GOP Medicaid cuts would cause thousands of preventable deaths: study

Medicaid provisions in Republicans’ reconciliation megabill would lead to between 8,000 and nearly 25,000 medically preventable deaths, according to new research in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 17, 2025

Humana’s cautious defense of Medicare Advantage

At the insurer's investor day, Humana struck a middle ground in defending the importance of the privatized Medicare program — which accounts for the bulk of its revenue — while allowing that there’s room for improvement.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 17, 2025

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Labor

Hospitals are navigating persistent labor shortages with the need to cut costs — a source of contention that could leave patients caught in the middle.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Senate Republicans propose deeper Medicaid cuts in reconciliation bill

Hospital groups slammed the Senate’s version of the GOP legislation. The upper chamber “made a bad bill worse,” said Chip Kahn, CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals.

By Emily Olsen • June 17, 2025

Could the FDA take an indirect approach to regulate LDTs?

Attorneys said many questions remain about the regulation of laboratory developed tests after the FDA lost its legal fight. A recent warning letter could be a clue to future enforcement.

By Susan Kelly • June 16, 2025

Hundreds of rural hospitals at risk if Medicaid cuts pass, Democrats say

The data released by a group of Democrat lawmakers found 338 rural hospitals were at risk of closure, conversion or service cutbacks if Republicans’ reconciliation bill becomes law.

By Emily Olsen • June 16, 2025

FDA to miss approval deadline for Kalvista drug due to ‘resource constraints’

A “heavy workload” and “limited resources” have left the agency unable to meet a June 17 deadline to approve a therapy Kalvista has been developing for hereditary angioedema. 

By Ben Fidler • June 16, 2025

Iowa passes law imposing tighter restrictions on PBMs

Last week, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law seeking to control rising prescription drug costs and protect rural pharmacies by targeting some of the drug middlemens’ most controversial practices.

By Susanna Vogel • June 16, 2025

RFK Jr. reveals picks for influential vaccine panel

Days after firing all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, the HHS Secretary named a small new committee that includes multiple vaccine critics.

By Kristin Jensen • June 12, 2025

Oregon’s new law is nation’s toughest against private equity in healthcare

Other states have passed laws bolstering oversight of healthcare deals this year, including Massachusetts, New Mexico, Indiana and Washington.

By Susanna Vogel • June 12, 2025

HHS watchdog accuses CVS Medicare Advantage plan of upcoding

The vast majority of diagnoses codes that CVS subsidiary Coventry submitted to the CMS between 2018 and 2019 weren’t supported by patient documentation, the HHS Office of the Inspector General found.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 11, 2025

Addiction treatment center to pay $1.9M to settle allegations it misled consumers

The civil penalty could almost quadruple if the FTC discovers Evoke Wellness, which allegedly poised as other treatment centers in a bid to nab new business, misrepresented its financial holdings.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 11, 2025

Vaccine makers face fresh uncertainty after firing of CDC panel

The abrupt termination of the 17 panelists guiding the CDC’s vaccine recommendations could yield a new committee more aligned with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s skeptical views, analysts warned.

By Delilah Alvarado • June 10, 2025

More than half of adults worry Medicaid cuts could hurt healthcare access: KFF

Concerns about the policies are split along party lines. Still, more than 30% of Republicans said they were concerned the cuts could negatively impact their ability to get and pay for healthcare.

By Emily Olsen • June 10, 2025

PBM lobby sues Arkansas over law requiring drug middlemen to sell pharmacies

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association is following in the footsteps of two of its largest members — Cigna’s Express Scripts and CVS’ Caremark — that have also sued Arkansas over its controversial law.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 10, 2025

Public health scholars ask HHS to reject Georgia Medicaid work requirement extension

The American Public Health Association and dozens of other experts had harsh words for Georgia’s request to continue its controversial “Pathways to Coverage,” saying it enrolls fewer beneficiaries at a higher cost.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 6, 2025

Nearly 11M would become uninsured under GOP reconciliation bill: CBO

The latest analysis from the nonpartisan budget scorekeeper found 7.8 million would lose coverage due to Medicaid cuts.

By Emily Olsen • June 5, 2025

State exchange directors urge Senate to reconsider GOP megabill, citing harm to ACA enrollees

Seventeen states sent the letter to Senate leadership outlining how Republicans’ reconciliation legislation will kick millions off coverage, sicken risk pools and trample on state autonomy.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 5, 2025

HHS staffers sue over ‘hopelessly error-ridden’ layoffs

Most of the 10,000 HHS employees let go this spring could qualify for the class, according to lawyers. It’s the latest in a string of litigation against the Trump administration for drastically downsizing the federal workforce.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 4, 2025

Trump administration rescinds Biden-era guidance protecting access to emergency abortions

The CMS says it will continue to enforce EMTALA, including in cases where the health of a pregnant woman or unborn child are in “serious jeopardy.” However, it did not offer specifics about what constitutes serious jeopardy.

By Susanna Vogel • June 3, 2025

Trump administration names national coordinator for health IT

Thomas Keane, who previously worked as a senior advisor to the deputy secretary of the HHS, began the role on Monday.

By Emily Olsen • June 3, 2025

Epic charts growth in provider TEFCA adoption

The EHR vendor plans to transition all its customers to the government health information sharing framework by the end of the year. Currently, 41% are live with TEFCA.

By Emily Olsen • June 3, 2025

HHS releases more detailed 2026 budget disclosing scope of cuts

On Friday, the HHS fleshed out a preliminary budget released in the spring and gave new details about which of its programs would be terminated if the Trump administration gets its way.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 2, 2025

HHS ramps up pressure on providers offering gender-affirming care for children

Experts worry the Trump administration is attempting to coerce hospitals into halting gender-affirming care, and that new guidance could have a chilling effect on services.

By Susanna Vogel • May 30, 2025

Providers could lose $770B in revenue if GOP megabill passes

And that’s not counting an almost $200 billion increase in uncompensated care — most of which would fall on hospitals, the Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 30, 2025

CVS, Cigna sue Arkansas to overturn new PBM law

The massive pharmacy middlemen contend that Arkansas’ law, which requires PBMs to divest pharmacies they own in the state, flies in the face of the Constitution and would worsen healthcare access.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 30, 2025