CMS Looks to Bring Rx Prior Authorization Into Digital Age
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a push to digitize prescription‑drug prior authorization (PA) through electronic prior authorization (ePA) standards. The initiative mandates health plans and pharmacies to adopt interoperable, real‑time PA workflows by the end of 2027. CMS will provide technical guidance, pilot programs, and performance metrics to track reductions in approval times. The move aims to cut administrative burden and speed patient access to needed medications.
Next Step in Recycling More Healthcare Plastics: Better Labeling
The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) launched a 2026 project to create standardized labeling for flexible and rigid medical packaging. With less than 5% of healthcare plastics currently recycled in North America and Europe, the initiative seeks to improve material...
Switchback Medical Is Expanding Into Costa Rica
Switchback Medical, a Minnesota‑based CDMO, has signed a lease for an 18,000‑square‑foot facility in Costa Rica’s Coyol Free Trade Zone, featuring a 3,500‑square‑foot cleanroom. The site will begin development and product transfers immediately, with full manufacturing and ISO 13485 certification slated...
Healthcare Sector Is the Hiring Juggernaut in U.S.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that healthcare added 76,000 jobs in March 2026, making it the nation’s top hiring sector. Ambulatory health services accounted for 54,000 of those jobs, driven by a 35,000‑person rebound in physician offices after...
Unlocking Hospital Efficiency with AI-Enabled Solutions: It’s a Hot Button at the Upcoming IFHE World Congress Oct. 17-20
Hospitals generate massive clinical, operational and financial data, but siloed systems hinder efficiency. Schneider Electric, working with Microsoft, is testing AI to merge these datasets, uncover patterns and suggest operational improvements. At the IFHE World Congress in New Orleans (Oct 17‑20),...
Allogene’s First Cut of Data on ‘Off-the-Shelf’ CAR-T Shows Promise
Allogene Therapeutics reported that its off‑the‑shelf CAR‑T candidate cleared all detectable lymphoma cells in just over half of trial participants. The interim analysis stems from the pivotal ALLO‑501/ALLO‑501A study in relapsed or refractory B‑cell lymphoma. Researchers highlighted a complete molecular...
Stryker to Buy Amplitude Vascular Systems
Stryker announced an agreement to acquire Amplitude Vascular Systems, a Boston‑based developer of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technology. The Pulse IVL system, which uses carbon‑dioxide‑driven pressure waves to fracture calcified plaque, remains investigational but is expected to clear key markets, strengthening...
Md. County EMS Tensions Rise Amid Fears of Another System Takeover
Somerset County took over Princess Anne Volunteer Fire Company’s ambulance service after the volunteer unit cited rising costs, dwindling membership and low reimbursement rates. The takeover has highlighted a funding imbalance, with the northern squad receiving significantly more county dollars...
GSK Reports Strong Results for B7-H4 ADC in Gynecological Cancers
GSK’s investigational antibody‑drug conjugate mocertatug rezetecan (Mo‑Rez) demonstrated robust activity in its Phase 1 BEHOLD‑1 trial, achieving a 62% objective response rate in platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer and 67% in recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer. The drug targets the B7‑H4 immune checkpoint,...
FDA Shares Warning About Cath Lab Procedure Kits Due to Risk of Patient Injury
The FDA issued an early‑alert warning that Medline NAMIC angiographic control syringes, previously recalled in a Class I action, are present in AVID Medical’s cath‑lab convenience kits. Four serious patient injuries have been linked to a loose or fully disconnected syringe...
Getting Ahead of the New HIPAA Security Rule: Practical Steps You Can Take Now
On Jan 6 2025 the HHS Office for Civil Rights released a proposed amendment to the HIPAA Security Rule that would make encryption and multi‑factor authentication mandatory and tighten contingency planning. The final rule is slated for May 2026, giving covered entities roughly...
At Splunk GovSummit, IHS Leaders Tie Cybersecurity Directly to Patient Care
At the 2026 Splunk GovSummit, Indian Health Service (IHS) leaders linked cybersecurity directly to patient care, emphasizing that security is a clinical enabler. Serving roughly 2.7 million patients across 37 states, IHS prioritizes resilience and real‑time visibility to keep care uninterrupted,...
Can a Novel Iron Supplement Address a Nutritional Deficiency Among GLP-1 Users?
