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 AI‑scribe provider now serves over 300 health systems and plans to integrate its platform with payers and broader care settings.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Kardigan targets $1.4B IPO valuation
RFK Jr. Taps FDA Policy And Food Chiefs As Senior Counselors To Also Serve On His Immediate Staff, Raising Expectations...
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed FDA policy chief Grace Graham and senior FDA food official Kyle Diamantas as senior counselors who will also serve on his immediate staff. The move follows a broader senior‑level reshuffle that includes Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill’s exit. By embedding top FDA talent directly into HHS leadership, the administration signals a push for more rigorous policy development across drug and food safety domains. The appointments leverage Graham’s congressional experience and Diamantas’s food‑safety expertise to tighten inter‑agency coordination.
Flu Kills 66 Kids; 90% Were Unvaccinated
1. Time for a #flu & #measles update. Six more kids have died from flu, bringing the year-to-date total to 66. Sadly there will be more deaths reported but hopefully this year doesn't approach last year's dreadful pediatric death toll. #CDC...
Measles Outbreak Hits Ave Maria University in Florida
More than 40 measles cases have been confirmed at Ave Maria University, marking the largest campus outbreak in recent memory. The incident follows similar exposures at Clemson, Anderson, the University of Wisconsin‑Madison and the University of Florida, indicating a broader resurgence....
Will AI Replace Doctors? A Conversation with Physician & NYT Bestselling Author Dr. Bob Wachter About the Digital vs Human...
In this live conversation, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Lucy McBride discuss the fragmented state of electronic medical records (EMRs) and how patients and physicians alike are overwhelmed by multiple, non‑communicating digital portals. They highlight federal efforts to create standardized, interoperable...
CMS Provides More Leeway to Medicaid State-Directed Payments Before New Limits Kick In
CMS issued new guidance that widens the grandfathering window for Medicaid state‑directed payments (SDPs), allowing states to lock in higher rates through business‑day calculations. The expanded windows—Oct 11 2024 to July 3 2025 and July 7 2025 to March 27 2026—let providers preserve rates above the caps that...
Providence Cedars-Sinai Nurses Plan 5-Day Strike
Registered nurses and licensed staff at Providence Cedars‑Sinai Tarzana will begin a five‑day strike on Feb. 16, organized by SEIU Local 121RN, which represents more than 11,000 California healthcare workers. The union’s grievances include unsafe staffing levels, poor environmental conditions, workplace harassment,...
Green Lumber Holding, LLC Issues Consumer Alert on Counterfeit Products Following FDA Findings
Green Lumber Holding, LLC issued a consumer alert after the FDA found undeclared tadalafil in products marketed as Green Lumber. The agency’s testing revealed that a former employee had diverted authentic packaging to distribute counterfeit, adulterated goods. Green Lumber confirmed...
Sabra CEO: Skilled Nursing M&A Remains Relationship-Driven and Limited in 2026
Sabra Health Care REIT sold seven skilled‑nursing properties for $51 million in Q4, signaling a sharp pullback in nursing‑home M&A for 2026. The REIT’s pipeline will focus almost entirely on senior housing, which represents roughly 95% of its investment opportunities and...
Mesosil’s Infection-Fighting Dental Tech Gets FDA Clearance
Toronto‑based health‑tech startup Mesosil has secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its antimicrobial dental additive, allowing U.S. dental manufacturers to embed the technology in products such as composites and cements. The clearance follows a four‑year development program and validates the company’s...
How a Virtual ICU Saved a Rural Hospital
WVU Medicine’s virtual ICU program, piloted at Potomac Valley Hospital, used daily remote rounds to connect critical‑care physicians with local staff, preventing patient transfers and boosting occupancy. The low‑cost model required roughly $5,400 in startup expenses and quickly raised daily...
Neil Huber: Building Pulse Radiology Education Into a Modern Training Leader
Neil Huber founded Pulse Radiology Education in 2015 to give working radiologic technologists a flexible path to advanced certification. The company now operates two arms—Pulse Radiology Education and Pulse Radiology Institute—offering ARRT‑approved coursework, clinical placement, and an MRI associate degree....
