Tracking state abortion bans in the US

Abortion is again illegal in Missouri, after the state’s highest court vacated rulings that temporarily allowed the procedure. The legal battle follows a November ballot amendment enshrining abortion access in the state.

Updated May 28, 2025

Athenahealth names CVS alum as CFO

Tom Cowhey joins Athenahealth from CVS, where he served as finance chief for about a year.

GLP-1 prescriptions for weight loss are shooting up, despite obstacles

The percentage of overweight or obese adults prescribed GLP-1s jumped by almost 587% between 2019 and 2024, according to a new Fair Health report.

Medicaid cuts could threaten healthcare access for young adults: report

Young adults could struggle to navigate government bureaucracy and face other challenges managing work requirements or increased eligibility checks in the safety-net insurance program, the Urban Institute found.

PeaceHealth to cut 1% of workforce, freeze nonclinical hiring through 2025

A spokesperson said the cuts came “after months of discernment, financial analysis and a thorough review of the dynamic healthcare market.” Open clinical roles will not be impacted.

Trump administration updates price transparency guidance for hospitals and payers

Federal agencies are seeking public feedback on how to improve price transparency around prescription drugs and boost hospital compliance and enforcement.

FDA sets COVID vaccine formula as RFK Jr. narrows guidance for shots

The agency recommends manufacturers update their vaccines to target the JN.1 strain. At the same time, HHS head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is removing guidance that healthy children and pregnant women receive COVID shots.

Updated May 27, 2025

Judge approves Rite Aid pharmacy sales to CVS, Walgreens, others

A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved Rite Aid’s pharmacy asset sales to a variety of buyers. Purchase prices were not disclosed.

Hinge Health goes public in positive signal for digital health IPOs

The digital musculoskeletal care company opened at $39.25 per share, rising 23% above its public offering price.

House passes reconciliation bill with massive Medicaid cuts

Speaker Mike Johnson negotiated a number of last-minute changes to the megabill to ensure passage, including moving up the start date for Medicaid work requirements. The House passed the bill 215-214 on Thursday morning.

CMS expands audits to crack down on Medicare Advantage overpayments

The agency said it would increase the number of MA plan audits and complete its backlog of reviews by investing in technology and growing its medical coding workforce.

Evernorth reaches deals with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly to cap GLP-1 copays

The agreements cap patients’ monthly out-of-pocket costs for Zepbound and Wegovy at $200 and more deeply discount the drugs for Evernorth’s employer and health plan clients.

CVS names new president of Oak Street Health

Creagh Milford is taking the reins at the value-based medical group for seniors after Oak Street’s previous president decided to step down.

Nonprofit providers’ operating margins fall as more challenges loom

Nonprofits have struggled to recover since the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, providers are grappling once more with turbulent macroeconomic conditions.

Ohio’s Kettering Health hit by cyberattack

Elective inpatient and outpatient procedures at the health system’s facilities were canceled Tuesday.

Updated May 21, 2025

New Mountain combines portfolio companies to launch AI revenue cycle firm

The deal merges Access Healthcare, SmarterDx and Thoughtful.ai to create Smarter Technologies, which the private equity firm said will serve more than 60 hospitals and health systems.

Ascension still chasing financial turnaround after last year’s cyberattack

The nonprofit health system says it has made progress toward recovering from last year's massive cyberattack. However, it still posted losses during the third quarter of its fiscal year.

Judge denies Florida Blue’s request to bump star ratings

The insurer sued the CMS late last year, arguing that flooding in Broward County should have qualified as an extreme and uncontrollable event relieving Florida Blue from star ratings decreases. A federal judge disagreed.

UnitedHealth downgraded by investment banks

TD Cowen, Raymond James and Bank of America have all downgraded UnitedHealth’s stock, citing dogged internal challenges facing the company.

FDA sets stricter approval standards for COVID vaccines

The agency will now require randomized, controlled data before approving new COVID shots for healthy children and adults.

Judge shuts down drugmakers’ 340B rebate plans, for now

A district court ruled that the HHS does have the power to review drug manufacturers’ plans to pay hospitals rebates instead of upfront discounts on 340B medications. But it left the door open to the controversial reforms.

VA looks to increase Oracle EHR deployments

Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers last week that the agency is hoping to roll out the software to 20 to 25 sites in fiscal year 2027, after largely halting new deployments in 2023.

Hacking, ransomware driving more healthcare data breaches: study

Hacking and IT incidents accounted for 88% of patient records exposed from 2010 to 2024, while ransomware made up nearly 40%, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.

Judge rules Trump administration cannot carry out $11B in public health funding cuts

It’s the second time a federal judge has sided with states in their legal battle to stop the Trump administration from slashing funds for public health initiatives.

House committees advance reconciliation text with big impacts on healthcare

Republicans in Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means have approved their portions of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” after marathon markups. Here’s an extensive look at what the legislation means for healthcare.