A 2025 study found iron‑deficiency anemia in 1.6% of GLP‑1 therapy patients after six months, rising to 3.2% after a year, driven by reduced food intake and slower gastric emptying. SloIron, a ferritin‑based iron supplement, claims absorption via receptor‑mediated endocytosis,...
How This Biotech Stock Skirted Today's Selloff
Revolution Medicines (RVMD) surged 35.5% to $131.35, briefly touching a record $135.81 after reporting that its pancreatic‑cancer pill daraxonrasib cut death risk by 60% in a Phase 3 trial. Leerink and Guggenheim raised price targets to $147 and $174, respectively. The...
BioNTech's HER2 ADC Succeeds in Phase 2 Study, FDA Filing Planned
BioNTech announced that its HER2‑targeted antibody‑drug conjugate, trastuzumab pamirtecan (formerly BNT323), achieved robust efficacy in a Phase 2 trial of HER2‑positive metastatic breast cancer. The study reported a 45% overall response rate and a median progression‑free survival of 8.2 months, with...
Democrat-Leaning Plan Takes Aim At Health Insurers With Proposed New Regulations
The Center for American Progress unveiled a "Patient Bill of Rights" that seeks to curb health‑insurance costs by imposing per‑enrollee profit caps, breaking up insurer conglomerates, and replacing prior‑authorization with evidence‑based clinical reviews. The plan also proposes capping hospital charges...
Redefining Healthcare IT Certification
At HIMSS26, HIMSS senior vice president Tom Leary outlined a streamlined health‑IT certification framework unveiled by ONC’s Dr. Thomas Keane. The new approach consolidates multiple certification pathways into a single, risk‑based model, aiming to cut approval timelines and reduce costs for...
Even Mild Opioid Use Disorder Is Linked to a Significantly Higher Risk of Suicide
A new analysis of the 2021‑2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, covering 139,524 U.S. adults, shows that any severity of opioid use disorder (OUD) dramatically raises suicidality. Odds of suicidal thoughts are 1.9‑4.2 times higher, suicide plans 3.3‑6.7...
New Data Highlight an Unexpected Link Between Hypercortisolism and Resistant Hypertension
A new observational study reveals that hypercortisolism is present in roughly one‑quarter of patients with treatment‑resistant hypertension, with adrenal nodules identified in about 25% of those cases. The same cohort showed hyperaldosteronism in roughly 20% and a dual hormonal abnormality...
Wilfong Joins Navista as Chief Medical Officer: “We Really Want to Partner With Practices”
Lalan Wilfong, MD, a veteran of oncology practice transformation, has been appointed chief medical officer of Navista, Cardinal Health’s oncology practice alliance. In his role, Wilfong will drive evidence‑based pathways, value‑based care initiatives, and the rollout of advanced therapies in...
You Should Be More Freaked Out by Shingles
Shingles, caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus, afflicts roughly one‑third of the population, with risk sharply increasing after age 50 or in immunocompromised individuals. The disease can lead to post‑herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic nerve pain that may last years...
The AI Value Gap and Why Validation Is a Practical First Win for Life Sciences
AI adoption in life‑sciences is hampered by a wide value gap, with only about 40% of firms seeing EBIT impact and most gains under 5%. A practical entry point is FDA‑oriented computer system validation (CSV) and computer software assurance, where...
OHSU Exec Highlights the Value of Practice-Based Research Networks
During a recent AHRQ‑hosted webinar, OHSU’s Melinda Davis highlighted the Oregon Rural Practice‑Based Research Network’s (ORPRN) growth and impact on health equity. The network now collaborates with over 400 primary‑care clinics—about half of Oregon’s practices—spanning all 36 counties, and operates...
Men and Women with Obesity Face Very Different Hidden Health Risks
New research presented at the European Congress on Obesity reveals that obesity impacts men and women differently, with men showing more visceral fat accumulation, higher liver enzymes and triglycerides, while women exhibit greater inflammation and higher LDL cholesterol. The study...
Trump Administration Weighs Default Medicare Advantage Plans For Seniors
The Trump administration is moving to make Medicare Advantage the default Medicare option for seniors, backed by a 2.48% payment increase for 2027 that adds roughly $13 billion to federal reimbursements and a 5.1% boost for 2026 worth $25 billion. Regulatory changes...
