Today's Healthcare Pulse
Allogene Therapeutics CEO David Chang to step down
Allogene Therapeutics announced that chief executive David Chang will leave his role. The news was reported by STAT+ and echoed in a follow‑up piece covering broader pharma updates.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Boston Scientific invests $1.5B for 34% stake in MiRus
Interventional Radiology Procedure Offers Relief From Painful Blood-Clot Side Effect
A new NIH‑sponsored trial, C‑TRACT, evaluated catheter‑directed stent placement for patients with post‑thrombotic syndrome (PTS) after deep‑vein thrombosis. The study enrolled 225 participants across 29 U.S. centers and compared stenting plus standard care to anticoagulation and compression alone. Six months after the procedure, only 40% of the stented group still experienced severe symptoms, a marked improvement over the control cohort. Findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighting a potential shift in how clinicians manage chronic venous complications.
Daily Bulletin...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before a Senate health subcommittee, defending a proposal to slash the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by roughly 12 percent, or about $170 billion over five years. He argued that a sweeping restructuring...
Limits on Private Equity in CT Hospitals Passes State Senate
The Connecticut Senate approved Senate Bill 196, which bars private‑equity firms from acquiring or increasing control of hospitals after October 1, 2026 and requires annual certifications that no private‑equity influence exists. The bill also prohibits sale‑leaseback transactions on hospital campuses starting the...
Vermont Hospital Partners with OB-GYN Group to Sustain Birthing Services
Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, Vermont, has teamed up with independent OB‑GYN practice Maitri Health Care to preserve local obstetric and gynecologic services. Birth volumes at the hospital have dropped from over 500 to roughly 300 deliveries per year,...
FDA Notification Regarding Dehydrated Alcohol
The FDA has issued a formal notice telling companies to stop distributing any dehydrated alcohol products that are not the FDA‑approved Ablysinol from Belcher Pharmaceuticals. Ablysinol, approved on June 21, 2018, is the only legally marketed dehydrated alcohol in 1 mL and 5 mL...
Hospital Margins Decline in 2026 as Expenses Outpace Revenue
Hospital operating margins slipped into negative territory in early 2026, with the median margin at –0.3% year‑to‑date after a –0.6% reading in January. Expenses outpaced revenue growth, driven by a 7.6% rise in drug costs and a 7.8% increase in...
E&C Comprehensive Data Privacy Bill Includes HIPAA Carveout
The House Energy & Commerce Committee released a draft national data privacy bill that explicitly carves out HIPAA‑covered entities from its preemptive framework. The exemption aligns with recommendations health groups submitted to the committee last year. By preserving state‑level health...
POTUS Pushes Zero‑tolerance on Fentanyl, Lenient Cannabis Reclassification
Reclassification is critical so that we can have a no-tolerance rule for fentanyl and meth, which are deadly, and a reasonable policy on plant medicine and cannabis — which experts believe are far less harmful (and in therapeutic or hospice...
Cleveland Clinic’s Plan to ‘Flip’ the Medicare Advantage Model
Cleveland Clinic is reversing the trend of hospitals exiting Medicare Advantage by moving to the payer side, taking delegated premium risk to manage total cost of care. The health system entered three value‑based risk agreements and targets $1.4 billion in Medicare...
NDIS Cuts Threaten Everyday Support
Australia's federal government announced plans to cut at least 160,000 participants from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by 2030, aiming to halve the scheme's annual growth rate from 10% to 5%. The NDIS, costing about $50 billion AUD (≈ $33 billion USD)...
DoD Seeks to Split Defense Health Program Into Two Accounts in Fiscal 2027
The Pentagon’s FY2027 budget proposes ending the single Defense Health Program and replacing it with two distinct accounts: Combat Operational and Medical Readiness (COMP) and a Private Sector Care Program (PSCP). The request totals $42.5 billion in discretionary spending—$20.3 billion for COMP...
