FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug from Eisai, Biogen in closely watched decision

The agency’s approval comes months after a large clinical trial showed the drug, called Leqembi, could slow the disease’s progression. Yet experts have raised concerns about its safety.

Tracking state abortion bans in the US

On Thursday, the South Carolina Supreme Court struck down the state’s six-week abortion ban, ruling that it violated a woman’s privacy rights under the state constitution.

Updated Jan. 5, 2023

Feds propose ban on noncompetes

In the historic proposal, the FTC said noncompetes harm competition, suppress labor mobility and reduce wages even for those not bound by the agreements.

Updated Jan. 5, 2023

GE’s new healthcare spinoff nabs Amazon executive as CTO

On the heels of its market launch, medical device maker GE HealthCare has announced that AWS executive Taha Kass-Hout will join the company.

Patient sues CommonSpirit over ransomware attack

A Washington state man alleged his personal health information is now in the hands of cybercriminals and is seeking to bring a class action suit against the health system.

California revises Medicaid contract awards, adding 2 insurers

Five insurers will now receive lucrative contracts to provide managed care services, starting in 2024, in the country’s largest Medicaid market.

Teladoc rolling out new integrated health app this year

The app is available to a select number of existing clients this month, with full market availability expected later in 2023.

Walgreens raises healthcare segment outlook on Summit acquisition

The company now expects the segment to bring in between $14.5 billion and $16 billion in sales in 2025.

Lifespan names new CFO

Peter Markell will assume his new role Jan. 30 and will work alongside Lifespan’s newly appointed president and CEO John Fernandez.

Hospital margins improve modestly in November as expenses dip

The monthly upturn in operating margins, identified in a new report from Kaufman Hall, is a bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for the nation’s hospitals.

The portal to resolve surprise bills has been inundated with disputes — SCP Health tops the list

Federal agencies received more disputes in a five-month window than they expected to receive in a full year.

Updated Jan. 9, 2023

Nurses at 7 New York hospitals plan open-ended strike

About 16,000 nurses originally planned to strike next Monday, though 4,000 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital reached a tentative agreement one day after delivering notice of their plans to walk off the job.

Healing healthcare cybersecurity with ‘whole-of-health’ approach

Retired Gen. Keith Alexander and Premera Blue Cross Chief Information Security Officer Adrian Mayers argue for structural changes organizations can make to address healthcare cyberattacks.

Allscripts changes name to Veradigm

Allscripts transitioned its products to the Veradigm brand during 2022 as it streamlined its corporate portfolio following a difficult few years.

The Advocate-Atrium merger closed without an antitrust challenge. What does that mean for competition in 2023?

Health systems have morphed into multi-regional players through acquisitions, but have evaded federal antitrust enforcement, raising questions about the future of policing merger deals.

‘Bravo Congress’: Telehealth groups cheer omnibus extension of COVID-19 flexibilities

Still, the American Telemedicine Association and other virtual care lobbies said there was more to do to enshrine telehealth access into American law.

Medtronic starts US robotic surgery trial in push to challenge Intuitive

Medtronic delayed the Hugo program to make changes in light of surgeon feedback, but now plans to evaluate the use of the surgical robot in urologic procedures, facing off against competitor Intuitive.

Judge questions surprise billing ban implementation during court hearing

A federal judge on Tuesday tested the government’s defense concerning a rule designed to help third parties resolve payment disputes between providers and insurers.

Stakes are high in California’s Medicaid market shakeup

Four insurers that lost out on lucrative contracts in the state’s first-ever competitive process are challenging the state's picks.

Centene reaches $44M settlement with Iowa

It’s the latest deal in a string of settlements to resolve allegations the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care organization overcharged states for pharmacy services.

Omnibus bill restarts Medicaid checks, lowers Medicare physician pay cuts

President Joe Biden signed the the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package into law on Dec. 29.

Updated Jan. 3, 2023

HHS releases ownership data on nation’s hospitals

“We are pulling back the curtain and letting the sunshine in on hospital and nursing home ownership because it is what the public deserves,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Tuesday in a statement.

High-intensity billing in ERs has increased, but not only due to upcoding, research suggests

The proportion of emergency room visits billed as “high intensity” that don’t result in a hospitalization has grown, reflecting the ER’s shifting role in the acute care ecosystem, according to a Health Affairs study.

Government watchdog warns of Medicare fraud after relaxing provider requirements

The Government Accountability Office is urging the CMS to resume certain eligibility checks on providers whom they consider at high risk of fraud to the Medicare program. 

CMS rule aimed at improving Medicare Advantage draws praise

Proposed changes target prior authorization holdups and misleading advertising while aiming to expand access to behavioral health care and affordable prescriptions.