Gist Healthcare Daily

UnitedHealthcare unveils a new “gold card” program for providers to make the prior authorization process more efficient. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suspends two ACA platforms over concerns that foreign entities had access to consumer information. And, the FDA OKs the first over-the-counter hearing aid software for use with Apple Air Pods. We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

Healthcare was a hot topic during this week’s presidential debate...especially the past and potential future of the Affordable Care Act. The data of nearly 1 million Medicare beneficiaries could have been exposed to hackers through a software vulnerability discovered last year. And, hospitals experienced a slight labor rebound in August. Those stories and more coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.

The Biden Administration finalizes new mental health parity rules for insurers. A large-scale study suggests that the active ingredient in the blockbuster weight loss medicine Ozempic reduced the risk of severe COVID reactions among patients with obesity. And, we’ll get some more top news in heathcare. That's coming up on today's episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.

Several high-ranking executives at Walgreens are being sued by a shareholder as the retail pharmacy’s stock price continues to drop. Humana will exit 13 Medicare Advantage marketplaces ahead of the 2025 plan year.  And, we’ll get some more top healthcare news headlines. That’s coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.

Johnson & Johnson draws the ire of hospitals and the government over a planned change to how it will provide discounts for some of its 340B-eligible drugs. Pfizer becomes the second drug company to get into the direct-to-consumer market. Those stories and more coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.

Struggling Steward Health Care will sell six of its Massachusetts hospitals. Kaiser Permanente backed Risant Health plans to invest more than $1 billion dollars in Cone Health. And, pharmacy benefit manager leaders could be in hot water following testimony over their business practices on Capitol Hill. That’s coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

A federal judge blocks the FTC’s ban on noncompetes. And, New Jersey’s governor says about $100 million dollars in residents’ medical debt will be eliminated. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. 

Massachusetts’ governor arranges deals to force the sale of five Steward Health Care hospitals in the state. As Medicare Advantage enrollment grows, a new report warns of the program’s impact on hospital margins. And Eili Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drug reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily.