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
How Digital Health Platforms Are Transforming Access to Time-Sensitive Care
Digital health platforms are reshaping time-sensitive care by streamlining scheduling, triage, and data integration. They enable remote consultations, automated intake, and real‑time record sharing, reducing wait times and geographic barriers. Clinical oversight remains central, with licensed providers reviewing algorithmic recommendations to ensure safety. The shift also supports equity through inclusive design and predictive analytics.
Report on the State of Pharmaceutical Quality
The FDA released its FY 2024 Report on the State of Pharmaceutical Quality, a comprehensive PDF detailing post‑market quality defects, recalls, import alerts, and warning letters across the U.S. drug supply chain. The report aggregates current and cumulative data on manufacturers,...
Safer CNS Drugs with BrainOnly Pharmacology
The article outlines a growing strategy to develop central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics that remain pharmacologically active only within the brain, termed "BrainOnly" pharmacology. By leveraging selective transport mechanisms, pro‑drug designs, and peripheral clearance pathways, researchers aim to minimize off‑target...
AHRQ Revives After Death-By-DOGE Threat, But What Will New Leaders Do?
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) survived a near‑termination effort and secured $345 million in the 2026 bipartisan budget, only a modest 9 percent cut from the prior year. Dr. Roger D. Klein, a physician‑attorney with conservative legal ties, has...
From the President’s Desk
In his February 2026 presidential column, Dr. Qihui‑Jim Zhai urges the pathology community to embrace digital pathology and AI tools rather than wait for perfect solutions. He argues that resistance risks being left behind as laboratories worldwide adopt these technologies to...
TAVR Linked to Higher Reintervention Rate than SAVR in Evolut Low Risk Trial Update
A six‑year update of the Medtronic‑funded Evolut Low Risk trial shows that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a self‑expanding valve has a higher reintervention rate than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low‑risk patients—5.5% versus 3.3% at six years,...
Completed BsUFA II Deliverables
The FDA has completed the BsUFA II deliverables, publishing a final assessment of the Biosimilar User Fee Act review program on February 21, 2022 and an interim assessment on January 27, 2021. Alongside these reports, the agency released annual updates...
The Product Mendoza Line
In this episode the host examines Epic’s decade‑long migration from its legacy thick‑client UI, Hyperspace, to the modern web‑based Hyperdrive, using the "Mendoza Line" metaphor to discuss product success thresholds. The discussion highlights the massive technical and organizational effort involved,...
Mass General Brigham Evaluates Emerging Healthcare Technologies
Mass General Brigham is actively scouting emerging health technologies, with AI‑assisted robotics at the forefront. The system envisions robots handling specimen transport, medication delivery, and post‑operative equipment sterilization to ease staff workload and reduce sharps injuries. A limited COVID‑era pilot...
Executive Passion Drives Successful Digital Health Journeys
Since 2020, health systems have diverged in Digital Health strategies for patient journeys (e.g. pre/postsurgery engagement). Two main camps: Camp 1: “We will deliver the best digital experience for patients that delivers the highest patient adoption, engagement and outcomes - we’re...
HIMSS26: Former AMA President Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld Gives Keynote to Kick Off Physicians’ Forum
Dr. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, former AMA president and global CMO of Aidoc, opened HIMSS26’s Physicians’ Forum with a keynote titled “From Hype to Healing: Real‑World AI Integration in Clinical Practice.” He warned that clinicians are overwhelmed and that AI must...
Alan Launches Alan Clinic in Canada: Bringing Mental Health Care Directly Into the Insurance App
Alan has launched Alan Clinic, an in‑app mental health support service for its Ontario members, embedding licensed talk therapy directly into its digital insurance platform. The offering provides secure video sessions, scheduling, and payment within a single app, bypassing public...
Medtronic Completes First Hugo Case in the US
Medtronic performed the first U.S. Hugo robotic surgery—a prostatectomy at the Cleveland Clinic—shortly after receiving FDA clearance. The system, already CE‑marked in Europe, is being installed at Duke University Hospital and Atrium Health, marking its initial U.S. footprint. CEO Geoff...
