
The Gist Healthcare Podcast
The Gist Healthcare Podcast from Kaufman Hall delivers the top healthcare business and policy news in under 10 minutes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Host J. Carlisle Larsen gives you the “gist” of what’s happening in healthcare across the country so you can start your day informed. Subscribe and listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Mar 5, 2025 • 10min
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
The US Department of Health and Human Services scales back a decades-old policy that allows for public comment on healthcare regulations. President Trump issues an executive order on hospital price transparency. And, a new study finds that Black and Hispanic mothers bear the brunt of high maternity care costs. We’ll get 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.

Mar 3, 2025 • 22min
How Anticipated Federal Medicaid Cuts Could Impact Safety Net Hospitals
House Republicans passed a budget blueprint last Tuesday that includes around $2 trillion in federal spending cuts. That plan includes $880 billion in spending cuts from programs that are overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a majority of which are anticipated to come from the Medicaid program. Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, joins host J. Carlisle Larsen to talk about how those expected cuts could impact safety net hospitals nationwide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 28, 2025 • 9min
Friday, February 28, 2025
Lawmakers call on the Department of Veterans Affairs to clarify the expected budget for its large-scale electronic health record modernization project. A Texas child dies from a measles infection – the first death from the virus in the United States in a decade. And, Eli Lilly announces plans to invest billions in new United States-based manufacturing plants. We’ll get 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.

Feb 26, 2025 • 8min
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating UnitedHealth Group over its Medicare Advantage billing practices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cancels—indefinitely—a meeting of vaccine advisors . And, fatal drug overdoses are down nationwide. We’ll get 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.

Feb 24, 2025 • 15min
Funding cuts to Medicaid could be on the horizon
Budget Committee Republicans have tasked the Energy and Commerce Committee with finding $880 billion in cuts to federal healthcare spending. Though the committee has jurisdiction over many programs, it notably oversees Medicare Part B and Medicaid spending. Matthew Fiedler, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, joins host J. Carlisle Larsen to talk about the news and why most of those potential spending cuts could come from Medicaid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 2025 • 10min
Friday, February 21, 2025
Biden-era merger guidelines jointly established by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice remain in place for now. A new study finds that the United States could face a critical hospital bed shortage within the decade. And, the number of measles cases in Texas continues to grow. We’ll get 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.

Feb 19, 2025 • 9min
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The Trump Administration to lays off thousands of the Department of Health and Human Services employees, including more than 1,000 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The administration cuts around 90 percent of the budget meant for Affordable Care Act marketplace navigators. And, flu deaths surpass those related to COVID-19 for 1st time since the beginning of the pandemic. We’ll get 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.

Feb 17, 2025 • 14min
ENCORE: UMass Memorial Pilots Postpartum Hospital-at-Home Program
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, Massachusetts began to pilot a new hospital-at-home program: one for postpartum patients. Benjamin Hamar, MD, Director of the Maternity Center at UMass Memorial and a member of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, joins the podcast to tell host J. Carlisle Larsen more about the first-in-the-nation model. This episode originally aired on November 4, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 2025 • 8min
Friday, February 14, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is confirmed as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. House Republicans outline $880 billion in healthcare cuts. And, the American Hospital Association calls on the Trump Administration to exempt medical devices from tariffs. That's coming up on today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 12, 2025 • 9min
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
A federal judge has issued a temporary stay on funding cuts to research institutions from the National Institutes of Health. The Department of Health and Human Services has been ordered to restore health information webpages following a lawsuit. And, a new study finds that using a popular weight loss drug can help patients lower their need for blood pressure medications. We’ll get 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.