Trust Before Triage: Why I Let the Patient Help Write the Agenda
In safety‑net clinics, clinicians are increasingly pressured by EMR alerts to chase quality metrics before hearing the patient’s story. Samuel Logan, a nurse practitioner, argues that starting with the question “What can I do for you today?” restores trust and...
Curbside Consult with Dr. Jayne 4/13/26
The author urges Medicare to adopt authorization and utilization‑monitoring tools similar to those used in Medicare Advantage, arguing they could catch fraud earlier. He highlights how hospitalist programs once delivered high‑quality care but now rely heavily on nurse practitioners (NPs)...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About a Pancreatic Cancer Pill, FDA Rejecting a Replimune Drug Again, and More
Revolution Medicines reported that its KRAS‑targeting oral pill daraxonrasib more than doubled median overall survival for metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, achieving 13.2 months versus 6.7 months on standard chemotherapy. The company will leverage a FDA priority‑review voucher to seek accelerated...
CMS Proposes New Deadlines for Prior Authorizations for Drugs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would impose firm deadlines on federally regulated insurers for electronic prior authorizations (PA) of prescription drugs. Medicaid and CHIP plans would have 24 hours to respond, while ACA...
AbbVie Enters World of Pain in up to $715M Deal with China’s Haisco
AbbVie has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with China’s Haisco Pharmaceutical Group that could be worth up to $715 million. The deal grants AbbVie rights to a portfolio of pain‑related compounds ranging from preclinical to Phase 1 stages in China. This marks...
Amgen Pipeline’s Next Growth Cycle: Replacing Its Old Blockbusters
Amgen posted $36.8 billion in 2025 revenue, a 10% year‑on‑year rise, but its legacy blockbusters such as Enbrel, Xgeva and Otezla are under pressure from biosimilars and U.S. pricing reforms. Growth is now being driven by cardiovascular drugs, rare‑disease assets acquired...
Pharma Firms Accelerate Regional Capacity Building to Secure GLP-1 Supply and Mitigate Geopolitical Risks
Pharma companies are reshaping supply chains by regionalizing GLP‑1 manufacturing to mitigate geopolitical risks and meet soaring demand for metabolic therapies. Eli Lilly announced a $3 billion investment in China and a ¥20 billion ($126 million) upgrade of its Kobe plant in Japan, targeting...
Strategies for Delivering Smarter Pharmacy Benefits
Pharmacy benefit managers have long acted as opaque intermediaries, influencing drug coverage and pricing. Consumer tools such as GoodRx and low‑cost generic programs from retailers exposed price gaps, prompting scrutiny of spread pricing and rebates. Direct‑to‑consumer models like Cost Plus Drugs...
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics Earns CE Mark for New Assay Delivering Bacterial vs Viral Infection Results in Approximately 20 Minutes
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, a Danaher company, received CE Mark approval for the Access MeMed BV assay, a high‑throughput host‑response test that distinguishes bacterial from viral infections in about 20 minutes. The assay runs on existing DxI 9000 and Access 2...
I Bought an Earwax Camera for My Toolkit and Use It for Everything but My Ears
The Bebird Earsight Plus D39R is a $47, USB‑C‑charged inspection camera that combines a flexible, length‑marked head with IP67 dust‑ and water‑proofing. Its built‑in gyroscope locks the image horizon, delivering clear, stable video via a dedicated iOS/Android app. The device...
Kratom Poisonings Soar in US as Experts Blame Synthetic Versions and Caution Against Bans
The CDC reports a 1,200% increase in kratom‑related poisonings over the past decade, a spike attributed mainly to the rise of synthetic 7‑hydroxymitragynine (7‑OH) products. Experts differentiate the relatively safe natural kratom leaf from the opioid‑like risks of 7‑OH, warning...
STAT+: Revolution Medicines Touts ‘Unprecedented’ Data for Pancreatic Cancer Pill
Revolution Medicines reported that its oral KRAS‑G12C inhibitor daraxonrasib more than doubled survival for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. In a head‑to‑head trial, the daily pill yielded a median overall survival of 13.2 months versus 6.7 months for standard chemotherapy....
The Era of Big Pharma’s One-Size-Fits-All Pipeline Is Fading
Big Pharma’s pipeline volume remained steady in early 2026, but its composition is fragmenting. While the ten largest developers still dominate, the number of boutique firms with one or two candidates surged past 4,000, reflecting investor appetite for niche innovation....
