The Gist Healthcare Podcast

The American Academy of Pediatrics releases a new childhood vaccination schedule and diverges from federal guidelines. Employers prepare for rising healthcare costs in the year ahead. And Elevance Health faces a legal setback in its Medicare Advantage star ratings dispute. Catch these stories on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare is at risk of automatic cuts totaling hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years. Texas officials have declared the recent measles outbreak officially over. And, AstraZeneca introduces a new at-home nasal flu vaccine, aiming to expand access and improve vaccination rates. Hear more on these stories in the latest episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Health and Human Services revives a disbanded childhood vaccine safety task force. Illinois moves to tighten rules on artificial intelligence in behavioral health. And UnitedHealth Group finalizes its merger with home health provider Amedisys after resolving antitrust concerns. All that and more, coming up on today's episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump orders a stockpile of critical drug ingredients. Highmark Health partners with Abridge to bring AI to real-time prior authorizations. And, AbbVie announces a major investment in U.S. manufacturing. Those stories and more on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters following last week’s deadly shooting. Thousands of healthcare providers—including some of the nation’s largest health systems—are opting out of a multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield carriers. And the national shortage of sterile saline IV fluid has officially ended. Those stories and more, coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many healthcare organizations nationwide have piloted various artificial intelligence tools to streamline workflows, reduce administrative burden among clinicians, and more. However, there isn’t a set of guidelines or principles for healthcare organizations to use when deploying these tools. This is something that the Coalition for Health AI and the Joint Commission have partnered to create.   This week, we hear the conclusion of host J. Carlisle Larsen’s conversation with CHAI CEO Brian Anderson, M.D., about his organization’s work with the Joint Commission to establish best practices for the use of AI tools within healthcare.   You can listen to the first half of the conversation here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal government slows progress on mRNA vaccine research. UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys resolve a key legal challenge, clearing the way for their multibillion-dollar merger. And Vertex Pharmaceuticals experiences a delay in its development of a new class of non-opioid pain therapies. Those stories on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump Administration finalizes an inpatient payment rate increase for 2026. Medicare and Medicaid reportedly consider covering GLP-1 drugs for obesity. And, the childhood vaccine exemption rate hits record high. Those stories and more on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Joint Commission and the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) recently announced they would partner to scale the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in healthcare settings. The organizations plan to release guidance and best practices this fall based on conversations happening now among industry stakeholders.   On today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast, host J. Carlisle Larsen is joined by CHAI CEO Brian Anderson, MD, about the partnership and themes that are already emerging from these early conversations.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare and technology stakeholders pledge to make healthcare data sharing easier following a meeting at the White House. A federal judge blocks Arkansas’s strict pharmacy benefit manager law. And, Swiss drugmaker Roche weighs direct-to-consumer drug sales. Those stories on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.