The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Rural hospitals are reportedly not taking advantage of free help from technology companies. A major pharmacy benefit manager sues the Federal Trade Commission over a recent...damning report of the business.  And, a new survey indicates that the physician shortage could be getting worse. We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnitedHealthcare unveils a new “gold card” program for providers to make the prior authorization process more efficient. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suspends two ACA platforms over concerns that foreign entities had access to consumer information. And, the FDA OKs the first over-the-counter hearing aid software for use with Apple Air Pods. We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare was a hot topic during this week’s presidential debate...especially the past and potential future of the Affordable Care Act. The data of nearly 1 million Medicare beneficiaries could have been exposed to hackers through a software vulnerability discovered last year. And, hospitals experienced a slight labor rebound in August. Those stories and more coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden Administration finalizes new mental health parity rules for insurers. A large-scale study suggests that the active ingredient in the blockbuster weight loss medicine Ozempic reduced the risk of severe COVID reactions among patients with obesity. And, we’ll get some more top news in heathcare. That's coming up on today's episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several high-ranking executives at Walgreens are being sued by a shareholder as the retail pharmacy’s stock price continues to drop. Humana will exit 13 Medicare Advantage marketplaces ahead of the 2025 plan year.  And, we’ll get some more top healthcare news headlines. That’s coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnson & Johnson draws the ire of hospitals and the government over a planned change to how it will provide discounts for some of its 340B-eligible drugs. Pfizer becomes the second drug company to get into the direct-to-consumer market. Those stories and more coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Struggling Steward Health Care will sell six of its Massachusetts hospitals. Kaiser Permanente backed Risant Health plans to invest more than $1 billion dollars in Cone Health. And, pharmacy benefit manager leaders could be in hot water following testimony over their business practices on Capitol Hill. That’s coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new report projects the average cost of employer-sponsored health plans to rise 9 percent next year. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services receives 12,000-plus complaints about No Surprises noncompliance. And, the FDA approves a chemo-free treatment for a common type of lung cancer. 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 blocks the FTC’s ban on noncompetes. And, New Jersey’s governor says about $100 million dollars in residents’ medical debt will be eliminated. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Massachusetts’ governor arranges deals to force the sale of five Steward Health Care hospitals in the state. As Medicare Advantage enrollment grows, a new report warns of the program’s impact on hospital margins. And Eili Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drug reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Texas court overturns a HHS change to how Medicare pays hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income patients. Medical-cost fiduciary litigation is on the rise. And the FDA authorizes the first over-the-counter, at-home syphilis test. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biden’s nursing home staffing mandate gets hit with another lawsuit. This one from the Texas attorney general. Eli Lilly takes action to halt the sales of copycats of its GLP-1 drugs. And Kentucky is the first state to decriminalize medical errors. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMS releases results from its first Medicare prescription drug price negotiations under a new federal program. The WHO declares mpox a global public health emergency. And Elevance Health closes a deal with a private equity firm to create a primary care company. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steward Health Care signs a definitive agreement to sell its physician group. President Biden announces $150 million dollars in federal awards as part of his “cancer moonshot.” And with no federal AI guidelines on the books, states create their own. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FDA approves the first nasal spray formulation to treat anaphylaxis. A report finds that U.S. not-for-profit healthcare providers’ days cash on hand hit a 10-year low. And all eligible hospitals in North Carolina opt into the state’s new medical debt relief program. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A medical journal retracts three papers on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy following the FDA’s rejection of the treatment. CMS outlines updates for its ACO REACH model for 2025. And the DOJ finalizes a rule to improve access to medical care for people with disabilities. 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 dismisses a lawsuit over the Medicare drug price negotiation program. Provisional data show that COVID has dropped to the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. And a recent poll finds that fewer Americans view childhood vaccinations as “important.” That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMS finalizes a policy that creates a faster pathway to reimbursement for “breakthrough” medical devices. The FDA approves Purdue Pharma’s opioid overdose-reversal device. And a recent report finds that untreated vision loss and high cholesterol could be risk factors for dementia. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Providers receive a win in the latest appeals court ruling on the No Surprises Act. About 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closing, according to a new report. And a recent survey finds that less than half of Americans trust doctors. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tenet Healthcare plans to sell its majority stake in five Alabama hospitals. The FDA now lists Eli Lilly’s blockbuster GLP-1 drugs as “available.” And a new study finds that less than half of patients challenge insurance claim denials. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CVS is co-locating Oak Street clinics at existing pharmacies. A new Epic feature allows patients to release their medical records to apps of their choice. And a recent study finds that Gen Xers and millennials are more likely to develop certain cancers. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMS finalizes a 2.9 percent Medicare pay bump for inpatient hospital care in 2025. Google is not renewing its contract with Amazon’s One Medical. And more states pass legislation to limit hospitals and provider organizations’ liability following cyberattacks. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMS finalizes four payment rules for 2025, including for skilled nursing and inpatient rehab facilities. A cyberattack strikes a Florida blood bank that serves more than 350 hospitals. And two health system merger deals cross the finish line. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Community Health Systems plans to sell its three Pennsylvania hospitals to WoodBridge Healthcare. Walmart will open 25 new pharmacies focused on autoimmune diseases. And CMS green lights North Carolina’s medical debt relief plan. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Massachusetts commits $30 million dollars to keep Steward hospitals in the state operating. A new study finds that a double mastectomy did not improve survival for patients with unilateral breast cancer. And healthcare once again lands at top of an annual report on the cost of data breaches. