The Gist Healthcare Podcast

The federal government issues guidance on medical frailty exemptions to Medicaid community engagement requirements. Pennsylvania reports a fourth measles-related death. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declares the summer’s cyclospora outbreak over. Those stories on today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.

Rural healthcare providers face significant opportunities and difficult choices about the future. On The Gist Healthcare Podcast, Kenny O’Neill, managing director at Kaufman Hall, discusses how leaders can approach transformation amid mounting pressure. Further reading: Rural health needs big, transformative bets, not small pilots  

A prominent House Democrat is probing the behavior of No Surprises Act arbiters. A federal audit finds Medicare Part D plans spent hundreds of millions of dollars on ineligible drugs. And smart ring maker Oura files to go public. Those stories and more on today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.

President Trump taps a White House health policy aide to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Health insurers denied at least 12% of prior authorization requests across all insurance markets last year. And a breakthrough vaccine could change how cancer is treated. Those stories on today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.

Fewer kindergartners were vaccinated during the last school year. A group of senators is calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to restore canceled patient safety grants. And Universal Health Services finalizes its acquisition of Talkspace. Listen to the latest episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the first mRNA influenza vaccine. More than 20 Democratic attorneys general sue the federal government over Affordable Care Act marketplace changes. And HCA Healthcare expands its Texas footprint with a major urgent care acquisition. Listen to the latest episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalizes Medicare hospital inpatient payment rates for fiscal year 2027. Two deaths in Michigan have been linked to the nationwide cyclospora outbreak. And a major pharmaceutical merger could be on the horizon. Listen to the latest episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.

Improving patient access requires more than new processes. It also requires clinicians, administrators, and healthcare leaders to work toward a shared goal. In Part 2 of our conversation, Victor Hassid, MD,  Associate Vice President of Access Strategic Operations at MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses how organizations can align teams, overcome operational challenges and begin putting a patient safety approach to access into practice.  You can listen to the first half of the conversation here.   You can find Dr. Hassid's article in JAMA here. (paywall) 

Humana will reduce its Medicare Advantage footprint again in 2027. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will end a Medicare Part D premium stabilization program. And the American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis. Listen to the latest episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast.