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, and proposed cuts to benefits and retirement contributions. Management says it has negotiated in good faith for seven months and will hire agency nurses to keep patient care uninterrupted. The dispute highlights ongoing tension between hospital systems and frontline caregivers over labor contracts and staffing standards.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
HCA Texas Hospital Names Chief Medical Officer
DeVry Anderson, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, a 465‑bed HCA Healthcare facility in Texas. In his new role, Anderson will oversee clinical operations at both the North Austin Medical Center and the...
FDA Staff Dropoff Continues In First Quarter Of FY 2026
FDA’s drug and biologic product centers reported a continued decline in staff during the first quarter of fiscal 2026, extending a year‑long downward trend. The reduction persists even as Commissioner Marty Makary publicly pledged to accelerate hiring. The agency has...
Biopharma Money Raised: Jan. 1-Feb. 12, 2026
BioWorld’s latest brief highlights three emerging biotech advances. Researchers pinpointed the SCAN network as a central circuit disrupted in Parkinson’s disease, offering a new therapeutic target. Astellas presented promising preclinical data on ASP-2246, an mRNA‑encoded NeuroD1 candidate aimed at neural...
Generic Drug User Fee Amendments
On September 30, 2022 the FDA User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2022 re‑authorized the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA) through September 2027, marking the start of GDUFA III. The legislation sets new user‑fee rates for FY 2025 and FY 2026, including a...
What's New Related to Drugs
Between January and February 2026 the FDA issued a cascade of regulatory updates covering new drug approvals, safety‑label revisions, draft guidances, and consumer alerts. The agency granted approval for pembrolizumab combined with paclitaxel to treat platinum‑resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, or...
CBO: CMS Skin Substitute Policy To Save $245B By 2035
CMS announced a comprehensive overhaul of its reimbursement rules for skin substitutes, high‑cost dressings used in chronic wound care. The policy tightens medical‑necessity criteria, promotes evidence‑based alternatives, and leverages negotiated pricing. The Congressional Budget Office incorporated these changes into its...
What Interoperability in Healthcare Really Means for Security and Privacy
Healthcare interoperability is accelerating data exchange among hospitals, labs, insurers and pharmacies, but each connection expands the sector's attack surface. Misconfigured integrations, outdated protocols and weak identity controls can leak sensitive patient records, turning routine sharing into a security liability....
3 Trends Shaping the GLP-1 Landscape
GLP‑1 therapies are entering a new regulatory phase as the FDA stripped suicide‑ideation warnings from Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound and signaled tighter controls on compounded pills. At the same time, Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy has become the fastest drug launch...
Facing Regulatory, Reimbursement Changes, Pharmacy Execs Also See Opportunities
Pharmacy leaders are navigating tighter regulations and shifting reimbursement models while uncovering growth avenues in specialty and home‑infusion services. Executives emphasize the need for pharmacists to act as connectors between clinicians, payers, and manufacturers, blending clinical insight with business acumen....
Boner Bears Chocolate May Be Harmful Due to Hidden Drug Ingredient
The FDA has issued a warning that Boner Bears Chocolate, sold as a sexual‑enhancement supplement, contains undeclared sildenafil, the active ingredient in prescription Viagra. Laboratory testing confirmed the hidden drug, which is not listed on the product label. The agency...
Renown Health Names VP of Payer Contracting
Renown Health announced the promotion of longtime executive Jenny Juchtzer to vice president of payer contracting. Juchtzer, who has spent nearly two decades at the organization and most recently led payer contracting, will now oversee all hospital and professional managed‑care...
Dexcom Seeks Expanded Medicare Coverage of CGMs for Type 2 Diabetes
Dexcom is lobbying the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for expanded coverage of its continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for Type 2 diabetes patients who do not use insulin. The company estimates the change could make CGMs available to roughly 12 million...
PA Pay by State
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants released its 2024 compensation report, showing a mean PA salary of $129,291 nationwide. California tops the list with a mean income of $151,351, while Nevada, Connecticut, Alaska, and Washington round out the...