More Shots on Goal: Boehringer’s Long-View Playbook From IPF to Obesity
Boehringer Ingelheim is expanding its cardio‑renal‑metabolic (CRM) platform beyond its recent idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) successes to target obesity and related metabolic disorders. President Brian Hilberdink says the company is prioritizing partnerships rather than large‑scale M&A to broaden its pipeline...
How CathWorks Leaned on Its Partner Medtronic to Succeed
CathWorks, an AI‑driven startup that creates non‑invasive FFR assessments from routine angiograms, survived the pandemic by leaning on Medtronic’s early minority investment and strategic guidance. After automating its 3‑D coronary modeling to cut analysis time from 22 minutes to two,...
Brain Health Becomes Decade‑Long Priority Through Daily Habits
The next decade is the brain health decade, as I discussed with Bristol Myers Squibb (@bmsnews) CEO Chris Boerner at their Global Town Hall last week when @Thrive Global launched our brain health partnership to their 34,000 employees. BMS is...
Payers and Providers Align, Transforming Post‑Acute Care
Something’s changing in post-acute care. Payers and providers are aligning on priorities, data, and technology—and it’s reshaping the continuum. 🔗 https://t.co/cq0WY5sKsh @PointClickCare #postacutecare #HITSM
FDA Clears 12-Lead, Cable-Free Home ECG Monitoring System
The FDA granted 510(k) clearance for HeartBeam’s cable‑free 12‑lead ECG synthesis software, allowing home‑based arrhythmia assessment. The system captures cardiac signals in three non‑coplanar dimensions and reconstructs a full 12‑lead trace that can be reviewed by board‑certified cardiologists on demand....
Healthcare's Unique Data Means Interoperability Won’t Mirror Banking
Healthcare will never interoperate like banking or ride-sharing—and that’s okay. Jay Nakashima explains why healthcare data is different, and how networks are adapting: https://t.co/6q2TCgEW0q @eHealthExchange #QHIN #HITSM
Real‑time Insights, Not Spreadsheets, Save Hospitals
Hospitals aren’t losing because of too little data—they’re losing because insight arrives too late. Great breakdown from Bamboo Health on why TEAM will reward real-time intelligence, not spreadsheets. ➡️ https://t.co/zYH1JPyKDd #TEAMModel #HealthIT #HITSM
First Ever The Surgeon Show to Take Place in London This Week
The Surgeon Show 2026, the first UK‑focused surgical summit, convenes on 20 February at London’s Minster Building. Invitation‑only, it gathers over 60 leading surgeons, clinicians, policymakers and technology innovators from more than 50 health organisations. The one‑day event, backed by...
Pick the Right Interpreting Partner for Compliance and Better Outcomes
Choosing the right interpreting partner = compliance, trust & better outcomes. @Boostlingo’s Nate Klause highlights 10 top providers: https://t.co/cCnTqW5jvU #HealthEquity #HealthcareIT #HITSM
The $145M Federal Subsidy Nobody in Health Tech Is Talking About Yet
The episode breaks down the Department of Labor's newly announced $145 million Pay‑for‑Performance Incentive Payments Program, aimed at alleviating the looming 3.2 million‑worker shortage in U.S. healthcare. It explains why the program’s performance‑based funding model—paying per enrolled apprentice rather than upfront grants—creates...
UnitedHealthcare Tightens Specialist Access for Medicare Advantage Enrollees
The episode examines UnitedHealthcare's new policy requiring primary‑care referrals for specialist visits in its Medicare Advantage HMO and HMO‑POS plans, a change that will fully take effect after April 30. Through the stories of seniors like Theresa Schwartz and Pamela...
Telehealth for Primary Care Levels Off: Epic
Epic’s analysis of 411 million primary‑care visits shows telehealth usage has plateaued at roughly 6‑7 % of appointments since mid‑2023, following the pandemic‑driven surge. The share remains highest in metropolitan areas, with lower adoption in micropolitan, rural and small‑town settings. Adults aged...
Fitch Downgrades Missouri Hospital to ‘D’ Rating
Fitch downgraded John Fitzgibbon Memorial Hospital in Marshall, Missouri to a “D” rating from “C” and withdrew its issuer and bond ratings after the hospital defaulted on required debt payments. The default concerns principal and interest on 2010 bonds, and...