At-Home Care Providers Prioritize Talent, Culture-First Acquisitions
Home‑based care providers are increasingly making cultural fit and talent alignment the cornerstone of acquisition strategies. Executives at Nova Leap, LifeCare Home Health and Arosa say that mis‑aligned culture can destroy value, while retaining strong leadership teams enhances post‑deal performance....
Raise a Glass: ‘Grandparents Happy Hour’ Law Passed In Minnesota
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed the “Grandparents’ Happy Hour” law, removing the requirement that nursing homes and assisted‑living facilities hold a liquor license to serve alcohol. The change permits organized happy‑hour events for residents, with safeguards that staff serving drinks...
Hope Dims for Trump’s Surgeon General Nominee: 4 Details
President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer and entrepreneur, faces an increasingly uncertain path to confirmation after a contentious Senate HELP Committee hearing. The hearing highlighted her lack of an active medical license, incomplete...
Dr. Oz Announces a 50-State Audit of Medicaid Program Oversight
Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS administrator, announced a nationwide audit requiring all 50 states to revalidate Medicaid providers within 30 days, expanding the federal anti‑fraud push beyond the states previously targeted. The audit focuses on high‑risk areas and follows recent errors in...
RFK Jr. Sounded Completely Insane At Senate Hearing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serving as the Department of Health and Human Services secretary, testified before a Senate committee on healthcare policy. During the hearing, Senator Angela Alsobrooks quoted a remark that Kennedy allegedly suggested sending Black children to farms...
How Women Executives Are Rewriting Healthcare Leadership — 4 Takeaways
At Becker’s Hospital Review’s 16th Annual Meeting, four senior women leaders in healthcare discussed how they are reshaping leadership norms. They emphasized that clarity is a structural skill that resolves the “decisive but accommodating” paradox, and that sponsorship—providing access and...
Highest-Paid Payer CEOs in 2025
UnitedHealth Group chief Stephen Hemsley topped the 2025 list of highest‑paid payer CEOs, earning a total of $60.94 million, largely driven by a one‑time $60 million equity award. Former UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty placed second with $24.6 million, while Cigna, Elevance Health, CVS...
Paxlovid Showed No Hospitalization Benefit in Vaccinated Seniors
In 2 randomized, open-label trials of Paxlovid there was lack of evidence of reduced hospitalizations among the participants, who were age 50+ with coexisting conditions, and who were vaccinated. The endpoint was very low (<1.2%) in the treatment and control...
CMS Delays Part D Portion of BALANCE Model on Expansion of GLP-1 Access
On April 21, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that the Medicare Part D component of the Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive Health (BALANCE) Model will be delayed until 2027 pending additional evaluation and data collection....
3 Female CFOs on Moments that Defined Their Careers
At Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting, three senior healthcare CFOs—Shelly Schorer of CommonSpirit Health, Judy Peek‑Lee of the University of Vermont Medical Center, and Monica Price of Texas Health Resources—shared the pivotal moments that shaped their careers. They highlighted how female...
Cognitive Decline May Begin Up to 8 Years Before CVD Events in Older Adults
A large nested case‑control analysis of the ASPREE trial found that older adults who later suffered a cardiovascular event experienced accelerated declines in global cognition, memory, processing speed and verbal fluency. The cognitive deterioration began three to eight years before...
Heart Failure Experts Agree: HFmrEF Should Not Be Ignored
Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), defined by an ejection fraction of 41‑49%, accounts for up to 25% of global heart‑failure cases. The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) released a scientific statement in the Journal of Cardiac...
The Continuum of Fertility Care: Why IVF Is Not the only Option
Fertility care is evolving from an IVF‑first mindset to a personalized continuum that begins with a comprehensive male‑and‑female evaluation. Early interventions—such as ovulation‑inducing medication, lifestyle optimization, and targeted surgery—can restore natural conception potential for many couples. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) serves...
