‘Uphill Battles on Many Fronts’: HDG CEO on Supercharged Nursing Home Payment Pressures, Staffing Challenges
Health Dimensions Group (HDG) CEO Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey warned that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are facing "supercharged" payment pressures from Medicaid funding challenges, a drop in private‑pay residents, and managed‑care reimbursement cuts. The financial squeeze coincides with rising resident acuity and behavioral‑health needs, straining staffing and training resources. In response, HDG launched a leadership development series for executive directors and directors of nursing and expanded its Positive Review and Evaluation Process (PREP) to identify quality gaps before regulator surveys. Hennessey will discuss these issues at the upcoming RETHINK Forum.
FDA Issues Early Alert for Certain Dialysis Devices From B. Braun Medical
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an early alert for B. Braun Medical’s Streamline Airless System Hemodialysis Bloodlines and B3 Low Volume Bloodlines after testing revealed a resin change that caused tiny air bubbles to cling to the arterial line...
Why Revenue Cycle Teams Must Prepare for Extended Downtime in the Age of Cyber Threats
Healthcare providers face escalating ransomware and cloud‑outage threats that can instantly cripple revenue cycle operations, halting claim submissions and cash flow. Recent incidents, such as the Change Healthcare clearinghouse outage and a regional system’s backup encryption, exposed critical blind spots...
GlycoNet – Sugar-Based Vaccine Against Bacterial Diarrhea Shows Promise in Phase 1 Trial
Researchers at the University of Guelph announced that their sugar‑based vaccine candidate against Campylobacter jejuni demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in a small Phase 1 human trial. Participants experienced only mild side effects, and the formulation generated measurable antibody responses even at...
Low-Light Difficulties Based on Severity of Visual Field Loss
A recent Australian study uncovered a two‑phase relationship between integrated visual‑field loss and low‑light difficulties in glaucoma patients. Below an IVF total‑deviation of –6.3 dB (or sensitivity‑based IVF of 21.7 dB), LLQ scores drop sharply, indicating functional impairment. Inferior field defects were...
Anavex Sinks After Pulling Alzheimer's Filing in EU
Anavex Life Sciences withdrew its European marketing authorisation application for blarcamesine, an add‑on therapy for early‑stage Alzheimer’s, after the EMA’s CHMP signaled a likely negative opinion. The committee criticized the trial’s efficacy data, methodological flaws, and safety reporting, including concerns...
Florida Restores Access to Low-Cost H.I.V. Medications After Uproar
Florida enacted a short‑term bill allocating roughly $31 million to keep its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) operational, averting a gap in coverage for more than 12,000 residents. The funding reversal follows a March 1 policy that tightened eligibility and threatened to...
Long-Term Neuropathy Common in Breast Cancer After Chemotherapy
New research of 1,493 breast‑cancer survivors aged 65 and older shows that more than 60 % of those who received chemotherapy report moderate to severe neuropathy five years after treatment, compared with 36 % of non‑chemo patients. The risk is driven largely...
More Changes Ahead for Takeda with New CEO Set to Take Reins
Takeda Pharmaceutical announced that Julie Kim will assume the role of chief executive, continuing the company’s multi‑year restructuring agenda. The board approved a new phase of the transformation, emphasizing the rollout of upcoming product launches and accelerating late‑stage pipeline development....
Should Nonprofit Hospitals Use Tax Breaks To Name Sports Stadiums?
Nonprofit health systems, shielded by $37‑$54 billion in annual tax exemptions, are allocating unrestricted surplus to high‑profile stadium naming‑rights deals, such as Texas Health’s $88 million agreement for a new venue in Mansfield, Texas. While these sponsorships boost brand visibility, charity‑care spending...
Why Aerobic Exercise, Not Just Strength Training, Matters on GLP-1 Drugs
A secondary analysis of a Danish year‑long trial examined 193 adults on the GLP‑1 agonist liraglutide with or without a structured aerobic exercise program. Participants first lost an average of 29 pounds on a very‑low‑calorie diet, then were assigned to four...
