The Gist Healthcare Podcast

CMS issues its final Medicare reimbursement rules for 2024, with outpatient facilities seeing a pay bump and physicians facing payment cuts. The American Hospital Association challenges the Department of Health and Human Services over its third-party web tracking rule in a new lawsuit. And, a new Minnesota law requires hospitals in the state to inform patients of financial assistance before collecting medical debt. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For months, federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. have been at odds over reauthorizing the United States President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief–better known as PEPFAR–a U.S. initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. The program has largely had bipartisan support on the Hill since it was first introduced in 2003 under then-President George W. Bush's administration. However, in recent months, its reauthorization has been held up by Republicans who allege the funding is being used to pay for abortions overseas, a claim PEPFAR administrators have denied. On today’s episode of Gist HealthcareDaily, Washington Post national health reporter Dan Diamond joins to talk more about the current fight on Capitol Hill and how it recently came to light that $1 billion in federal funds are being withheld from the program by Republican lawmakers. Here’s some of Dan’s recent reporting on the issue:Republicans delay more than $1 billion in HIV program funding (Published: October 26, 2023)Lifesaving HIV program faces a new threat: U.S. abortion politics (Published: July 29, 2023)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walmart strikes a deal with Orlando Health, its first health system partnership. CMS backtracks on proposed home health Medicare payment cuts. And, infant mortality in the United States rose for the first time in two decades, according to a new report. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health tech unicorn Olive AI winds down its operations and sells its assets. Ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations have cost the U-S economy more than $77 billion in downtime alone. And, new analysis from the Lown Institute finds that nearly a quarter of hospital stent procedures are unnecessary and drive up costs. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing new penalties for providers that engage in information blocking. A new executive order from President Biden zeroes in on artificial intelligence, particularly in healthcare. And, pharmacists and workers at the nation’s largest pharmacy retail chains go on strike. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Health and Human Services reverses its COVID-era 340B off-site clinic policy. The Biden Administration proposes an overhaul of the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute resolution process. And, the federal government will stop covering COVID drugs this week. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At this year’s HLTH conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, JC sat down with Sachin Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Health Plan, a not-for-profit provider of Medicare Advantage plans based in Long Beach, California. They discuss SCAN’s planned merger with Care Oregon and broader competition in the MA market as well as the growing tension between providers and MA plans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walmart expands a pilot benefit program that provides doula care for postpartum employees nationwide. CVS pulls some decongestants from shelves that were recently found to be ineffective. And, a new survey finds that healthcare is still unaffordable, even for those with insurance. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC recommends rationing a RSV shot for babies due to shortages. The Senate HELP committee advances President Biden’s National Institutes of Health nominee, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli. And, a new survey finds that the number of healthcare workers experiencing workplace harassment doubled in 2022, and is negatively impacting their mental health. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Ford Health and Ascension Michigan enter into a $10.5 billion joint venture. National vitamin and supplement retailer GNC gets into virtual telehealth. And, Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement expansion sees slow enrollment during its first quarter. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.