The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Pfizer meets with top health officials about a booster shot. Missouri’s Medicaid expansion case goes before the state’s highest court. And President Biden supports price transparency but still many hospitals aren’t complying. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden signed a sweeping executive order aimed at increasing competition. Funding for digital health companies continues to break records. And the FDA chief calls for an investigation of the agency's approval of Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pfizer plans to seek approval for a COVID booster shot. 15 states have come to a settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma. And Biogen updates prescribing recommendations for its new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dollar General makes a play at healthcare. A health system executive is tapped to lead Medicare. And researchers used birthday parties as a proxy for the role small gatherings played in spreading COVID. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Delta variant fuels COVID surges in poorly vaccinated parts of the US. New rules prohibit most surprise medical bills when patients get care from out-of-network providers. And healthcare, much like other industries, is struggling to find workers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Missouri finds itself in the grip of another COVID surge as the state struggles with low vaccination uptake. Dr. Davin Turner, Chief Medical Officer of St. Joseph, MO-based Mosaic Life Care says if vaccinations don’t increase, he expects ongoing surges to become the new normal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oklahoma becomes the 37th state to implement Medicaid expansion. There’s more consolidation in the home health space. And an independent analysis finds Biogen’s Alzheimer's drug would be cost-effective if priced seven times less than the company’s list price.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walmart will start selling its own brand of analog insulin. With the Supreme Court declining to hear the case, Medicare’s site-neutral payment rule in place. And e-cigarette maker Juul agrees to pay North Carolina 40 million dollars to settle a lawsuit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden Administration is taking steps to bolster the ACA marketplaces. Nearly 7 in 10 physicians are employed by insurers, private equity firms, or other companies. And hospitals are dealing with more cyberattacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After being berated, harassed, and bullied throughout the pandemic - public health experts report feeling anxious and depressed. Vaccines are the key to beating the Delta variant, yet convincing holdouts is challenging. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has tapped Daniel Tsai to lead the agency’s Medicaid division. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dean Sanpei, Chief Strategy Officer at Centennial, Colorado-based Centura Health discusses the new 'Colorado Option' and lessons learned from other states.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A judge rules Missouri’s ballot measure to expand Medicaid is unconstitutional. Eli Lilly plans to test the FDA’s new standard and apply for approval of its Alzheimer’s drug. And the latest health tech insurer startup, Bright Health, goes public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COVID cases are surging in parts of the Midwest where few are vaccinated. DuPage Medical Group expands into Indiana. And a Wall Street Journal article details the entangled relationship between Steward Health Care and its landlord. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite big-ticket incentives vaccinations are still slow in young adults. Medicaid enrollment hit record highs during 2020. And could the plethora of remote monitoring lead us to a world where doctors are always watching us but never at the bedside? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nashville-based health system LifePoint Health announced plans to acquire Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare. The VA says it will now cover gender-affirming surgeries. And Democratic Senators are considering expanding Medicare benefits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May, the Lown Institute published a ranking of which hospitals deliver the greatest amount of “low value” care. In this episode president of the nonpartisan think tank, Dr. Vikas Saini discusses the methodology used in constructing that measure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Affordable Care Act has survived its latest legal Supreme Court challenge. Michigan’s Beaumont Health is hoping a third merger attempt is a charm. And vaccinated immunocompromised patients may get more benefit from a third dose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthem joins CivicaRx’s division to bring lower-cost generic drugs to pharmacies. The first patient receives the controversial newly approved Alzheimer's medicine. And some research finds vaccine mixing holds promise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some states lift nearly all pandemic restrictions as vaccination rates reach the 70 percent threshold. Humana deepens its push into home care with another acquisition. And a charity buys up nearly $300M in medical debt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A judge tosses out the case challenging Houston Methodist’s vaccine mandate. HCA Healthcare trauma centers are charging patients up to 10 times more than other trauma centers. And more than 1M individuals bought coverage on Healthcare.gov since February. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO and co-founder of Aledade, discusses how quality reporting for physicians has become time-intensive and no longer commensurate with incentives. He tells us the whole system is in need of “radical surgery”.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After blowback, UnitedHealthcare delays its policy of not covering emergency department visits it deems unnecessary. Datavant and Ciox Health announce plans to merge.  And Biogen’s newly approved Alzheimers has a huge price tag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The heart rate, sleep and exercise data Apple devices capture can now be sent to your electronic health record. Hospitals start enforcing vaccine mandates and penalties for non compliance. And the pandemic has changed how we use the emergency department. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retail giants Amazon and Walmart go head to head with competing pharmacy offerings. UnitedHealthcare will start denying emergency department claims if it deems a past visit to the ER nonemergent. One for-profit and one nonprofit medical school look to expand in Montana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Medical is acquiring senior-focused primary care company Iora Health. The FDA approves the first Alzheimers drug in 18 years. And Colorado Children's Hospital is so overwhelmed with pediatric mental health patients, last month it declared a state of emergency.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.