Tuesday.

  Health IT

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  Fall of SVB hits healthcare sector as federal regulators step in

  The closure of the major healthcare and life sciences lender Friday was the culmination of a rapid four-day nosedive that left some healthcare companies temporarily locked out of funds.

  Health IT

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  Democrat senators press major US pharmacies on mifepristone access

  The letters, sent to Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Albertsons, Walmart, Kroger and Costco, urge the chains to clarify their positions on dispensing the abortion pill.

  Government

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  VA to cover Leqembi for veterans with early Alzheimer’s

  The agency’s decision on Eisai and Biogen’s newly approved drug contrasts with a stringent Medicare policy that limits coverage to only patients in clinical trials.

  Government

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  Majority of adults with medical debt owe money to hospitals

  While medical debt remains a persistent financial burden in the U.S., a new analysis from the Urban Institute highlights how targeting hospital billing could ameliorate the problem.

  Hospitals

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  Physicians say prior authorization rules harm patients, AMA survey finds, as CMS works toward new policy

  Over a third of physicians said the requirements led to a serious adverse event for one of their patients, such as hospitalization, permanent impairment or death, the survey found.

  Hospitals

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  Deep Dive

  Hacking healthcare: With 385M patient records exposed, cybersecurity experts sound alarm on breach surge

  Healthcare companies must harden their defenses, but it may require regulators and lawmakers to raise the bar on security standards, experts say.

  Hospitals

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  Q&A

  Bon Secours’ outgoing chief nurse officer on the challenges ahead for nursing

  Andrea Mazzoccoli shares workforce trends she’s keeping an eye on and advice for future nursing leaders as she exits her role.

  Hospitals

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  Pediatric mental health crisis top concern this year for patient safety organization

  Physical and verbal violence against healthcare staff is the second top safety concern for the year, followed by clinician needs in times of uncertainty around maternal-fetal medicine.

  Hospitals

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  Labor expenses, inflation drove Providence to $6.1B net loss last year

  The Washington-based nonprofit system also posted a $1.7 billion operating loss in the same period.

  Hospitals

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  Biden’s proposed HHS budget aims to make pandemic-era subsidies permanent

  The budget also proposes to extend Medicare solvency and give the federal government more power to negotiate prescription drug prices.

  Hospitals

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  Telehealth use rose at end of last year, Fair Health finds

  COVID-19 stayed as the third most diagnosed condition nationally and accounted for a larger share of claims in December, Fair Health found.

  Health IT

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  House committee latest to launch investigation into PBMs

  It’s the most recent action targeting PBMs for allegedly using their market power to raise drug prices, and comes as the Federal Trade Commission also launched a similar investigation.

  Payer

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  California cancels $54M Walgreens contract over company’s decision to not sell abortion pills

  California Gov. Gavin Newsom is making good on his threat to no longer do business with Walgreens over abortion pill access, illustrating how the drugstore industry is struggling to navigate shifting state abortion laws.

  Government

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  Hacking incident at Michigan surgical group exposes information of 15K patients

  It appears that patient information was uploaded to the dark web by ransomware group BianLian, Brett Callow, threat analyst for cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, confirmed to Healthcare Dive.

  Hospitals

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  Insurers, trade groups ask CMS to delay MA rule

  Insurance lobbyists argue that the 1.03% plan increase is insufficient and, in combination with other changes, would actually result in payment cuts.

  Payer

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  Texas women, denied medically necessary abortions, sue state to clarify exceptions to ban

  The lawsuit highlights how abortion bans create a chilling effect for obstetric care, as physicians — worried about legal repercussions — can refuse or delay care to those with complications.

  Hospitals

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  Biden’s plan to improve Medicare solvency targets prescription drugs

  The plan — part of Biden’s 2024 budget proposal set to be released Thursday — would further reduce what Medicare pays for prescription drugs and raise taxes on Americans earning over $400,000.

  Payer

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  FTC pushes back deadline for public to weigh in on noncompete ban

  FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson said she would have supported an even longer extension since the proposed rule is “a departure from hundreds of years of precedent.” 

  Hospitals

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  Atrium, Best Buy partner to co-develop hospital-at-home programming

  The multi-year partnership combines Atrium’s hospital-at-home program and existing telemedicine infrastructure with Best Buy’s at-home care business, along with the retailer’s home installation and supply chain capabilities.

  Hospitals

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  Transcarent to acquire majority of telehealth platform 98point6 for $100M

  Transcarent will get 98point6’s self-insured employer business, affiliated physician group and a software license. 

  Finances

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