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Wednesday, July 8 · 6 stories
- Industry
MHPA Submits Congressional Testimony on Generic Drug Shortage Legislation
Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) provided testimony to Congress regarding legislative proposals to address drug shortages and ensure access to affordable generic drugs, with particular focus on sterile injectable medications. The trade association representing Medicaid managed care organizations weighed in on pending federal legislation aimed at stabilizing the generic drug supply chain. MHPA's position supports congressional efforts to resolve shortages that affect Medicaid beneficiaries' access to essential medications.
- Industry
FDA Approves Over-the-Counter CGM for Childhood Obesity Management
The FDA has approved an over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for use in young children, including toddlers as young as two years old, as a tool for childhood obesity management. The approval represents a significant shift in glucose monitoring technology from prescription diabetes management to preventive wellness applications in the pediatric population. Medical experts are evaluating the clinical benefits of real-time glucose data for obesity prevention against potential risks including device-related anxiety, misinterpretation of normal glucose fluctuations in non-diabetic children, and the appropriateness of medical device use in very young children. The approval takes effect immediately with retail availability expected in the coming months.
- Industry
Four Health Plans Expand Specialty Pharmacy Strategies to Address Drug Cost Growth
Four health insurers are implementing new specialty pharmacy approaches in 2026 to address rising prescription drug costs, a major driver of overall cost growth. Strategies include expanding service offerings, entering healthcare delivery, and pursuing partnerships to increase cost discipline. The initiatives reflect broader industry efforts to manage high-cost specialty medications through vertical integration and improved utilization management. Specific plan names and implementation details were not provided in the source material.
Tuesday, July 7 · 3 stories
- Industry
Yale Study Finds Most Telehealth GLP-1 Vendors Skip Live Clinician Visits
A secret shopper study published July 6 in JAMA found that most telehealth platforms prescribing GLP-1 medications do not require real-time clinician interaction with patients before prescribing. Yale researchers documented prescribing practices across online vendors selling these weight-loss and diabetes medications. The study raises questions about appropriateness of care, patient safety, and adherence to clinical practice standards in the rapidly growing direct-to-consumer telehealth market for high-cost specialty drugs. Implications for Medicaid managed care organizations include potential utilization management concerns and pharmacy benefit oversight challenges.
- Industry
MedCity News Op-Ed Calls for Unified Governance in Health Data Exchange
A MedCity News opinion piece argues that while technical infrastructure for nationwide health data exchange exists, fragmented governance and inconsistent enforcement threaten its sustainability. The author contends that patients, providers, and innovators require unified oversight to maintain trust in interoperability frameworks. The piece does not announce new policy or enforcement actions. For Medicaid managed care organizations, the commentary reflects ongoing industry concern about the durability of federal interoperability requirements under the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Rule and related ONC standards.
- Industry
15 Hospitals Close Maternity Units in First Half of 2026
Fifteen hospitals closed labor and delivery services in the first half of 2026, continuing a trend that saw 29 closures in the prior year. The closures are driven by financial pressures, staffing shortages, and declining birth rates. The pattern reflects ongoing consolidation in maternity care delivery that affects network adequacy and access to prenatal and delivery services. These closures require Medicaid managed care plans to assess network gaps and ensure adequate coverage for pregnant members.
Wednesday, July 1 · 1 story
- Industry
Four Chemotherapy Drugs Remain in Shortage Until October
Cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, and ifosfamide remain in active shortage, with full resupply of some formulations not expected until October 2026, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. These chemotherapy drugs are essential for treating breast, lung, ovarian, testicular, bladder, and head and neck cancers. Manufacturers have provided updated timelines for when supply will normalize. The shortages affect hospitals and health systems managing cancer treatment protocols.
Tuesday, June 30 · 1 story
- Industry
PBM Trade Group Escalates Advocacy Against Drugmakers Following Congressional Overhaul
The leading pharmacy benefit manager lobbying organization is intensifying its advocacy campaign against pharmaceutical manufacturers after Congress enacted comprehensive PBM reform legislation earlier this year. The pharmaceutical industry has long blamed PBMs for high drug costs, culminating in legislative action this past winter. The lobbying escalation suggests ongoing tension between PBMs and drugmakers over responsibility for drug pricing and the implementation of new federal oversight provisions that affect both sectors.
Friday, June 26 · 2 stories
- Industry
Proposed Legislation Would Restructure Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program
Congressional legislation has been introduced to overhaul the 340B drug discount program, which requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide discounted outpatient drugs to eligible healthcare providers. The bill would restructure eligibility requirements and oversight mechanisms for the program that currently serves safety-net providers including some Medicaid managed care organizations and federally qualified health centers. If enacted, the changes would affect how covered entities access discounted medications and could alter prescription drug cost structures for Medicaid plans contracting with 340B-eligible providers. The proposal comes amid ongoing disputes between manufacturers and covered entities over contract pharmacy arrangements and duplicate discount prohibitions.
