Health Affairs This Week

In this engaging discussion, Christina Farr—an advisor, investor, and editor-in-chief of Second Opinion Media—dives into the revitalizing landscape of digital health. She highlights the significance of recent IPOs from Omada Health and Hinge Health, exploring how they could reshape the market. Farr emphasizes the vital role of storytelling in attracting investors and differentiating innovative health solutions. Additionally, she delves into the challenges of promoting healthy behaviors and the evolving dynamics of employer-driven digital health solutions.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews Thomas Buchmueller of the University of Michigan to discuss his recent paper that explores how during the Medicaid 'Unwinding' of 2023, the reduction in Medicaid-paid prescriptions was offset by increased commercial coverage.Order the May 2025 issue of Health Affairs.Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes Katie Keith of Georgetown Law back to the pod to discuss President Trump's potential changes to the rulemaking process, how that may impact rulemaking at HHS, and break down the house Republican budget reconciliation bill and the impacts it could have on Medicaid and more.Become an Insider today to get access to our May 29 event on the FDA under the second Trump Administration as well as our upcoming premiere trend report on AI in health care.Also, join us on May 27 for a free virtual event featuring a conversation between Clifford Ko and Katherine Ornstein on how the new Age-Friendly Hospital Measure aims to improve the quality and experience of inpatient care for older Americans.Related Articles:The House Republican Budget Reconciliation Legislation: Unpacking The Coverage Provisions (Health Affairs Forefront)New Trump Directive To Further Erode Notice And Comment Rulemaking (Health Affairs Forefront)Tracking The Trump Administration’s Early Deregulation Agenda (Health Affairs Forefront)The House Republican Budget Reconciliation LegislationRFK Jr. kills policy on public comment for health regulations (Axios) Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Senior Deputy Editor Rob Lott interviews Caitlin Carroll of the University of Minnesota to discuss her recent paper that explores how rural hospital closures led to an increase in prices for nearby remaining hospitals.Order the May 2025 issue of Health Affairs.Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes Farzad Mostashari, founder & CEO of Aledade and the former National Coordinator for Health IT, to the pod to break down insights in the latest MedPAC report, quality measurement reform, and areas of opportunity for value-based care.Health Affairs is hosting an Insider exclusive event on May 29 focusing on the FDA's first 100 days under the second Trump administration featuring moderator Rachel Sachs alongside panelists Richard Hughes IV and Arti Rai.Related Links:Crossing the Chasm: How to Expand Adoption of Value-Based Care (The New England Journal of Medicine)2025 MedPAC Report Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Senior Deputy Editor Rob Lott interviews Eric Topol, Executive Vice President of Scripps Research, on his new book, Super Agers, which provides an evidence-based approach on extending healthy lifespans.Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

In this engaging discussion, Akilah Wise, Senior Editor at Health Affairs and former CDC employee, dives deep into the significance of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and its impact on health policy. She highlights how exercise dramatically affects health outcomes and addresses the pressing issue of physical inactivity. Wise also discusses initiatives like the Make America Healthy Again Commission, aiming to tackle chronic health challenges and advocate for better nutrition and health data transparency.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes Deputy Editor Jessica Bylander to the program to celebrate the 200th episode of Health Affairs This Week and take a look back at the health care world of 2020 and see what has changed in terms of COVID-19, vaccinations, telehealth, and more.  Health Affairs published an ahead-of-print article this week from Yashaswini Singh and coauthors exploring explore how the expansion of private equity-owned physician practices has led to a decrease in access for certain eye conditions such as retinal detachment.  Yasahswini Singh also appeared as a guest on a live episode of A Health Podyssey discussing private equity's effect on health care staff turnover. Health Affairs is hosting an Insider exclusive event on May 29 focusing on the FDA's first 100 days under the second Trump administration featuring moderator Rachel Sachs alongside panelists Richard Hughes IV and Arti Rai.Related Links:The Many Ways Kennedy Is Already Undermining Vaccines (The New York Times)Health secretary RFK Jr. endorses the MMR vaccine — stoking fury among his supporters (NPR)Measles tracker: Follow cases, outbreaks and vaccination rates across the U.S. (NBC News)Fact Sheet: Telehealth (American Hospital Association) Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes Bob Herman of STAT News to the program to discuss the state of deals in the health care space, how vertical integration and consolidation have played a role in mergers & acquisitions as it relates to hospitals, and what might fly under the radar from even the most savvy of health policy wonks.Health Affairs Insiders can join us April 23 for an exclusive virtual event exploring site-neutral payments with health economist and health services researcher Brady Post of Northeastern University and Health Affairs' Meg Winchester.Also, we are hosting another Insider exclusive event on May 29 focusing on the FDA's first 100 days under the second Trump administration featuring moderator Rachel Sachs alongside panelists Richard Hughes IV and Arti Rai. Related Links:Sign up for STAT+Sign up for STAT newsletters including Bob Herman's Health Care Inc. Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Heather Thomas, Director of A Place to Thrive and A Place for Kids, shares her journey as a mother of six battling food insecurity. She discusses the emotional process of transforming her poetry into a compelling narrative about hunger. The conversation delves into the complexities of navigating the bureaucratic system for food benefits and the often-overlooked struggles families face. Thomas emphasizes the importance of community advocacy, storytelling, and empathy in addressing food insecurity, highlighting initiatives that connect food access with broader social issues.