The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris proposes an expansion of Medicare’s home healthcare policy. The Government Accountability Office says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should be more diligent in ensuring hospitals are compliant with price transparency rules. And, some hospitals in Florida prepare to close facilities and evacuate patients as Hurricane Milton barrels through the Gulf. We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

Hospitals around the country are reporting shortages of crucial IV fluid in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.  Not-for-profit hospitals add ten times their value to communities relative to their tax breaks, according to a new report. And, the Federal Trade Commission could wade into the legal fight between startup Particle Health and the nation’s largest EHR vendor Epic. That story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

The Vice Presidential candidates squared off this week and healthcare policy took center stage. Humana’s stock drops following news that federal regulators slashed the number of the company’s enrollees in high-star Medicare Advantage plans. And, the number of reported whooping cough cases has spiked this year. We’ll get that story--and more--coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

CVS is rumored to be weighing breaking up its retail and insurance businesses amid investor pressure. Johnson & Johnson is abandoning its controversial 340B drug discount rebate plan.  And, The Biden Administration is no longer pursuing its push for greater Medicaid drug price transparency, according to a report.  We’ll get that story--and more--coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

New legislation is introduced in the United States Senate that sets standards for healthcare cybersecurity. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalizes national Medicaid renewal compliance deadlines. And, Novo Nordisk’s CEO blames health insurers and PBMs for the high cost of its blockbuster weight loss drug Ozempic. We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

New legislation introduced this week in the US Senate would make ACA expanded subsidies permanent. Employers expect an increase in per employee healthcare benefit spend in 2025, according to a new survey. And, EHR giant Epic sued over allegations of anticompetitive business practices. We’ll get that story and more coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.

A bill introduced in Congress would exempt some smaller drugmakers from the Medicare drug price negotiation process. The Federal Trade Commission sues the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers over the cost of insulin.  And, consumers will be able to self-administer a nasal flu vaccine next year. We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. 

A move to extend pandemic-era telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities passes out of a key Congressional committee.  Another major health insurer plans to scale back their Medicare Advantage offerings for the upcoming plan year.  And, drug overdose deaths in the US are declining rapidly, according to data from the CDC. We’ll get that story--and more--coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.

The Health Resources and Services Administration threatens sanctions against Johnson & Johnson over the company’s decision to change how hospitals are provided 340B discounts on some prescription drugs.  And, a summer surge of COVID infections could be abating...We’ll get that story—and more—coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.