The Gist Healthcare Podcast

LA area cancer organization City of Hope announces plans to buy Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Cigna invests in insurtech startup BrightHealth. And the House passes legislation to avert Medicare cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new study in Health Affairs shows nonprofit Wisconsin hospital lawsuits against patients increased 37 percent between 2001 and 2018. There's more mandate mania, as New York City announces a COVID vaccine requirement for private companies. And Uber is bringing healthcare to consumers on demand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare beneficiaries used 6000% more telehealth in 2020 than pre-pandemic. While the attention is on Omicron, Delta is what hospitals are still worried about right now. And Physicians Assistants’ recent title change to Physician Associates isn’t sitting well with doctors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden will require private insurers to pay for at-home covid tests. CVS and Microsoft expand their partnership to digitize and personalize care. And a tale of two states that expanded Medicaid with dramatically different outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As omicron cases are identified across the globe, countries are scrambling to prevent a surge in cases. Germany, Greece, and Austria are imposing restrictions on the unvaccinated. The US and UK are turning to booster shots. Earlier this week British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he plans to make boosters available to all adults by the end of January. In this episode, Maya Kroth reports from London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new ruling extends the pause on healthcare worker vaccine mandates nationwide. The first case of the omicron variant is found in California. And we recap the Supreme Court arguments in the case challenging whether Medicare can cut drug payments to some hospitals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Las Vegas jury finds UnitedHealthcare has been underpaying TeamHealth physicians in Nevada. The CDC is searching for cases of the omicron variant in the US. And HCA Healthcare expands its Florida footprint. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden says the omicron variant is a cause for concern but not panic. A judge temporarily blocks the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. And an experimental treatment appears to have cured a man of Type 1 diabetes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A jury rules finds CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies recklessly distributed opioids. The Biden administration releases $7.5 billion in relief funding for rural providers. And consumers are dealing with a patchwork of telehealth coverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the single-use PPE is creating a huge medical waste problem. Two private equity firms buy AthenaHealth. And there’s a small window for patients to get the benefits from the new coronavirus antiviral pills. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC clears booster shots for all adults. The House passes the $1.75 trillion spending plan which includes several healthcare reforms. And physicians accuse a large Lasik eye surgery chain of pressure to boost volumes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As CVS Health repositions itself to provide more primary care, the company announces plans to close 900 stores. About a third of healthcare workers aren’t vaccinated. And doctors have had enough with their peers spreading covid disinformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former Sanford Health CEO left the system with a $49 million golden parachute. Lawmakers say the new surprise billing dispute resolution rule isn’t what they intended. And the partisan divide about vaccines seems to go beyond the coronavirus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Austria introduces a lockdown for the unvaccinated. Dealing with hostile patients and feeling unsupported by employers are just a few of the factors driving doctors and nurses to leave healthcare. And a STAT News investigation looks into Ascension private equity operation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaiser Permanente reached a deal with unions to avoid massive strikes. Medicare hasn’t even decided to cover an expensive new Alzheimer's drug yet, and it’s already driving premium increases. And finally, President Biden has chosen a nominee to lead the FDA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This fall payers like UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna all launched virtual first primary care plans this fall. In this March 2021 conversation, Gist Healthcare co-founders, Chas Roades and Lisa Bielamowicz discuss how insurers are integrating their new care offerings to capture more of consumers' healthcare spend. 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.

In the final episode of our series exploring investor acquisitions of physician practices, we’ll look at the hospital-based physician market, including emergency physicians, hospitalists, and anesthesiologists, which private equity firms started rolling up in the early 2000s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some have warned that the rapid growth of PE-backed practices is reminiscent of the rise and fall of physician practice management companies of the 1990s. In the second part of our series about the impact of private equity investment in physician practice on the healthcare market, we’ll hear from Peter Kindrachuk, a former PhyCor executive, on how today’s trend compares to what happened back then. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Private equity firms are fueling a physician practice buying frenzy that’s heated up over the last year, with just about half of practices now owned by hospitals or other corporate entities. In the first part of a series about private equity's impact on the market, Anthony D’Eredita, founder and CEO of TrustWorks Collective, discusses how younger physicians and health systems are being outbid by deep-pocketed investors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British digital-first value-based care company Babylon went from being virtually unknown in the US, to managing the cost of care for more than 100,000 lives in a year. Babylon's Chief Business Officer Paul-Henri Ferrand discusses how the company is partnering with health plans, medical groups, and health systems to expand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 million healthcare workers need to be fully vaccinated by early January. Coverage expansion plans for 12 Medicaid holdout states could be a big boost to hospital bottom lines. And add CVS Health to the list of non-traditional physician employers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tennessee lawmakers try to limit the power of the state’s medical board to discipline physicians. CMS boosts outpatient and home health payments, but some physicians will see a pay cut in 2022. And more COVID vaccine mandates go into effect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats say they have reached a deal to address drug prices. A California judge sides with pharmaceutical companies in opioid litigation. And more women than men are using telehealth services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s November and that means open enrollment season for ACA plans. The Texas Medical Association challenges new surprise billing rules in court. And as vaccines become available for kids, when will we return to normal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bids to add dental coverage to