Marshfield Clinic to Open 13th Hospital March 1
Marshfield Clinic will open its 13th hospital on March 1 in Wisconsin Rapids, adding a full‑service acute‑care facility to the existing Marshfield Clinic Wisconsin Rapids Center. The new campus features inpatient beds, an emergency department, advanced imaging such as CT...
Regulatory Innovation as a Catalyst: How New Compliance Strategies Are Speeding Up Healthcare Technology Adoption
Regulatory bodies are reshaping medical‑device oversight to prioritize usability, interoperability, and cybersecurity, accelerating adoption in both hospitals and homes. New human‑factors guidelines, AI/ML lifecycle controls, and post‑market surveillance tools ensure devices are safe, intuitive, and adaptable to real‑world conditions. Manufacturers...
Amwell Expects Lower Revenue in 2026
Amwell announced 2026 revenue guidance of $195 million to $205 million, down from $249.3 million in 2025, after divesting non‑core assets. The company has consolidated its offerings into a single, technology‑enabled care platform focused on SaaS and third‑party services. Executives said the streamlined...
The “Silent” Risk in the NICU: Why Your EHR Can’t Protect Infant Feeding
Feeding in neonatal intensive care units is a high‑risk, high‑frequency workflow that many hospitals still manage with paper logs and manual checks because commercial EHRs were not built for end‑to‑end feeding control. The article highlights how gaps in verification—especially before...
Cleveland Clinic 1st to Use New Robot for Prostate Surgery
Cleveland Clinic became the first U.S. health system to perform a robotic‑assisted prostatectomy using the newly FDA‑cleared Hugo RAS system. The robot, approved in December, features modular arms and an open‑console that surgeons control with foot pedals and hand inputs....
GLP‑1 Safety: New Data Highlights Retinal Risks
A short thread on GLP-1s based on new publications. 1. The safety story Table of potential side effects and very good description of mechanisms, especially w/r to retina https://t.co/L5GNZyArrn https://t.co/MyXVOF3SYv
Fraud In The Care Economy Morphs From Solo Scams To Global Syndicates
The care economy’s expansion has attracted a sophisticated, global fraud network that stole nearly $4.9 billion from older Americans in 2024, a three‑fold rise over five years. Scammers now run multi‑stage attacks that blend tech‑support ruses, fake bank officials, and crypto...
Building on a Foundation of Culture and Trust: How Jefferson Health Reopened a Hospital Just 9 Days After a Fire
On Feb. 4, a fire engulfed the Orthopedic Institute building at Jefferson Health’s Lehigh Valley Hospital‑Dickson City, prompting the evacuation of more than 70 patients. Thanks to extensive disaster training and coordinated effort among staff, first responders, and local partners, no...
GE HealthCare Expands $35M BARDA Contract to Develop AI-Powered Trauma Ultrasound
GE HealthCare has secured a $35 million expansion of its BARDA contract to accelerate AI‑powered ultrasound development for trauma care. The funding will support both hardware and software to create point‑of‑care devices that automatically detect lung collapse and intra‑abdominal bleeding. The...
Jefferson Posts $201M Operating Loss in H1
Thomas Jefferson University, owner of Jefferson Health, posted a $201 million operating loss for the first half of fiscal 2026, reflecting a -2.3% operating margin. The loss includes $64.7 million in restructuring expenses tied to a planned layoff of roughly 650 employees....
The Great Opt-Out: Why Patients Are Ditching Insurance for Cash-Pay Digital Care
Vanessa Slowey, CEO of TelyRx, highlights a growing shift as millions of Americans, burdened by rising premiums, limited ACA subsidies and fragile telehealth policies, are opting for cash‑pay digital care. Uninsured rates sit at 27 million, and roughly one‑quarter of insured...
The Simple Model
In this episode, Dr. Ben Schwartz critiques the CMS ACCESS model and other value‑based care frameworks for their overwhelming administrative complexity and limited impact. He proposes a "Simple Model"—a streamlined fee‑for‑service system with minimal metrics, no prior authorizations, and higher...
