Medicare’s GLP-1 spending is skyrocketing, even without weight loss coverage: KFF
Gross Medicare spending on the pricey drugs rose from $57 million in 2018 to $5.7 billion in 2022, according to a new analysis from the health policy group.
Supreme Court weighs abortion opponents’ standing in mifepristone case
Reversal of the FDA’s expanded access could limit use of medication abortion even in states that have legal protections for the procedure in place.
Ascension will outsource Illinois hospitalist functions to PE-backed staffing firm
Beginning June 1, the Catholic health system will cede responsibility of hospitalist functions to staffing firm SCP Health.
Tax breaks exceed community care spending at large majority of nonprofit hospitals: report
Nonprofits’ cumulative “fair share” deficit is enough to pay off the medical debt of everyone in California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania combined, according to the Lown Institute.
Senior lawmaker questions UnitedHealth over Change cyberattack
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said UnitedHealth’s “rapid consolidation and vertical integration” has major consequences for the healthcare sector, including increased control of the health IT market.
OIG reports detail errors with VA, Oracle EHR deployment
Three reports released last week detail scheduling and pharmacy problems with the electronic health record integration — including an error that may have contributed to a patient’s death.
Advocate offloads senior home care business to private equity firm
The health system is selling Senior Helpers to Waud Capital Partners just three years after it acquired the home care group.
As laboratory-developed test rule looms, experts warn patients may lose access to critical diagnostics
In testimony to Congress Thursday, industry and patient group leaders described the trade-offs expected from increased FDA oversight of laboratory-developed tests.
Hospital groups question HHS about data breach reporting after Change attack
In a Thursday letter, the American Hospital Association urged the HHS’ Office of Civil Rights to reduce “duplicative” breach notifications from the Change cyberattack.
Medicare to cover Novo’s obesity drug for some patients
Two weeks after the FDA updated Wegovy’s label, Medicare changed its stance to allow people with a history of heart disease to receive treatment, a shift that could further boost access to the fast-selling medicine.