- Industry
Jails Face Medetomidine-Laced Opioid Withdrawal Crisis Without Treatment Protocols
Correctional facilities are increasingly encountering severe withdrawal cases from opioids contaminated with medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, but lack established treatment protocols for this emerging threat. The drug causes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms distinct from traditional opioid withdrawal, including extreme cardiovascular instability. Jails serve as unintentional frontline medical facilities as individuals enter custody experiencing these dangerous withdrawal episodes. Many facilities remain unprepared with limited access to specialized medical staff or evidence-based treatment approaches for this substance combination.
Thursday, June 25 · 2 stories
- Industry · AR
Arkansas nonprofit launches GME center to expand physician training in rural areas
Heartland Whole Health Institute, a nonprofit founded by Alice Walton, has launched a statewide Graduate Medical Education Technical Assistance Center in Arkansas focused on expanding physician residency training in rural and underserved communities. The institute released a report outlining strategies to grow the physician pipeline through GME program development. The center aims to address provider shortages that affect care access in areas where Medicaid managed care organizations operate networks.
- Industry
Centene Appoints JPMorgan Veteran Lauren Tyler to Board
Centene Corporation has added Lauren Tyler, a finance executive with over 30 years of experience at JPMorgan, to its board of directors. Tyler brings extensive financial services leadership experience to the health plan. The appointment comes as Centene and other major insurers face operational pressures including margin compression, utilization management scrutiny, and regulatory compliance demands. The timing suggests Centene is strengthening financial oversight and strategic guidance at the board level.
Wednesday, June 24 · 3 stories
- Industry · OK
Ascension St. John Nowata Seeks Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital
Ascension St. John Nowata in Oklahoma has applied to the state health department to convert from a critical access hospital to a rural emergency hospital designation. The facility would maintain 24/7 emergency services and outpatient care under the REH model. The conversion reflects a broader trend of rural hospitals adopting the REH designation created under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which allows hospitals to eliminate inpatient beds while maintaining emergency and outpatient services with enhanced Medicare reimbursement.
- Industry
NCI Cancer Center Distribution Misaligned with U.S. Cancer Burden Geography
National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, the most research-intensive cancer facilities in the U.S., are not geographically distributed to match where cancer burden is highest, according to leaders at Becker's Oncology Executive Summit in April. This mismatch creates access challenges for patients in high-burden areas who cannot reach NCI centers. The speakers characterized this as oncology's "last-mile problem" in care delivery.
- Industry
Health Plan M&A Shifts to Targeted Acquisitions Over Large-Scale Consolidation
Health plan mergers and acquisitions are moving away from sweeping consolidations toward more disciplined, targeted transactions, according to EY-Parthenon principal Deblina Ghosh. The current M&A environment emphasizes precision and strategic fit, particularly in the nonprofit sector where partner alignment is critical. This shift reflects broader market conditions favoring selective portfolio adjustments over transformative mega-mergers. The trend affects how Medicaid managed care organizations evaluate growth opportunities and competitive positioning.
Tuesday, June 23 · 7 stories
- Industry
Researcher Discusses Progress on AI Bias in Patient Risk Algorithms
Dr. Ziad Obermeyer discussed the evolution of AI bias in healthcare algorithms since his 2019 research exposed systematic underestimation of Black patients' health needs in a widely used commercial algorithm. The conversation covered progress the healthcare industry has made in addressing algorithmic bias in patient management tools. The discussion appears focused on clinical risk prediction models used across the healthcare sector. While the original research had significant implications for how health plans and providers identify high-risk patients for care management programs, this appears to be a retrospective industry discussion rather than new policy guidance or research findings.
- Industry
Nursing home staffing reaches 3.49 million workers, up from pandemic low
Nursing home and residential care facility employment has climbed to approximately 3.49 million workers as of May, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, recovering from a pandemic low of 2.96 million. The industry has added more than 500,000 workers since its lowest staffing point during the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents a steady upward trend in nursing facility workforce levels, though the article does not specify whether current staffing meets pre-pandemic benchmarks or regulatory adequacy standards.
- Industry
One-Third of Rural Hospitals at Financial Risk, Analysis Finds
A Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform analysis found 720 rural hospitals—roughly one-third of all rural facilities nationwide—are at risk of closure due to financial instability. Healthcare leaders are advocating for increased collaboration among rural providers rather than competition to strengthen outcomes and ensure long-term sustainability. The analysis highlights ongoing financial pressures threatening rural access to care. No specific implementation timeline or policy action is indicated.
- Industry
Inventia Healthcare recalls 11,460 bottles of chlorthalidone tablets after dissolution failure
Inventia Healthcare Limited is recalling 11,460 bottles of Chlorthalidone Tablets USP, 25 mg, distributed nationwide after the product failed dissolution specifications. The FDA classified the recall as Class II on June 22, following the manufacturer's June 5 recall initiation. Chlorthalidone is a diuretic used to treat hypertension. Class II recalls indicate the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, with a remote probability of serious harm.
- Industry
Ibogaine Gains Attention as SUD Treatment Option Despite Safety Concerns
Providers are increasingly encountering patients interested in ibogaine, a psychoactive substance being explored for substance use disorder treatment. While ibogaine remains unregulated in the United States and carries cardiac risks, some patients are pursuing treatment domestically or traveling abroad to access it. The article urges providers to understand ibogaine's risks and benefits rather than dismiss it outright, as patient interest continues to grow. No immediate regulatory or policy changes are described.