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guardant Health’s blood screening test for colorectal cancer receives federal approval. The FDA warns about dosing errors tied to compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs. And a new study shows that a blood test can accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Senate committee votes to both investigate Steward Health Care and subpoena its CEO to testify. The American Medical Association and other physician groups implore Congress to act on physician Medicare pay. And the Health and Human Services Department reorganizes its technology functions to better address AI and cyber threats in healthcare. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ascension sells 9 Illinois hospitals to Prime Healthcare. New analysis shows that Medicare Advantage accounts for a growing percentage of hospital inpatient care. And a study finds that more new GLP-1 prescriptions were written for people with obesity than for those with Type 2 diabetes in recent years. 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 refuses to block the FTC’s noncompete ban, deviating from a separate ruling on the ban earlier this month. Humana announces it will take over 23 former Walmart Health sites. And Steward Health Care finds buyers for some of its hospitals, but fails to drum up any qualified bidders for others. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A House committee investigation finds PBMs steer patients toward pricier drugs ahead of a Congressional hearing on the issue. A pharmacy group and dozens of providers sue Change Healthcare. And CMS sets limits on ACA marketplace brokers to rein in unauthorized changes to beneficiaries’ plans. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A global tech outage highlights vulnerabilities across the U.S. economy, including in healthcare delivery. U.S. health officials are investigating a deadly listeria outbreak tied to deli meat. And Vermont becomes the latest state to sue PBMs over allegations of driving up prescription drug prices. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ardent Health goes public... raising around $192 million dollars in its IPO. A summer COVID wave spreads across the US. And more states look to curb prescription drug costs with public affordability boards. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FDA plans to launch a rare disease center to streamline its policies and methods for evaluating experimental drugs. Drugmaker Roche sees positive results from an early-stage trial of its obesity pill. And a new study finds that bone marrow transplant patients may not need a perfect donor match. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steward Health Care confirms it is under federal investigation. A judge denies an extension for Georgia’s new Medicaid plan, the only in the nation with a work requirement. And new CDC data finds that Americans with disabilities are more likely to report long COVID symptoms. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The House Appropriations Committee is requesting that the FDA holds off on regulating laboratory developed tests. A recent report finds that private equity-backed providers account for less than 4 percent of the U.S. provider market by revenue. And a new study links semaglutide to lower risk for both dementia and nicotine use. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In its first No Surprises audit, CMS finds some noncompliance with CVS-owned Aetna. State attorneys general warn of consumer impacts from the Change Healthcare cyberattack. And a report says about 7 percent of U.S. adults have had long COVID. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Senate unanimously passes a bill that cracks down on drug patent practices. House GOP leaders demand regulatory reviews from federal agencies, including the Health and Human Services Department, following the Supreme Court’s Chevron decision. And a new study links alcohol to more than a half dozen cancers. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMS proposes a nearly 3 percent Medicare physician pay cut in 2025. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology releases its proposed rule to improve data sharing. And a new observational study compares weight loss between adults on tirzepatide versus semaglutide. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System are exploring a combination. Medicare proposes a 2.6 percent pay increase for hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers. And dozens of Medicare Advantage plans get higher star ratings after CMS recalculations. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interim FTC report scrutinizes pharmacy benefit managers. A proposed federal cybersecurity rule draws criticism from the healthcare industry. And dozens of health systems see their credit ratings drop. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In two separate rulings, federal judges partially block both the FTC’s noncompete ban and a federal gender nondiscrimination rule. Massachusetts lawmakers target real estate investment trusts in a sweeping healthcare bill. And the FDA approves Eli Lilly’s early Alzheimer’s treatment. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the U.S. Supreme Court’s Chevron ruling could impact healthcare. Two decades on, the U.S. has made little progress on addressing health inequities... according to a new report. And HHS and the FBI warn the healthcare sector of certain types of cyberattacks, including phishing schemes. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that the nation’s uninsured rate will rise to nearly 9 percent by 2034. More nurse practitioners are moving into specialty care. And early results from a large clinical trial show a new drug may provide total protection against HIV. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UAB Health System Authority signs an agreement to acquire Ascension St. Vincent. Missouri joins a growing list of states passing laws to expand 340B drug access. And Teva Pharmaceuticals launches first generic GLP-1 drug in the U.S. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Surgeon General declares gun violence a public health crisis. The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a case challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. And HHS finalizes a rule that sets penalties for providers blocking the free exchange of electronic health record data. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A federal appeals court largely upholds the ACA’s free preventive services mandate. A new study finds that a popular GLP-1 drug may help treat sleep apnea. And more states are expanding Medicaid coverage to hospital at home care. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Risant Health announces its plan to acquire Cone Health. The WHO warns about fake versions of the diabetes drug Ozempic. And federal actuaries project that U.S. healthcare spending will hit nearly $8 trillion by 2032. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejects a case challenging the FDA’s policies on mifepristone. Ascension says protected health data might have been exposed in its recent cyberattack. And the director of CMS’ Innovation Center testifies before a Congressional subcommittee. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The White House teams up with Big Tech to help boost rural hospital cybersecurity.  Insurers get another court win with a recent Medicare Advantage star ratings ruling. And Walgreens-owned CityMD agrees to pay $12 million for alleged COVID payment fraud. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FDA advisors unanimously recommend approval of Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug donanemab. The Biden administration proposes a rule to ban medical debt from consumer credit reports. And the U.S. Supreme Court will review a case on Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.