Today's Healthcare Pulse
Abridge teams with Eli Lilly and Nvidia to expand AI scribe platform
Abridge announced a strategic investment from Eli Lilly and a partnership with Nvidia to build a foundation model for clinical conversations. The collaboration aims to broaden Abridge’s AI‑scribe services across more health systems and integrate with payers. The company already supports over 300 health systems.
Also developing:
Indonesia: Advancing an AI-Driven Shift To Preventive Healthcare
Indonesia is accelerating an AI‑driven shift toward preventive healthcare, focusing on laboratory diagnostics as the backbone of early detection. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono highlighted AI’s role in enhancing lab efficiency while stressing that clinical judgment remains essential. The government is integrating the SatuSehat platform with electronic health records and expanding public labs through the InPULS programme to improve data interoperability and access. Pilot projects such as the Airdoc eye‑analysis tool at RSUD Palangka Raya illustrate how AI is being deployed to speed up screening and reduce invasive testing.
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Clinicians Are Failing at Value-Based Care because No One Taught Them the System [PODCAST]
Clinicians are being asked to deliver value‑based care outcomes without formal training on the underlying metrics or workflow. The shift from fee‑for‑service to outcome‑focused reimbursement places pressure on providers to manage population‑health dashboards and quality scores. Kenneth Botelho, director of...
New PARP Inhibitor Resistance Mechanisms Found in Ovarian Cancer
A recent British Journal of Cancer study uncovers drug‑specific resistance mechanisms to PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer, highlighting alterations in PARP trapping, replication‑fork protection, and chromatin‑remodeling. The research shows that resistance is not limited to homologous recombination restoration but involves...
Mammary Organoid Depot Enables Post-Surgery Chemo, Regeneration
Researchers have created a mammary organoid‑based depot that delivers a pH‑responsive doxorubicin prodrug directly to the surgical site while simultaneously regenerating breast tissue. The engineered organoids mimic lactation, loading drug‑laden lipid droplets into milk‑fat globules that are secreted locally, achieving...
SAGA Diagnostics to Present New Pathlight™ MRD Data for Ovarian and Metastatic Breast Cancer at AACR 2026
SAGA Diagnostics will present two abstracts at AACR 2026 showcasing its Pathlight™ structural‑variant‑based circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay. In metastatic breast cancer, the test achieved a 77% detection rate, with ultrasensitive reads predicting therapeutic response and preceding radiologic progression. In...
Boston Health AI Secures Its US Footprint Through Implementation with Avicenna Clinics
Boston Health AI launched its Clinical Intelligence Companion, Hami, at Avicenna Clinics in Houston after a three‑month live deployment. The AI platform now supports patient intake in English, Spanish, Urdu and Arabic, handling histories, documentation, decision‑making and coding. Early patient...
New PEPFAR Data Show Worrying Declines in Testing and Treatment for H.I.V.
New data from the State Department reveal that the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) treated roughly the same number of patients in Q4 2025 as in Q4 2024, but experienced sharp declines in HIV testing and new diagnoses. Testing dropped...
QAPI Is the Best Way to Make ‘Person-Centered Care’ Actionable in Nursing Homes, But Hurdles Remain
Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs are emerging as the most practical way to translate person‑centered care into actionable steps in nursing homes, but the lack of a federal definition hampers consistent adoption. Researchers from NYU Rory Meyers College of...
Class-Action Suit Over Alleged Understaffing at Alden Group Nursing Homes Moves Forward
A Cook County judge has allowed a proposed class‑action lawsuit against Alden Group, an Illinois nursing‑home operator, to move into the discovery phase. The suit, filed by the AARP Foundation and disability‑rights advocates, alleges Alden chronically operated with staffing levels...
Zai Lab Presents New Data Demonstrating Zocilurtatug Pelitecan (Zoci) Induces Rapid and Robust Intracranial Responses in Small Cell Lung Cancer...
Zai Lab reported that its DLL3‑targeting ADC zocilurtatug pelitecan (Zoci) generated a 53.7% confirmed intracranial objective response rate (iORR) in extensive‑stage small‑cell lung cancer (ES‑SCLC) patients with brain metastases, rising to 62.5% at the 1.6 mg/kg dose. In a separate cohort...
