Government
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Alamy
FTC warns healthcare companies about restrictive noncompete contracts
Chair Andrew Ferguson has sent letters to large healthcare employers and staffing firms asking them to review their employment contracts as the FTC pursues targeted enforcement of illegal noncompetes.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 11, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Wyden urges FTC to investigate Microsoft over Ascension cyberattack
The influential senator argued the technology giant delivered “dangerous, insecure software” to the health system that contributed to a massive cyberattack last year.
By Emily Olsen • Sept. 11, 2025 -
Trendline
Labor
Hospitals are navigating persistent labor shortages with the need to cut costs — a source of contention that could leave patients caught in the middle.
By Healthcare Dive staff -
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340B incentivizes hospital-clinic M&A, drives higher health spending: CBO
The nonpartisan scorekeeper’s new report reinforces longstanding concerns about the 340B drug discount program, including that it incentivizes behaviors that increase health costs for federal and private payers.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 10, 2025 -
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CMS issues guidance on cuts to Medicaid state-directed payments
The guidance is meant to give states more time to meet requirements laid out in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 10, 2025 -
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AHA accuses drug companies of colluding to impose 340B rebate plans
The hospital lobby wants the Trump administration to investigate Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb, citing the suspicious timing of their 340B rebate proposals.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 9, 2025 -
Alamy
FTC drops Biden-era noncompete ban but promises continued enforcement
Industries “plagued by thickets of noncompete agreements” will soon see warning letters from the agency, its chairman said Friday.
By Ryan Golden • Sept. 8, 2025 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
House Republicans probe CVS for alleged HIPAA violation
In June, CVS sent a mass text to pharmacy customers in Louisiana urging them to contact their representatives to oppose a PBM reform bill. That may have been illegal, two Republican congressmen say.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 8, 2025 -
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States unprepared to implement Medicaid work requirements: report
Implementing work requirements should be a “multi-year project,” researchers said, but states have just until next year to prepare.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 8, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
At Senate hearing, lawmakers express dissatisfaction with RFK Jr.’s vaccine moves
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced criticism Thursday even from Republican lawmakers over changes to federal vaccine policy as well as a leadership crisis at the CDC.
By Delilah Alvarado , Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
HHS expands access to catastrophic plans ahead of premium pain on ACA exchanges
The move will give more Americans a coverage alternative with low monthly premiums come November’s open enrollment, but could come at the expense of people who remain in standard Affordable Care Act plans.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Courtesy of Medtronic
Renal denervation gets strong backing from cardiologists ahead of Medicare coverage decision
Doctors told the CMS that more patients need access to the procedure, with one calling it the start of a new era in hypertension management.
By Susan Kelly • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
CMS tweaks AHEAD all-payer model for states
The model will now run for one additional year and require providers to assume more downside risk.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Alex Wong / Staff via Getty Images
HHS threatens crackdown on information blocking
The HHS says it will commit new resources to targeting and punishing providers, health IT companies and other groups found information blocking, though the pledge is scarce on details.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Megan Quinn/Healthcare Dive
Lawmakers scrutinize AI’s role in prior authorization, mental healthcare in House hearing
Witnesses said that more oversight is needed to help the industry overcome a “foundational trust deficit” currently blocking uptake of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 4, 2025 -
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UnitedHealthcare, Humana are gaming Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, analysis finds
The research from the Alliance for Community Health Plans adds to existing evidence that major insurers are unfairly profiting from MA’s risk adjustment system, driving billions of dollars in unnecessary costs.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 3, 2025 -
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DOJ sues ProMedica Health for ‘non-existent, grossly substandard’ care at nursing homes
The government alleges executives at ProMedica pressured four facilities to increase admissions and cut staffing, even while patient care deteriorated.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 3, 2025 -
Foremniakowski via Getty Images
Medicare saved record $2.4B from largest accountable care program last year
ACOs are also improving in quality, according to the CMS data. Still, the Medicare Shared Savings Program has struggled with waning provider buy-in.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 3, 2025 -
Kayla Bartkowsk via Getty Images
Over 1,000 HHS workers call for RFK Jr. to step down
The letter cites turmoil at the CDC, which is reeling from the firing of Director Susan Monarez and the departure of at least four high-level leaders last week.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 3, 2025 -
Martin Barraud via Getty Images
AI devices with no clinical validation tied to more recalls, study finds
Public companies, which accounted for about half of AI-enabled devices on the market, had a higher rate of recalls and a lower rate of clinical evidence, according to a JAMA study.
By Elise Reuter • Sept. 2, 2025 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
CVS agrees to pay Massachusetts $12M to settle Medicaid overbilling claims
The retail pharmacy giant has also agreed to annually review its practices to ensure the state’s Medicaid program is getting the lowest possible prices for prescription drugs.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 2, 2025 -
Elijah Nouvelage via Getty Images
CDC panel to discuss COVID, hepatitis B shots in September meeting
A federal register notice confirmed dates for the anticipated advisory meeting, which will follow an FDA decision to narrow COVID boosters' approval and comes as CDC leadership is in turmoil.
By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 28, 2025 -
Tom Brenner via Getty Images
Top healthcare legislation to watch so far this year
Federal lawmakers have proposed dozens of bills targeting core healthcare issues, including 340B, Medicaid, AI and site-neutral payments.
By Healthcare Dive staff • Aug. 28, 2025 -
FangXiaNuo via Getty Images
Deep DiveA $50B rural health fund was negotiated with hospitals in mind. Experts are split on whether it will help them at all.
The fund was created to help Republicans secure critical votes for their reconciliation bill. But experts aren't quite sure how it'll work, creating a $50 billion dollar question with major ramifications for rural hospitals.
By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 26, 2025 -
Walter Bibikow
Supreme Court allows NIH to axe millions of research funds related to DEI
The Thursday ruling allows the National Institutes of Health to cut nearly $800 million of research funds for studies like HIV prevention.
By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 25, 2025 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Judge stays provisions of Trump administration rule overhauling ACA
A Maryland district judge has paused heightened standards for people verifying their eligibility for subsidies and other key elements of a controversial final rule from July.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 25, 2025