Haisco Partners with AbbVie to Develop Novel Medicines for Pain in a ~$745M Deal
Haisco Pharma signed an exclusive licensing agreement with AbbVie to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel pain medicines outside China, Hong Kong and Macau. The deal provides Haisco with a $30 million upfront payment and up to $715 million in development, regulatory and...
STAT+: Allogene Therapeutics’ CAR-T Treatment Eliminates Residual Cancer Cells in B-Cell Lymphoma Patients
Allogene Therapeutics reported that its off‑the‑shelf CAR‑T therapy, cema‑cel, eliminated residual cancer cells in B‑cell lymphoma patients at three times the rate of standard care, meeting the interim goal of its Phase 3 trial. In the interim analysis, 58% of treated...
NICE Update Doubles Eligible Patients for AZ's Lokelma
NICE’s draft guidance doubles the number of patients in England and Wales who can receive AstraZeneca’s Lokelma for hyperkalaemia. The eligibility threshold was lowered from a serum potassium level of 6.0 mmol/L to 5.5 mmol/L, and the specialist‑only initiation rule was removed....
Predict, Prevent, Perform: The AI Evolution of Denials Management
Healthcare providers are grappling with denial rates near 12% in 2025, translating into millions of dollars of delayed revenue per percentage point. Legacy manual processes can’t keep pace with AI‑driven payer adjudication that rejects claims for minor errors. Providers are...
The Evolution of Amazon’s Healthcare Strategy: From Primary Care to Care Orchestration
Amazon Health Services launched the Health Benefits Connector (HBC) in early 2024 and expanded it in 2026 to include AI‑driven nutrition therapy from Berry Street and precision sleep diagnostics via Dreem Health. The platform verifies insurance eligibility in real time, triages patients...
Constellation Kidney Group Expands KidneyOne™, Its Integrated Platform for Kidney Care Providers, with Launch of RCM Intelligence
Constellation Kidney Group (CKG) announced the launch of RCM Intelligence, an analytics add‑on to its KidneyOne™ platform. The new capability deepens the CKG Intelligence data and AI layer, turning raw dialysis billing information into actionable operational metrics. RCM Intelligence is...
Fee-for-Service Payment Approach Creates Obstacles to AI Adoption by Physicians
A new NEJM Catalyst report finds that the fee‑for‑service (FFS) reimbursement model discourages physicians from adopting clinical AI because efficiency gains shrink billable time. When AI halves a visit, doctors see a proportional drop in revenue, creating a misaligned incentive....
Feature: Why Quality of Care Still Depends on Robust Print Security
HP highlights that printer downtime during cyber incidents can cripple NHS clinical workflows, as seen in the Synnovis attack that delayed over 11,000 appointments. Because many trusts acquire printers piecemeal, firmware and security settings become inconsistent, making devices easy entry...
Radiology Partners Reportedly Eyeing International Expansion
Radiology Partners, the United States' largest radiology group, is reportedly pursuing an acquisition of Australia’s I‑MED Radiology Network, which operates over 240 clinics and generated roughly AU$176 million (about US$116 million) in adjusted earnings last year. The move follows RP’s earlier bid...
Scientists Are Trying to Build a Vaccine that Works Against Almost Any Respiratory Pathogen — Here's How Close They Are.
Scientists at Stanford have engineered an experimental nasal spray that activates the lungs' innate immune system rather than targeting specific antigens. In mouse studies the spray slashed viral loads by roughly 700‑fold and bacterial counts by 200‑fold, while also dampening...
McAvoy Go-Ahead for £65m Bradford Hospital Overhaul
The UK government has approved a £65 million (≈ $82 million) overhaul of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s mental health facilities, with £50 million (≈ $63.5 million) coming from public funds. McAvoy will build a modular two‑storey ward block and refurbish two existing wards to...
Ideaya’s Uveal Melanoma Drug Exceeds Success Benchmark in Late-Stage Trial
Ideaya BioSciences reported that its late‑stage drug for uveal melanoma met its pre‑specified success benchmark, achieving a 27% overall response rate versus the 20% target. The trial also demonstrated a manageable safety profile, reinforcing confidence in the therapy’s risk‑benefit balance....