The Gist Healthcare Podcast

President Biden has reportedly picked Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to lead CMS. The CDC is working to pick up the pace of sequencing COVID-19 tests to track variants. And about a third of people delayed or skipped care during the pandemic - will they come back?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daily COVID-19 cases are down from record highs, but experts it's important to continue public health measures as more contagious variants spread. CVS Health’s insurance arm Aetna will start selling insurance on the marketplace next year. And the Biden Administration started unwinding Medicaid work requirements.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic has hit struggling rural hospitals hard. Michael Topchik, national leader for rural health at healthcare consulting firm The Chartis Group discusses how although more hospitals are vulnerable, he's optimistic the Biden Administration’s focus on health equity could lead to new payment models that allow rural hospitals to focus more on emergency and outpatient care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 of the country’s largest health systems are joining together to create a company to capitalize on their valuable troves of health data. Starting Monday, millions of Americans will have another chance to buy health insurance plans on the individual marketplace. And an Ohio-based emergency medicine practice is buying out its minority partner, a private equity firm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a rare showing of unity, associations representing hospitals, physicians, insurers as well as business groups are backing President Biden’s plans to expand health coverage. The CDC is emphasizing how important mask fit is for protection. And pharmacies are hiring thousands to help administer vaccines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats propose bigger tax credits to make individual health coverage more affordable as part of the COVID relief package. Since COVID-19 vaccines have been so effective, some scientists are pushing for a pancoronavirus vaccine. And providers raise concerns about virtual care post-pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Africa halts the distribution of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine because of concerns it doesn't offer good protection against a variant, first identified in the country. Health insurance startup Oscar Health files to go public. And there have been almost no flu cases this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-founder and CEO of DispatchHealth Dr. Mark Prather discusses how the Denver-based company is expanding from its roots in on-demand urgent care home visits to provide home-based services across the full continuum of care, including hospital-level care through a new partnership with Humana.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnson and Johnson is seeking emergency approval for its single-dose covid vaccine. There’s new reporting about who’s the top choice to run CMS. And Kansas wants to use revenue from medical marijuana to expand Medicaid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some insurers are paying pediatricians so little for rapid covid tests, some stopped offering them. British health officials are going door-to-door testing thousands to stamp out a coronavirus variant. And Manaus, Brazil is struggling with a COVID surge and a shortage of oxygen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.