Behavioral Health Demand Has Increased by 62% Since 2018. What the Industry Needs to Know
The 2026 Trilliant Health Behavioral Health Report shows a 62.6% jump in utilization since 2018, with visits reaching 1,346 per 1,000 people by 2024. Anxiety‑related visits surged 89.3%, especially among women aged 18‑44, while telehealth now accounts for roughly two‑thirds...
If Your Vet Is Recommending the Nobivac NXT Canine Flu Vaccine - Read This!!
A recent FOIA request uncovered 296 adverse event reports linked to Merck's Nobivac NXT canine flu vaccine, the first self‑amplifying RNA vaccine for pets in the United States. The data, covering September 2024 through July 2025, includes deaths, neurological reactions,...
Officials See Pro‑vaccine Pick as Positive, yet Insufficient
"Two former CDC officials, who spoke to MS NOW on condition of anonymity, said Schwartz’s support of vaccines was a good sign, but they cautioned that touting vaccines is a low bar to clear for a leader of the agency...
KLAS Releases 2026 Patient Financing Services Report Examining Recourse Vs. Nonrecourse Offerings
KLAS released its 2026 Patient Financing Services report, highlighting a pivotal shift from recourse to nonrecourse financing models. Recourse arrangements keep default risk on providers but feature lower fees, while nonrecourse solutions transfer risk to third‑party firms and guarantee predictable...
DTE Producer Hoping For FDA Leniency, BLA Approval
The FDA announced it will exercise enforcement discretion for animal‑derived desiccated thyroid extract (DTE), allowing the product to stay on the market even though it is classified as an unapproved biologic. Producers of DTE welcomed the move, noting it preserves...
Maternal Mortality Is a Policy Failure
Maternal mortality in the United States remains a public‑health emergency, with a 2022 rate of roughly 22 deaths per 100,000 live births—more than double that of comparable high‑income nations. The crisis is driven by policy gaps, including limited postpartum insurance...
STAT's Live AACR Coverage: Newsletter, Event, Recap
A heads up: starting Sunday, and through the beginning of next week, STAT is going to be taking the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research by storm. This is one of the best venues for spotting new ideas...
‘A Better Group of People’: A Year After Deep Staffing Cuts, HHS on Track to Grow Its Workforce
A year after slashing 20,000 positions, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports a headcount of 72,000 and a plan to hire an additional 12,000 employees. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the new hires will better align...
Cardiologists Now Earn More than Radiologists or Plastic Surgeons
Cardiologists in the United States now earn an average $575,000, a 10% rise from the previous year, according to Medscape’s 2026 Physician Compensation Report. The report, based on nearly 6,000 physicians, shows overall physician earnings grew 3% while cardiology ranked...
Beyond Risk Launches Unified Health Benefits Funding Platform
Beyond Risk has introduced Beyond Health Partners, a unified health benefits funding platform that consolidates its stop‑loss, captive and cost‑containment businesses. The new platform integrates SL Management Partners, Captive Solutions & Options, and the Beyond Health captive team under one...
Evening Update: Inside the CDC’s Collapse Under Political Control.
The article examines how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deteriorated under sustained political pressure, highlighting leadership turnover, budget cuts, and the sidelining of scientific expertise. It cites specific instances where political appointees overrode epidemiologists, reshaped data...
Keep Operations Running During EHR Downtime
Healthcare providers now treat electronic health record (EHR) downtime as a recurring operational reality rather than a rare glitch. As core clinical and administrative workflows migrate to digital platforms, manual fallback procedures no longer sustain the speed or accuracy required....
Why Listening Is the Core of Patient-Centered Care
Clinicians are increasingly constrained by documentation and tight schedules, leading patients to feel unheard. The article argues that listening is the cornerstone of patient‑centered care, linking empathy to better diagnoses, adherence, and satisfaction. It highlights how electronic health record demands...