U of Minnesota Physicians Taps CEO
University of Minnesota Physicians has appointed Dr. Greg Beilman, a critical‑care surgeon and retired Army Reserve colonel, as its permanent chief executive officer. Beilman, who served as interim CEO since July, will oversee the 4,500‑strong clinical enterprise and guide it...
Front Row with BioCentury: Competition in the Obesity Market
Obesity has shifted from a behavioral label to a high‑growth biopharma arena, driven by breakthrough GLP‑1 drugs and emerging oral formulations. Stephen Hansen of BioCentury highlights how these agents mirror Type II diabetes treatments, creating a lucrative market and reshaping clinical...
Nektar, Evommune Capitalize on Positive Phase II Readouts in Atopic Dermatitis: Public Equity Report
Nektar Therapeutics announced robust Phase II results for its IL‑2R modulator rezpegaldesleukin in atopic dermatitis, propelling its stock 51% higher. Leveraging the momentum, the company closed an upsized $400 million PIPE financing consisting of common stock and pre‑funded warrants. Evommune also secured...
Disc CEO Updates
This was over two months ago at ASH, so ages, but here's how Disc's CEO said the bitopertin review was going back then. $IRON https://t.co/9SvSML6th8
A Fresh Energy Supply May Shield Nerves From Diabetic or Chemo-Induced Neuropathy
Researchers funded by the NIH discovered that satellite glial cells (SGCs) deliver mitochondria to sensory neurons through tunneling nanotubes, a process essential for neuronal energy supply. In mouse models of diabetes and chemotherapy‑induced neuropathy, this mitochondrial transfer is impaired, leading...
Researchers Achieve the First Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass
Researchers at NIH and Emory have performed the world’s first minimally invasive coronary artery bypass, called VECTOR, without opening the chest. The technique reroutes blood flow by creating a new coronary ostium using catheter‑based tools introduced through the femoral vessels....
NIH Halts Arm of Clinical Trial Evaluating a Potential Stroke Treatment
The National Institutes of Health halted the low‑dose rivaroxaban arm of the CAPTIVA trial after the Data Safety and Monitoring Board identified a rise in adverse events and concluded the treatment was unlikely to be beneficial. CAPTIVA, a double‑blind, three‑arm...
NIH Opens East Palestine Health Research Office to Study Train Disaster
The National Institutes of Health has inaugurated the East Palestine Health Research Program Office, a five‑year, $10 million initiative to study the long‑term health impacts of the 2023 train derailment in Ohio. The office will coordinate community‑focused studies, enroll residents in...
NIH-Funded Study Clearly Ties Risk of Dementia to Severe CTE
A new NIH‑funded study provides the strongest evidence linking severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to dementia risk. Analyzing 614 donated brains without Alzheimer’s or other common neurodegenerative diseases, researchers found stage IV CTE patients were 4.5 times more likely to have...
NIH Scientists Develop "Digital Twin" Of Eye Cells to Understand and Treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration
NIH researchers have built the first subcellular‑resolution digital twin of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, using 3‑D imaging of 1.3 million cells and an AI algorithm called POLARIS. The model maps polarity, organelle size and volume across developmental stages, creating...
NIH Proposes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Shift to Put Patients First
The National Institutes of Health announced a Request for Information aimed at identifying biotechnologies that can replace human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in research. NIH is temporarily pausing the review and approval of new hESC lines, leaving the existing 503...
Oklahoma Plans Decentralized State-Based Exchange
Oklahoma’s insurance commissioner announced that the state will abandon the federal health‑insurance marketplace and launch a decentralized, state‑run exchange beginning in the 2028 plan year. The new platform will rely on web‑based brokers to handle enrollment, giving the state greater...