Medicare To Pay Docs To Reduce Falls By Seniors While WH Curbs Other Efforts
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the Long‑term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) program, which will begin in January 2027 and pay participating physicians incentives to prevent falls among frail seniors and disabled adults. LEAD uses fixed episode payments...
Drug Quality Sampling and Testing Programs
The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) released its FY 25 Drug Quality Sampling and Testing results, showing that the vast majority of tested pharmaceuticals met USP specifications. The program uses a risk‑based, data‑driven approach introduced in 2018 to...
Kiran Batheja: Collaboration Yields Results
HFMA’s "Lead Now" initiative capitalized on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, driving unprecedented growth and engagement across the healthcare finance sector. Membership surged to over 145,000—the highest in its 80‑year history—while more than 1,080 volunteers delivered 197,000...
2026 Memory Care Innovation Awards Entries Due April 3
The 2026 Memory Care Innovation Awards are accepting final entries until April 3, 2026. The program honors high‑performing employees with at least seven years of experience who drive cognitive‑care advances across home‑health, hospice, senior‑living and related sectors. Awardees receive dual press‑release recognition,...
How Seaport Is Hedging Against Failure in Phase 2b Depression Study
Seaport Therapeutics is embedding a fail‑safe mechanism into its Phase 2b trial of SPT‑300, an experimental therapy for major depressive disorder. The study will enroll roughly 300 patients at multiple U.S. sites and uses an adaptive design that can halt...
ICHRAs, Local Health Networks Empower Employees to Access Better Care
Employers are rapidly moving from traditional defined‑benefit health plans to defined‑contribution models, chiefly through Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA). Mercer projects average employer healthcare spending to hit $18,500 per employee by 2026, making cost predictability a priority. Employees cite...
FDA Approves Relacorilant with Nab-Paclitaxel for Platinum-Resistant Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
The FDA has approved relacorilant (Lifyorli), a glucocorticoid‑receptor antagonist, in combination with nab‑paclitaxel for adults with platinum‑resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who have received up to three prior regimens, including bevacizumab. The approval is based on...
Doctors Announce Six-Day Strike in England as Talks Break Down
Resident doctors in England will commence a six‑day strike on 7 April after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected a government offer of a 3.5% pay rise. The dispute, now the 15th walk‑out since March 2023, also centers on job shortages and...
Comprehensive Strategies and Recommendations for Optimising Patient Safety Practices in Public Hospitals of Addis Ababa: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study
Researchers conducted an explanatory sequential mixed‑methods study to develop patient‑safety strategies for public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using stratified sampling, questionnaires, checklists, and interviews, they combined descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and thematic analysis to identify safety culture gaps. The...
Overlooked and Undertreated: National Shortfalls in Anorectal Evaluation for Gastroparesis-Associated Constipation and Defecation Disorder
A large U.S. retrospective study of 295,016 gastroparesis patients found that 29.9% also suffered constipation, yet only 1.4% were diagnosed with a defecatory disorder. Among those diagnosed, just one‑third underwent anorectal manometry (ARM) and fewer than 4% received biofeedback therapy....
Joint Association of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Stage and Lifestyle With Mortality Among Cancer Survivors: A NHANES Cohort Study
A NHANES cohort of 1,468 U.S. cancer survivors examined how combined cardiovascular‑kidney‑metabolic (CKM) stage and lifestyle affect mortality. Participants were grouped by early (stages 0‑2) or late (stages 3‑4) CKM and by high versus non‑high scores on the behavior‑only Life’s Essential 8 (diet,...
Hemodynamic and Biochemical Effects of Intravenous versus Oral Fluids in Healthy Volunteers – A Protocol for a Randomized Crossover Trial
A Phase 1 randomized crossover trial will compare the hemodynamic impact of 1 liter oral tap water versus 1 liter intravenous Ringer’s lactate in 20 healthy volunteers. The primary endpoint is the change in mean arterial pressure 30 minutes after fluid administration, with secondary...