The Real Drivers of GLP-1 Growth
In this episode, Terrence Flynn, Morgan Stanley’s Head of U.S. Pharma and Biotech Research, outlines the next phase of growth for GLP‑1 obesity medicines, estimating the market could peak at about $190 billion globally. He highlights five key drivers: the shift...
Co-Pay Models and AFPs Shift Costs but Raise Access Concerns: Patty Taddei-Allen, PharmD, MBA
Co‑pay accumulators, maximizers, and alternative funding programs (AFPs) are gaining traction as insurers and PBMs attempt to curb rising drug costs. While accumulators and maximizers keep the existing benefit design, they shift more out‑of‑pocket expenses onto patients. AFPs, by contrast,...
The Administrative Burden Playbook for Clinical and Operational Leaders
The webinar hosted by Yan D‑Beaurivage, Vice President of Product, Market and Growth Strategy at Petal, presents a frontline‑informed playbook for cutting administrative burden in hospitals. It emphasizes pinpointing high‑friction workflows, deploying automation that supports clinical judgment, and moving quickly...
How to Close the Healthcare IT Skills Gap
Healthcare IT faces a widening talent shortage, prompting leaders like Davenport University’s Joseph Brown to call for tighter ties between academia and the industry. He argues that direct instruction from seasoned IT professionals can better equip graduates for real‑world challenges....
Students Get Lots of Networking Opportunities at HIMSS
At the HIMSS26 conference, undergraduates and graduate students interested in healthcare IT were reminded of the networking advantages of joining local HIMSS chapters. Joseph Brown, chair for allied health and HIM at Davenport University, highlighted that chapter membership opens doors...
Nanobody Fixes CFTR Misfolding, Boosts Cystic Fibrosis Therapy
A cell-penetrating nanobody repairs misfolded CFTR proteins in cystic fibrosis cells, restoring chloride channel function and showing strong synergy with existing therapies, potentially advancing treatment for protein misfolding disorders. biotechnology
Nanobody Repairs Misfolded CFTR Inside Cells, Boosting Function in Cystic Fibrosis
Researchers at Charité‑Berlin and the Leibniz FMP have engineered a cell‑penetrating nanobody that binds the F508del mutant CFTR inside lung cells, restoring proper folding and chloride transport. In vitro, the nanobody remained bound for at least 24 hours and rescued channel...
FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility PPS Proposed Rule Summary
On April 7 2026, CMS issued a proposed FY 2027 rule that updates Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) payment rates, the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), and the SNF Value‑Based Purchasing (VBP) program. The agency projects a $888 million (+2.4%) increase in Medicare payments...
Erica Schwartz CDC Nomination: What You Need to Know
President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH, as the next CDC Director, pending Senate confirmation. Schwartz, a former Deputy Surgeon General and rear admiral in the Coast Guard, brings two decades of public‑health service and a blend...
Dubai Unveils ‘Hayat’ Initiative to Educate Public on Obesity with Eli Lilly and True Body USA
Dubai has launched the three‑month “Hayat” initiative, a government‑backed program supported by Eli Lilly and True Body USA, to deliver evidence‑based education on obesity. Led by Shahriar Shahir Barzegar of Elegant Hoopoe, the effort combines pharmaceutical research, body‑composition technology and...
Beyond Calcium: Vitamin D, Protein and Exercise Essential for Bone Strength
Orthopedic specialists say calcium supplements alone are insufficient for preventing fractures. A new consensus emphasizes vitamin D, adequate protein, and regular weight‑bearing activity as the missing pillars of bone health, reshaping nutrition advice and supplement markets.
Experts Alert Sharp Rise in Rotavirus Cases Among U.S. Infants
Medical researchers say rotavirus infections are spiking across the United States, with wastewater testing showing unprecedented levels since January. The surge threatens infants and toddlers, prompting doctors to stress timely vaccination and fluid management.
FY 2027 Hospice Payment Rate Update Proposed Rule Summary
On April 6, 2026 CMS proposed a rule that would raise Medicare hospice payments by about $785 million, a 2.4% increase for FY 2027, driven by a revised wage index and a new service‑spending variation index. The rule also requires hospices to...