FDA Rejects IRON Disc’s Rare Disease Therapy, CNPV Stumbles
FDA rejects rare disease therapy from $IRON Disc Medicine, early recipient of commissioner’s voucher CNPV program falters out of the starting gate... https://t.co/w4ptB2ecRS via @LizzyLaw_ and me
STAT+: FDA Rejects Rare Disease Therapy From Disc Medicine, Early Recipient of Commissioner’s Voucher
The FDA rejected bitopertin, Disc Medicine’s experimental therapy for acute hepatic porphyria, marking the first drug reviewed under Commissioner Marty Makary’s fast‑track voucher program. The agency cited uncertainties about the link between the trial’s blood‑based biomarker and actual clinical benefit....
South Carolina Measles Outbreak at 950 Cases
South Carolina’s measles outbreak has surged to 933 confirmed cases as of Feb 10, according to the state Department of Public Health. Unvaccinated individuals account for 859 of those infections, underscoring a vaccination gap. The outbreak follows a steady climb from...
When Nudges Aren’t Enough: Study Ponders AS Referral System Changes
A Canadian study of 343 patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis found that automated prompts in echocardiography reports and EMRs only modestly improved specialist referrals. About 60% of severe AS patients and just over 20% of moderate cases were...
HHS Releases RFI on New 340B Rebate Model
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a request for information on a proposed 340B rebate model pilot, inviting comments through March 19. The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs will use stakeholder feedback to decide...
Call Doctors Physicians, Not “Providers,” Specialty Group Says
In February 2026 the American College of Physicians (ACP) released a policy paper in Annals of Internal Medicine urging that doctors be called physicians, not “providers.” The ACP argues the term provider, rooted in 1965 Medicare language, dilutes medical professionalism...
NIH Shifts Funding Away From Pandemic Preparedness
#NIH to deprioritize pandemic preparedness and biodefense research, @nature.com reports, saying director Jay Bhattacharya wants to focus on known diseases, not possible future threats. What could possibly go wrong? https://t.co/6TpLr6pY3B https://t.co/7rVzvkOzkT
Healthy Diet Adds 2‑3 Years Lifespan, Especially Early
A healthy diet, accounting for longevity-related genes, associated with 2-3 more years of life expectancy from >100,000 people followed 10.6 years, max benefit for starting at youngest age (Figure) @uk_biobank @ScienceAdvances https://t.co/Ji7Wlhj9ZA https://t.co/B6UxuE97xG
The Fight for Payer Control Points
The episode explains InterSystems' new Payer Connector, clarifying that it is not a rival to Epic's Payer Platform but a complementary integration layer that helps payers connect Epic's standardized edge to their fragmented internal systems. It highlights the challenges payers...
District Court Vacates FTC Changes to Premerger Notification Rules
On February 12, a U.S. District Court in Texas vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule that altered pre‑merger notification requirements under the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Act. The rule had expanded the HSR filing form and imposed additional reporting obligations on merging firms....
ACA Subsidies Expired. Open Enrollment Ended. But It Will Still Take Awhile To Register the Results.
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act closed in February, revealing the first impact of the December 31, 2025 expiration of enhanced premium subsidies. While total sign‑ups exceeded some analysts' forecasts, enrollment was still 1.2 million lower than the same period...
Family Caregivers Face ‘Vicious Financial Cycle’
A new report from the Center for Innovation & Value Research quantifies caregiver stress as a massive economic driver, estimating $14.1 trillion in annual U.S. costs. Interviews with 55 workshop participants reveal that chronic stress leads to work disruption, higher household...
Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer May Do Well With Simple Strategy for CV Risk
A randomized trial of 347 adult survivors of childhood cancer found that early cardiovascular (CV) risk screening alone was as effective as screening plus one‑on‑one counseling. Both groups showed improvements in blood pressure and lipid measures, with the counseling arm...
Interoperability That Pays Off: Turning Data Exchange Into ROI
In a HealthLeaders podcast, Muhammed Chebli, NextGen Healthcare’s vice president of product, interoperability, explains how health systems can convert data exchange initiatives into measurable business value. He outlines concrete methods for linking interoperability to revenue‑cycle efficiency, claim‑denial reduction, and faster...