The Prediction of Estimated Cerebral Perfusion Pressure with End Diastolic Velocity in Newborns
Researchers examined the link between estimated cerebral perfusion pressure (CPPe) and Doppler ultrasound measurements in newborns. Analyzing 446 daily samples from 137 preterm infants across multiple NICUs, they found end‑diastolic velocity (EDV) had the strongest correlation with CPPe (β = 0.571, p < 0.001)....
The Brain's Cleaning System Can Be Boosted to Rid Alzheimer's Proteins
Researchers identified a drug combination that enhances the brain's glymphatic system, improving clearance of Alzheimer‑related proteins. The regimen pairs a widely used sedative with a medication that prevents dangerously low blood pressure, showing safe and effective removal of amyloid and...
Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
Unused or expired medicines pose health and safety risks, prompting the FDA and DEA to promote safe disposal options. Consumers can drop off drugs at pharmacy or police take‑back sites, use prepaid USPS mail‑back envelopes, or follow the FDA’s Flush...
When Heart Patients Can’t Wait: Urgent TAVR with Self-Expanding Vs. Balloon-Expandable Valves
A retrospective analysis of nearly 600 urgent or emergent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures performed between 2012 and 2024 compared Medtronic self‑expanding valves (SEVs) with Edwards balloon‑expandable valves (BEVs). Adjusted Cox regression showed no significant difference in long‑term mortality...
STAT+: FDA Approves Denali Therapeutics Drug for Hunter Syndrome
On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval to Denali Therapeutics’ drug Avlayah for the treatment of Hunter syndrome, a rare lysosomal storage disorder. The decision arrives amid a recent wave of stricter FDA scrutiny of...
Claritev Cares Opens Rural Health Grants, Continuing Three Decades of Investment in Underserved Communities
Clarivet Corp announced its Clarivet Cares Rural Health Grant program, now accepting applications through June 1, 2026. Since 1995 the company has contributed more than $700,000 across 100+ grants to rural hospitals, clinics and federally qualified health centers. The 2024 recipient, New...
New Medical Case Study Suggests Promising Fertility Outcomes For Women Over 45
A recent case study in the American Journal of Stem Cells reports two healthy live births—one at age 45 and another at 47—using the women’s own eggs after an experimental ovarian rejuvenation protocol. The treatment blends autologous adipose‑derived stem cells...
Improving Early Detection and Treatment of Liver Cancer
Early-stage liver cancer survival hinges on timely diagnosis, yet ultrasound and AFP tests miss many cases. Helio Genomics has introduced the HelioLiver blood test, a multi‑analyte cfDNA and protein assay that flags tumor‑associated epigenetic signals earlier than imaging. A new...
Beam Looks to Accelerated Approval for AATD Base Editing After Promising Update
Beam Therapeutics announced encouraging Phase 1/2 data for its base‑editing therapy targeting alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The trial demonstrated a 30% reduction in the disease‑causing SERPINA1 mutation and a 45% rise in functional protein levels, while confirming a clean safety profile....
High Vet Bills Have Eroded Pet-Owners’ Trust – but Vets Aren’t Getting Rich From Their Fees
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report flags rising veterinary fees, opaque pricing and rapid corporate consolidation as drivers of eroding trust between pet owners and vets. Contrary to public belief, veterinarians earn modest salaries—about $46,000 to $60,000—and often...
Top Cardiology News for March 2026
During the March 2026 episode of TCTMD’s Heart Sounds, experts highlighted several emerging cardiology developments. Updated lipid‑lowering guidelines emphasize earlier statin initiation and novel agents for high‑risk patients. New echocardiographic surveillance protocols for aortic stenosis aim to detect disease progression before...
Guidance Recap Podcast | Use of Bayesian Methodology in Clinical Trials of Drug and Biological Products
The FDA released a draft guidance on using Bayesian methodology in clinical trials, outlining how sponsors should incorporate prior data, define success criteria, and document analyses. It emphasizes systematic prior construction, transparent operating characteristics, and extensive simulation documentation. The guidance...
