The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Measles cases are on the rise in several states across the country. Healthcare settlements tied to the False Claims Act reached $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2023. And, a New York City medical school receives a $1 billion donation to make tuition free for students. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Optums says it expects outages related to a cyber attack against Change Healthcare to continue for at least another day. Colorado becomes the first state in the nation to set a drug price ceiling. And, nearly 40 state Attorneys General are asking Congressional lawmakers for federal legislation to regulate pharmacy benefit managers. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthc...

Data sharing platform Health Gorilla surveyed more than 1,200 consumers to gauge their opinion about the privacy of their health data and which companies should be allowed to access it. It found a vast majority of respondents expressed concerns about data breaches affecting their medical records. Steven Lane, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Health Gorilla, joins the podcast to talk more about the su...

Walgreens plans to shutter all of its VillageMD locations in Florida amid ongoing cost-cutting measures. Mississippi considers a Medicaid expansion…but with job requirements. And, a cyber security attack disrupts UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare operations. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare Advantage enrollment is up as payers worry about higher MA costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalizes a rule for Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. And, nearly half of newborns in the United States received protection against respiratory syncytial virus. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

The Biden Administration launches a probe into how the business practices of hospital purchasing groups and drug distributors may impact shortages of drugs. The number of surprise billing disputes heading to arbitration remains well beyond original federal estimates, according to new data. And, a popular vitamin may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s coming up on to...

A recent Washington Post article found that seven companies allegedly submitted around $2 billion in fraudulent claims to Medicare for intermittent urinary catheters that were not ordered, wanted, or received by patients. On today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily, Washington Post national health reporter Dan Diamond speaks with host J. Carlisle Larsen about the story.  You can read the Wash...

Nonprofit health insurers SCAN Health and CareOregon call off their proposed merger. Federal lawmakers are reportedly considering a slight Medicare pay increase for physicians. And, a new report outlines the states with the biggest share of adults with medical debt. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A federal judge throws out a lawsuit challenging Medicare’s drug price negotiation process. The CDC is expected to change its isolation guidelines for COVID-19 infections. And, employer-focused primary care providers Marathon Health and Everside Health plan to merge. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

The University of Minnesota strikes a deal with Fairview Health Services to buy back its flagship academic medical center, after selling it more than 25 years ago. The Biden Administration wants more oversight of healthcare accrediting organizations. And, a new study finds that popular weight loss drugs may improve some mental health conditions. That’s coming up on today’s episode o...

Healthcare M&A activity was up in 2023 following a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Kaufman Hall.  Last Monday, Anu Singh , Managing Director and Leader of the Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice at Kaufman Hall, spoke with host J. Carlisle Larsen about how financial distress was the main driver of many of the smaller-to-medium sized hospi...

The leaders of three major pharmaceutical companies testified on Capitol Hill this week about the high cost of prescription drugs. The Biden Administration outlines how Medicare Advantage insurers can use AI. And, Walgreens taps a new executive to lead its healthcare business. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

A House panel passes a key PBM reform for health insurance for federal employees. Amazon will lay off hundreds of employees across its healthcare division. And, healthcare jobs grew at the fastest rate since the early 1990s. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Optum plans to purchase Oregon-based multi-specialty medical group The Corvallis Clinic. Medicaid’s net enrollment is down by about 10 million midway through the continuous enrollment unwinding process. And, Walgreens partners with pharmacy schools to address workforce shortages. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

The Biden Administration finalizes telehealth flexibilities for opioid treatment programs. Novo Nordisk’s parent company will buy a US-based facility reportedly to ramp up production of its blockbuster weight loss drugs. And senior-oriented primary care provider Cano Health files for bankruptcy. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

There were 65 hospital and health system M&A deals announced last year, an increase from 53 in 2022. The rise  reflects a growing momentum following a pandemic-related slow down, according to a recent report from Kaufman Hall.  Anu Singh , Managing Director and Leader of the Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice, joins the podcast to talk more about how financial distress...

Biogen will stop selling its Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, amid controversy. The Biden Administration makes its initial offers to drug companies on the first ten drugs to be negotiated through Medicare, as courts weigh lawsuits brought by pharmaceutical companies challenging the negotiation process. And, participation in Medicare accountable care organizations is up. That’s coming up on tod...

Cigna officially offloads its Medicare Advantage business to Health Care Service Corporation. The Biden Administration will negotiate on behalf of states to provide a groundbreaking gene therapy for Medicaid beneficiaries with sickle cell disease. And, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute is issuing corrections and retracting some research papers amid falsification allegations. That’s c...

Fitch Ratings says lower operating margins at nonprofit hospitals may be here to stay. The Biden Administration wants stakeholder input on making Medicare Advantage more transparent. And, a new study examines a small number of transmissible Alzheimer’s cases tied to a medical treatment that’s no longer used. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. S...

Federal regulators sue to block Novant Health’s purchase of two Community Health Systems hospitals in North Carolina. Insurers say that the No Surprises Act prevented 10 million surprise bills for patients in the first nine months of 2023. And, North Carolina says it will no longer pay for popular–and costly–weight loss drugs for state employees. That’s coming up on today’s episode...

Congressional lawmakers established a new arbitration process when they passed the No Surprises Act in December 2020. Since April 2022, payers and providers have been able to have a third-party settle payment disputes over out-of-network claims. However, the process has been bogged down by exceedingly high caseloads and legal challenges.  On today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily, Matthew F...

The Biden Administration releases voluntary cybersecurity goals for healthcare providers. It was a record-breaking year for health plan enrollment on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. And, a majority of rural hospitals have had to cut labor and delivery services for pregnant people. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Walgreens is reportedly exploring a sale of its specialty pharmacy business, Shields Health. Instacart expands its reach into the home care sector. And, the mortality rate among hospital-at-home patients is low, according to a recent study. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bloomberg Philanthropies will invest $250 million to launch healthcare-focused high schools to address workforce shortages. Younger people are being diagnosed with cancer at higher rates, according to recent studies. And, funding for digital health projects is at its lowest point since 2019. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

Intermountain’s Saltzer Health faces a shutdown if it can’t find a buyer. Physicians at two Allina Health hospitals get the green light to unionize. And, disproportionate share hospitals will continue to receive payments–temporarily–as Congress averts another government shutdown in the short term. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See aca...