3 Pillars Shaping the Future of Pharmacy
Penn Medicine is redesigning its pharmacy model around three pillars: patient‑centric access, clinical integration, and technology‑enabled care. The health system is moving services from fixed locations to home‑based and digital touchpoints, aiming to cut barriers like prior‑authorization delays and improve...
Washington Post Publishes AHA Letter in Response to Anti-340B Editorial
The American Hospital Association (AHA) President Rick Pollack wrote a letter to the Washington Post defending the 340B drug pricing program after an editorial called for its repeal. Pollack argues the program is vital for delivering free or low‑cost medications,...
GDUFA III Drug Master File (DMF) Review Enhancements
The FDA’s GDUFA III reauthorization adds a mechanism for early review of Type II API drug master files up to six months before an ANDA or prior‑approval supplement is filed. A draft guidance explains how DMF holders can request a “DMF prior...
UnitedHealthcare Expands Rural Care Initiatives, Including Home-Based Models
UnitedHealthcare announced a suite of rural care initiatives aimed at improving continuity and access, including a 50% acceleration of payments to rural hospitals and exemption from most prior authorizations. The insurer is promoting hub‑and‑spoke networks that combine mobile, virtual, and...
‘Turning Points’ in Successful Hospice Quality Improvement
Hospice providers are grappling with heightened regulatory scrutiny, staffing shortages, and rising patient acuity. Treasure Coast Hospice, part of Treasure Health, recently earned a five‑star quality rating by emphasizing coordinated staffing, compliance, and patient‑centered care. Chief Clinical Officer Jennifer Creel...
6 Questions That May Help Expecting Moms Choose Their Delivery Hospital
Choosing a delivery hospital involves more than proximity; expectant mothers should evaluate NICU capabilities, emergency C‑section readiness, specialist coordination, care philosophy, and postpartum resources. Inova Health System in Northern Virginia exemplifies a comprehensive approach, offering a nationally ranked Level IV NICU,...
Tandem Recalls Mobi Insulin Pumps over Software Malfunction
Tandem Diabetes Care issued a Class I recall for its Mobi insulin pump after a software defect was found to falsely detect motor failure, stopping insulin delivery and cutting communication with continuous glucose monitors and the mobile app. The FDA’s enforcement...
WHO Certifies the Bahamas for Eliminating Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV
The World Health Organization has certified the Bahamas for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, making it the latest Caribbean nation to meet WHO’s stringent criteria. The achievement stems from universal antenatal care, an integrated laboratory network, and comprehensive treatment...
Highlights of the Administration’s FY 2027 Budget
The Trump administration released its FY 2027 discretionary health‑care budget on April 3, 2026, outlining a projected $85 billion in health‑related spending, a modest 4% rise over FY 2026. The Office of Management and Budget and HHS highlighted increased allocations for health‑IT modernization, pandemic preparedness,...
Chinese Study Links Rural Upbringing to Depression, Urban Life to ADHD in Children
A team of Chinese researchers analyzed nearly 20,000 students and found that children raised in rural areas are significantly more prone to depression and emotional withdrawal, whereas urban children exhibit higher rates of behavioural issues such as ADHD. The findings,...
Australian Study Finds 90% Value Muscle Health, Yet Only 9% Seek Professional Help
Australian researchers from Deakin University released data showing that over 90% of people aged 50+ consider muscle retention vital, yet just 9% have spoken to a health professional about sarcopenia. The findings underscore a widespread knowledge gap and point to...
MAHA Institute Names Chief Data Strategist Focused On Interoperability Issues
The MAHA Institute, a policy hub backing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Agenda," has appointed health‑technology executive Jaime Bland as its chief data strategist. Bland’s mandate centers on improving patient access to medical records and establishing...
How Small Teams Can Implement Effective Cyber Defenses
Cyderes SVP Daniel Spitzer advises that rural health systems can strengthen cyber defenses by first mapping attack vectors and then leveraging a trusted security partner to scale protection. Small IT teams, often limited to a handful of staff, can focus...