Medicare seem to be out of President Biden's new social spending framework. With the Medicare population is expected to grow by a third over the next decade as Baby Boomers turn 65, Oregon dentist Dr. Kaz Rafia says not adding dental coverage was a missed opportunity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dental and vision benefits for seniors and prescription drug pricing reforms are out of President Biden’s social spending plan. Senators in Brazil want to charge the country’s president with crimes against humanity for how he has handled COVID-19. And the FTC is cracking down on smaller M&A deals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LifePoint Health and Kindred Healthcare are spinning off a new hospital company. Merck signs a licensing deal to let companies countries produce its antiviral covid pill. And health systems are starting new ventures to compete with electronic health record giants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elementary school kids are one step closer to getting COVID vaccines. Utah hospitals call on people to donate unused crutches amid supply shortages. And two new players launch pharmacy benefit managers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today an FDA panel is deciding whether to recommend Pfizer’s covid vaccine for young kids. Northeastern states pass new laws limiting nursing home profits. And several states reject bids to expand advanced practice providers' scope of practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of our series exploring investor acquisitions of physician practices, we’ll look at the hospital-based physician market, including emergency physicians, hospitalists, and anesthesiologists, which private equity firms started rolling up in the early 2000s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Democrats pare down their social spending package some healthcare benefits are on the chopping block. Pediatric providers declare a national mental health emergency for kids. And Amazon Care is expanding to five more cities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of regulatory approval, the Biden Administration lays out plans to distribute COVID vaccine plans to young kids. The FDA kicked off the process of making hearing aids available over the counter. And more than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente employees authorized a strike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where will healthcare workers who refuse to get vaccinated work after mandates are implemented? Despite warnings that ivermectin doesn’t help treat COVID, overseas generic drug makers are making big bucks off the medication. And UnitedHealthcare launches a virtual-first primary care plan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instead of spotlighting the importance of the local public health officials, the pandemic has led to a public backlash against them. Large health systems are joining forces to lobby for hospital-at-home waivers to become permanent. And Walmart enters the employer-sponsored coverage market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some have warned that the rapid growth of PE-backed practices is reminiscent of the rise and fall of physician practice management companies of the 1990s. In the second part of our series about the impact of private equity investment in physician practice on the healthcare market, we’ll hear from Peter Kindrachuk, a former PhyCor executive, on how today’s trend compares to what happened back then. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walgreens moves further into care delivery and launches a new health division. The FDA’s vaccine panel recommends Moderna booster shots. And the agency authorizes its first e-cigarette, but only the tobacco flavor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare open enrollment starts Friday, but once signed up few seniors change plans. Companies are ignoring Texas’ vaccine mandate ban. And in California, Governor Newsom hasn’t delivered on his big healthcare reform promises. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best Buy makes another move into healthcare with plans to buy Current Health. The US Preventive Services Task Force is narrowing guidance on who should take aspirin to prevent heart disease. And nurses say patients are increasingly hostile and violent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merck asks the Food and Drug Administration to approve its antiviral COVID pill. Get ready for the wave of physician retirements. And there’s a lot of activity among revenue cycle management companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Private equity firms are fueling a physician practice buying frenzy that’s heated up over the last year, with just about half of practices now owned by hospitals or other corporate entities. In the first part of a series about private equity's impact on the market, Anthony D’Eredita, founder and CEO of TrustWorks Collective, discusses how younger physicians and health systems are being outbid by deep-pocketed investors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henrietta Lacks’ family sues biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific for unfairly profiting from her cells. 2021 is the year of the mega-hospital merger. And Pfizer officially asks the FDA to extend emergency use for its COVID vaccine to include young kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WHO backs the first malaria vaccine. The Wall Street Journal writes about what is believed to be the country’s first cybercrime-related patient death. And increasing labor costs will continue to be a key concern for hospitals into next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Missouri’s Medicaid expansion goes into effect. A group of health systems launches Graphite Health, a healthcare app marketplace. And long-serving NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins steps down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merck’s new antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 shows a lot of promise. CMS lays out how the No Surprises Act dispute resolution process will work. And non-covid research is still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanford Health's Chief Physician Dr. Jeremy Cauwels discusses how the Sioux Falls, SD-based health system is building a virtual care center to consolidate its telemedicine offerings and deliver virtual care at scale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare worker shortages are problematic now, but a study project they’ll get worse in several states. This week Pfizer shared data with regulators on its COVID vaccine efficacy in young kids. Coast-to-coast healthcare worker vaccine mandates are working. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospital-backed healthcare data company Truveta announces a deal with Microsoft. The American Medical Association's annual report finds a single insurer had at least half of the market in 46 percent of metro areas. And in response to a rise of attacks on healthcare workers, one Missouri hospital is adding panic buttons to employee badges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Look across the pond to France for more evidence that vaccine mandates work. Walmart Health adopts Epic’s electronic health record system. And regulators ask for more info about a merger between two Michigan hospital systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York state’s COVID vaccine mandate goes into effect. Devoted Health could be the most valuable insurtech with a valuation at more than $11B. And states start rolling out COVID vaccine booster shots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.