Human Drug Compounding
The FDA outlines its compounding program, which permits licensed pharmacists or physicians to mix, combine, or alter drug ingredients to meet individual patient needs. Compounded medications are not FDA‑approved, meaning they bypass pre‑market safety and efficacy review. The agency’s oversight...
CDC Newsroom Releases
The episode reviews recent CDC press releases, highlighting a series of Salmonella outbreaks tied to moringa leaf powder and other dietary supplements, as well as raw oysters. It also notes the launch of the nation’s largest National Firefighter Registry for...
Interoperability and AI: Industry Perspectives and Best Practices
On February 17, 2026, HIMSS will host a 30‑minute panel featuring IBM Consulting’s Cathy Reese and Snowflake’s Jesse Cugliotta to explore the intersection of interoperability and artificial intelligence in healthcare. The discussion will assess current AI maturity, outline best practices for constructing...
MKS Enterprise, LLC - 624478 - 07/01/2022
The FDA issued a warning letter to MKS Enterprise, LLC after laboratory analysis revealed that its product Vital Honey contained the prescription drug tadalafil, an undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredient. The agency determined the honey is both a prohibited food adulterated...
VENUS Safety Expands PPE and Air Filtration Portfolio, Prepares New Launches to Support India's Manufacturing-Led Growth
VENUS Safety & Health Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai‑based PPE and air‑filtration manufacturer, announced an expansion of its product portfolio and upcoming launches to back India’s Make‑in‑India drive. The firm now operates seven facilities with a daily capacity of 1.5 million units,...
Health Cover to Be Bundled with Pension Schemes, Says PFRDA Chief
India’s PFRDA is piloting pension plans that bundle health insurance, allowing up to 30% of the retirement corpus to be earmarked for medical expenses. ICICI, Axis and Tata‑backed funds are testing the “Swasthya” product, which could leverage pooled investors to...
Hims Jumps Into Cancer Detection Market, Awaits Medicare Coverage
Telehealth and wellness brand Hims & Hers Health announced it will enter the multi‑cancer early‑detection market. The move comes as the company’s GLP‑1 weight‑loss segment slows and it seeks new growth avenues. Hims is leveraging the current regulatory gap for...
Sami Inkinen of Virta Health on AI-Native Healthcare and Reversing Metabolic Disease
In this fireside chat, Sami Inkinen, CEO and founder of Virta Health, explains how his personal pre‑diabetes diagnosis inspired the creation of a company that uses nutrition, technology and AI to reverse type‑2 diabetes and obesity. He describes Virta’s massive...
Akron Children's Uses Epic and Real-Time Analytics to Reduce Waste Anesthesia Gases
Akron Children’s Hospital leveraged its Epic EHR and real‑time analytics to dramatically cut waste anesthesia gases, a source of 5‑10% of its greenhouse‑gas emissions. By introducing low‑flow reminders in Epic and on anesthesia machines, the team achieved an initial 5%...
Lilly Appeals Retatrutide Classification Ruling in Case that Could Impact Compounders
Eli Lilly has filed a notice of appeal challenging the FDA’s classification of its experimental obesity injection, retatrutide. The agency labeled the product as a new molecular entity, granting it a 12‑year data exclusivity period. Lilly argues the classification is incorrect...
Longevity Innovation Forum in San Diego
Longevity Global is launching the inaugural Longevity Innovation Forum in San Diego on March 11‑12, 2026, gathering leading scientists, clinicians, biotech founders and investors to accelerate healthy‑aging research. The two‑day summit features high‑profile speakers such as Mike Snyder, Eric Verdin,...
Georgia Advances Bill Expanding Pharmacists’ HIV Care Role
Georgia’s House of Representatives approved a bill, 155‑7, that would let pharmacists prescribe and administer HIV prevention drugs such as pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post‑exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The legislation aims to remove the prerequisite of a primary‑care visit, expanding access...