Mabwell’s Nectin‑4 ADC Shows Pseudoprogression in Cervical Cancer Case Report
Mabwell announced that a case report on its Nectin‑4‑targeting ADC 9MW2821, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, documented a rare hepatic pseudoprogression in an advanced cervical cancer patient. The report highlights dramatic tumor marker decline and lesion resolution,...
Conavi Medical Secures FDA Clearance for Hybrid IVUS‑OCT Imaging System
Conavi Medical announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared its next‑generation hybrid intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The device delivers simultaneous, co‑registered imaging and advanced lesion‑stent analysis, positioning it as a potential game‑changer...
RFK Jr. Says He Would Support a Potential Ban on Junk Food TV Ads
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would support a potential ban on junk‑food television advertisements, though he prefers a voluntary approach for food companies. The proposal follows similar arguments used to curb tobacco advertising and comes amid...
AHA Releases Q1 2026 Health Care Plan Accountability Update
The American Hospital Association’s Q1 2026 Health Care Plan Accountability Update bundles several pivotal Medicare developments. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate announcement and a final rule reshaping policy and technical...
Speakers Sought for 2027 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is inviting speakers for its 2027 Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, scheduled for Jan. 31‑Feb. 3 in Orlando, Florida. Submissions must focus on on‑the‑ground perspectives, successful case studies, and cutting‑edge solutions that demonstrate how rural health organizations...
Quest Diagnostics Q1 2026 Revenue Jumps 9% as CFO Sam Samad Highlights Cost Controls
Quest Diagnostics reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $2.89 billion, a 9.1% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.50. CFO Sam Samad said the growth stemmed from strong organic demand, partnership contributions and a 3% cost‑saving program, prompting the company to...
Dell Couple Gifts $750 Million to Build AI‑Native Hospital at UT Austin
Michael and Susan Dell have pledged $750 million to the University of Texas at Austin to fund a new AI‑native hospital and research campus slated to open in 2030. The gift, the largest private donation to a U.S. medical‑research institution, aims...
AHA Podcast Explores Treatment of Perinatal Trauma
Recent CDC data show the U.S. birth rate slipped 1% in 2025, extending a multi‑year decline. Maternal mortality fell slightly to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, matching the prior year’s rate. The American Heart Association, together with...
RFK Jr. Won't Back CDC Director on Vaccines as Agency Scraps Positive Data
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to pledge non‑interference with the incoming CDC director, Erica Schwartz, raising concerns about political meddling in vaccine policy. At the same time, the CDC scrapped a peer‑reviewed study that showed a 50% drop in emergency‑room visits...
How to Choose the Best Video Systems for Health Care
Video systems are reshaping health‑care delivery by enabling real‑time telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and specialist collaboration across distributed teams. Selecting the right platform requires balancing HIPAA‑level security, seamless EHR integration, high‑definition video quality, and scalable architecture. Leading vendors such as...
25% Beta‑Cell Loss and Aging Drive Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers analyzed ~250,000 pancreatic islet cells and found that in type 2 diabetes, about 25% of insulin-producing beta cells are lost and many of the remaining ones become aged and dysfunctional. They identified dozens of genes—along with pathways like vitamin...
Affordable Telemedicine Solutions Ease Staffing and Budget Strains
Staffing shortages + tight budgets = tough decisions. Telemedicine can help—if you choose the right platform. We break down budget-friendly options hospitals are actually using. 👇 https://t.co/rCm5j8wrKg @telespecialists @VSee @TeladocHealth @TeleMed2u @EagleTelemed #HITSM
COVID Vaccine Halved ER Visits, Hospitalizations for Healthy Adults
The report - that CDC leadership blocked after clearing scientific review - showed the COVID vaccine cut ER visits and hospitalizations for healthy adults by 1/2 last winter. It followed widely used methods, incl in a CDC flu report last...