RFK Jr. Overhauls USPSTF Leadership: 5 Things to Know
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named eight new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force this week, completing the 16-seat panel amid ongoing tension over its leadership.
HHS Provides $77M in Grants for Substance Use Prevention, Mental Health
HHS awarded $77 million in SAMHSA grants for substance use prevention and treatment, mental health, suicide prevention and crisis services.
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Automation Didn’t Dehumanize Care. Bad Systems Did.
We have the opportunity to design systems that give people greater capacity for the work where human presence matters most: listening, understanding, reassuring, deciding, and caring.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Are Fighting HHS’ 340B Rebate Push
A bipartisan group of six senators introduced a bill to reform the 340B drug program, locking in hospitals' use of contract pharmacies and adding new transparency and compliance rules. The legislation would also kill HHS' contested rebate pilot within a year and replace it with a national data clearinghouse to catch duplicate discounts.
HHS Affordability Czar Says Healthcare Costs Stem From Incentives, Not Coverage
Healthcare affordability czar Casey Mulligan laid out the economic philosophy guiding the Trump administration's approach to healthcare costs during a recent conference address. He argued that provider taxes and state-directed payments inflate healthcare spending far beyond Medicaid and ultimately raise costs for employers and taxpayers.
Kill the Clipboard Tax
Replacing a paper clipboard with a QR code on your phone doesn’t kill the clipboard; it’s just a better clipboard. Why? The burden is still on the patient. It's the digital version of carrying a manila folder of records across town. This is a half-measure. It's not true interoperability.
Debunked Episode 26: A Conversation on How to Improve Healthcare
Improving healthcare was a central theme of the latest episode of the Debunked Podcast. The discussion offered perspectives from Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., Devoted Health CEO Ed Park, and Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and professor with University of Pennsylvania, and Debunked co-hosts Arundhati Parmar and Samir Batra.
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Closing the Quality-Affordability Gap in Workplace Mental Health
In an interview, Kyan Health Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer Konstantin Struck discussed how Kyan gives mid-market and enterprise employers access to premium workforce mental healthcare, at a price point that is affordable.
Why 131 Hospitals Are Suing HHS Over Alleged Underpayment
A group of 131 hospitals has sued HHS over a CMS policy they say improperly reduces Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments. The lawsuit is the latest in a decade-long legal battle over how the agency counts patient days and calculates payments for safety net hospitals.
Congress’ New Healthcare Package: 7 Things to Know
This week, Congress reached a bipartisan healthcare deal as part of a larger $1.2 trillion spending bill, combining funding increases, policy reforms and program extensions. The proposal maintains key programs like CMS coverage for telehealth and hospital-at-home care, but stops short of renewing enhanced ACA premium tax credits.
Advocates Applaud DEA’s Fourth Extension of Remote Prescribing Flexibilities
The DEA extended telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances through the end of 2026, drawing praise from telehealth advocates who are urging a permanent solution.
What Is HHS Proposing in Its New Rule?
HHS proposed changes that would roll back many Biden-era policies, eliminate most health tech certification criteria,and scrap planned transparency requirements for healthcare AI tools. The agency argues the move will reduce regulatory burden and save developers time and money.
Why Pharma Companies Should Look To Social Media For Better Patient Insight
Healthcare decision-makers, especially at pharmaceutical companies, must prioritize patient input. Data collected from social media listening is a significant step in the right direction.
FDA Will Remove Warnings for HRT Products Used for Menopause
The FDA will remove black box warnings on hormone replacement therapies after evidence showed the risks were overstated.
Debunked Episode 21: The Drug Price Debate, AI in Healthcare Companies Face Consolidation But How Much?
How many companies will be left standing once consolidation hits the AI in healthcare sector? Which pharma companies are working with the Trump administration to lower costs?
Debunked Episode 19: Turmoil at the CDC, Epic’s AI Strategy
The latest episode of the Debunked podcast explores an ongoing debate questioning the role of payers in healthcare transactions. It also highlights turmoil at the CDC.
Debunked Episode 18: Unpacking MAHA, Nutrition on a Regional and Global Scale
The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again nutrition policies and Medicare Advantage plan ethics were prominent themes on the latest episode of the Debunked Podcast with MedCity News Editor-in-Chief Arundhati Parmar and guest co-host Paul Markovich, CEO of Blue Shield of California parent company Ascendiun.
RFK Jr. Cancels $500M in mRNA R&D Contracts as HHS Turns Focus to Older, Slower Vaccine Technologies
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is cancelling 22 mRNA vaccine contracts funded by BARDA. Without evidence, Kennedy claimed these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory tract infections.