BIOTRONIK Launches of ‘World’s First’ CRT-D Systems Approved for Conduction System Pacing
BIOTRONIK has introduced the Acticor Sky and Rivacor Sky family, the world’s first CE‑approved high‑voltage devices capable of left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP). The inaugural European implant was performed at University Hospital Frankfurt in an 87‑year‑old with ischemic cardiomyopathy and atrial...
Nearly 90% of the Largest U.S. Healthcare Systems Use UKG
UKG announced its presence at ViVE 2026 and HIMSS 2026, showcasing its Workforce Operating Platform tailored for healthcare. The platform, already used by nearly 90% of the largest U.S. health systems, combines HR, payroll and AI‑driven workforce management to boost productivity and...
Patchwork Health Launches AI-Powered ‘Preference-Based Rostering’ for NHS Clinicians
Patchwork Health has launched an AI‑driven Preference‑Based Rostering tool for NHS Trusts, instantly converting clinicians' shift preferences and service demand into compliant, fair schedules. The platform claims to meet 98% of negative preferences, cut unfilled shifts by 97% and slash...
Cosmetic Manufacturers Pty Ltd. - 719225 - 02/06/2026
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Warning Letter 320‑26‑43 to Cosmetic Manufacturers Pty Ltd., citing extensive Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) violations across laboratory testing, process control, equipment qualification, and written procedures. The agency placed the firm on Import...
Edwards Sued In Chancery Over $300M Heart Valve Earn-Out
Former shareholders of Valtech Cardio have sued its parent, Edwards Lifesciences, in the Delaware Chancery Court, alleging the medical‑device giant deliberately stalled development of a heart‑valve repair system. The lawsuit claims Edwards is avoiding payment of up to $300 million in...
McLaren Health Care Partners with Bunkerhill Health for AI-Powered Cardiovascular Screening
McLaren Health Care has launched Michigan’s first AI‑driven cardiovascular screening program in partnership with Bunkerhill Health. The initiative uses Bunkerhill’s Carebricks platform to analyze routine chest CT scans for incidental coronary artery calcium and aortic valve calcium, biomarkers of heart...
Piloting New Technology with a Structured Approach
Mass General Brigham’s chief digital officer, Esther Kim, outlined a disciplined pilot framework for emerging health technologies. The process begins with rigorous vetting to ensure alignment with the system’s strategic priorities. Pilot projects are measured against predefined clinical, operational, and...
Does Vaxart Hold the Key to the Elusive Norovirus Vaccine?
Vaxart is advancing an oral, bivalent norovirus vaccine pill (VXA‑G1.1‑NN) that demonstrated a 30% reduction in infection in a Phase 2b challenge study. The vaccine uses a non‑replicating adenovirus vector loaded with a dsRNA adjuvant to stimulate gut immunity, and a...
Prima Mente Unlocks Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Diagnostics with Epigenome Model
AI biology firm Prima Mente has launched Pleiades, a 7‑billion‑parameter epigenetic foundation model that reads DNA methylation in cell‑free DNA to diagnose early‑stage Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In real‑world cohorts the model achieved 89% detection accuracy, rising to 97% when combined...
This Startup Developed a First-of-Its-Kind Brain Function Assessment Device
QuantalX secured FDA de novo clearance for Delphi‑MD, a first‑of‑its‑kind device that fuses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (EEG) to deliver real‑time brain network function assessments. The system leverages proprietary algorithms and an age‑correlated normative database to generate actionable...
SpendRule Launches AI-Powered Contract Intelligence Platform with OSF HealthCare and MemorialCare
SpendRule has launched an AI‑driven contract intelligence platform that adds a fourth validation layer—contract terms—to traditional three‑way matching in hospital accounts payable. The solution targets the $323 billion purchased‑services spend category, where industry analysts estimate $32 billion in preventable overpayments each year....
Daffodil Health Raises $16.3M for AI Claims Automation
Daffodil Health announced a $16.3 million Series A round, bringing its total capital to $20.9 million. The San Francisco startup uses AI and large‑language models to automate health‑plan administration, focusing on out‑of‑network pricing and payment‑integrity workflows. Funds will accelerate product development and expand...