Osteoporosis Screening Recommended for All Women over 6
USPSTF now recommends routine osteoporosis screening for all women aged 65 and older, and for younger postmenopausal women with specific risk factors. The guidance is based on systematic review evidence that early detection via DEXA scans can lower fracture incidence....
New Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have issued the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the latest iteration of a five‑yearly series that began in 1980. The guidelines shape federal nutrition programs such as school meals, Meals...
Guidance Snapshot Pilot
The FDA has launched a Guidance Snapshot Pilot that distills complex guidance documents into visual, plain‑language one‑page snapshots complemented by podcasts, timelines, and social‑media links. The pilot targets cross‑cutting topics such as Bayesian trial methodology, decentralized clinical elements, and neonatal...
Conn. EMTs Buy Their Own Protective Vests Amid Safety Concerns
Two Woodstock, Conn., EMTs have each spent about $500 on stab‑ and bullet‑resistant vests after their agency said budget constraints prevent issuing the gear to all 22 responders. The move comes as assaults on first responders in Connecticut climbed to...
Boehringer Ingelheim Plans for Dealmaking and R&D Spending Amid US Price Pressure
Boehringer Ingelheim announced it will maintain its high‑level R&D spending while exploring dealmaking opportunities in China to counteract mounting U.S. drug‑price pressure. The company is prioritising an obesity‑focused pipeline, betting on the fast‑growing weight‑loss market to sustain revenue. By keeping...
Ozempic Pill Improves Multiple Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
A post‑hoc analysis of the SOUL trial shows that once‑daily oral semaglutide (Ozempic pill) significantly improves several cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Compared with placebo, participants experienced a 3.2 mm Hg greater...
Thesis Care (Formerly Trovo Health) Secures $45M to Scale AI-Powered Clinical Care Teams
Thesis Care, formerly Trovo Health, closed a $45 million Series A round led by Oak HC/FT, bringing total funding to $60 million. Founded in 2024 by ex‑Cedar executives, the startup uses AI agents backed by clinicians‑in‑the‑loop to automate end‑to‑end clinical workflows. By delivering...
Association Between the Composite Nutritional Index TCBI and ISR
In‑stent restenosis (ISR) remains a common, costly complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A recent cohort of 454 patients evaluated the triglyceride‑total cholesterol‑body weight index (TCBI) alongside traditional metabolic ratios. The analysis showed TCBI achieved the highest predictive accuracy for...
Association Between Probiotic Intervention and Sleep Quality in the General Adult Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A systematic review and meta‑analysis of 13 randomized trials involving 890 adults found that probiotic supplementation modestly improves subjective sleep quality. The pooled mean difference was –0.59 points on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and –0.86 points on the...
Associations Between Lipid-Derived Indices and Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic Syndrome Progression Among Chinese Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: A Longitudinal Study
The 2011‑2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study examined eight lipid‑derived indices and their relationship to cardiovascular‑kidney‑metabolic (CKM) syndrome progression in middle‑aged and elderly adults. After adjusting for confounders, seven indices—atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non‑HDL‑C, NHHR, lipoprotein combined index...
CT-Assessed Abdominal Visceral Adiposity and MASLD: A Sex-Stratified Cross-Sectional Analysis
A large cross‑sectional study of 7,805 Chinese adults found that CT‑derived visceral fat area (VFA) is the strongest predictor of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), outperforming body‑mass index (BMI). Men in the highest VFA quartile faced an 11.5‑fold higher...
Creatine Supplementation on Fatigue Related to Post-COVID-19 Condition—Fatigue Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized, single‑blind pilot trial evaluated creatine monohydrate at 6 g and 18 g daily for four weeks in adults with post‑COVID‑19 condition (PCC) experiencing fatigue. The 6 g/day regimen produced a statistically significant reduction in Piper Fatigue Scale‑Revised scores (‑2.05 points) and...
Qualified Health Raises $125M to Scale Generative AI in Health Systems
Qualified Health, a public‑benefit AI firm, closed a $125 million Series B led by NEA, adding investors such as Transformation Capital and Anthropic. The round will fund expansion of its generative‑AI platform that offers governance, risk‑alert, privacy safeguards and workflow automation for...