ANCOR Rebuts RFK Jr.’s Remarks On CDPAP, Home- And Community-Based Services
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused consumer‑directed personal assistance programs, including New York’s CDPAP, of fueling Medicaid fraud, claiming payments go to family members for routine tasks. He warned that fraud costs rival medical expenses...
AHA Urges en Banc Review of 4th Circuit’s West Virginia 340B Contract Pharmacy Law Decision
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and allied groups filed an amicus brief on April 17 urging the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear en banc a panel ruling that struck down West Virginia’s law protecting 340B contract‑pharmacy arrangements....
Sixth Maricopa County Measles Case Triggers Exposure Warning for Mesa Youth Basketball Game
Maricopa County health officials confirmed a sixth measles case on April 16, 2026, and warned that anyone who attended a youth basketball game in Mesa on April 11 could have been exposed. The alert adds to a statewide tally of...
Personalized Bioelectrodes Improve Brain Signal Monitoring and Compatibility
Penn State researchers have created 3D‑printed hydrogel bioelectrodes that are customized to an individual’s brain geometry using MRI‑derived models. The honeycomb‑inspired, stretchable design conforms to cortical gyri and sulci far better than conventional stiff, one‑size‑fits‑all probes, delivering higher‑quality electrical signals....
Siemens Plans Shareholder Vote on Siemens Healthineers Spinoff
Siemens announced it will ask shareholders to vote on a plan to spin off Siemens Healthineers at the February annual meeting. The proposal would transfer 30% of Healthineers shares to Siemens investors, reducing the parent’s stake from 67% to roughly...
Exploring Untapped Natural Chemistry for Future Medicines
Generare, a Paris‑based tech‑bio startup, is tackling AI drug‑discovery limitations by feeding models with diverse, biologically validated natural compounds from microbes. CEO Guillaume Vandenesch argues that current AI systems rely on narrow synthetic datasets, which restrict therapeutic relevance. The company...
April 2026 Dispatch for the CV Team
Recent cardiovascular research underscores the growing influence of social determinants and refined biomarkers on patient outcomes. A meta‑analysis shows intensive blood‑pressure control after mechanical thrombectomy worsens 90‑day function and raises mortality, while studies link unaffordable dental care, Medicaid coverage, and...
Sona Nanotech Adds Two Oncologists to Advisory Board for Hyperthermia Therapy
Sona Nanotech announced that Dr. Michael Smylie and Dr. Jonathan Trites have joined its Scientific Advisory Board, a move intended to speed up clinical trials for its Targeted Hyperthermia photothermal cancer platform. The hires bring deep expertise in melanoma immunotherapy...
FDA Shifts to Single Pivotal Trial as Default Standard for All Drug Approvals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that a single adequate and well‑controlled trial will become the default evidentiary standard for all new drug approvals, replacing the long‑standing two‑trial requirement. The change, unveiled by Commissioner Martin Makary and CBER director...
Start High‑Dose Folic Acid Pre‑Pregnancy Cuts Birth Defects 45%
Initiating high-dose folic acid before pregnancy is linked to a 45% lower risk of major birth defects in children of women using antiseizure medication, with no protective effect observed if supplementation begins after pregnancy starts. epilepsycare
Sex Differences Crucial for Glucagon Obesity Drug Efficacy
Male and female bodies respond differently to glucagon-based obesity drugs, and FGF21 plays an important role—especially in females. This means future treatments need to account for sex differences to be effective and safe. https://t.co/Z9gllk02Dj
France Leads Approval of IV Ketamine for Suicidal Crises
Scientists test if ketamine has antidepressant effects under anesthesia; France is the first to approve IV ketamine for severe suicidal crisis https://t.co/s7W7YlAOMr
UCB to Acquire Neurona for $1.2B, Targeting Seizure Cell Therapy
UCB, betting on seizure cell therapy, to buy Neurona for up to $1.2B https://t.co/LxI1Omodan by @realJacobBell $UCB
Exercise Aligned with Your Chronotype Reduces Heart Disease Risk
Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype may lower cardiovascular disease risk https://t.co/RhtM0ZlW1k via @medical_xpress #exercise #CardioTwitter #MedTwitter #health #lifestylemedicine