HHS to drop 340B rebate pilot after court rulings
Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - HHS will drop its 340B rebate model pilot program following two federal court rulings that blocked its implementation. The program, announced in August 2025, was challenged by the American Hospital Association, the Maine Hospital Association and four safe…
AI Summary: In a twist that no one saw coming (except the federal courts), HHS has scrapped its controversial 340B rebate pilot after two judicial rulings blocked its implementation. Providers, relieved to avoid a potential cash flow nightmare, are quietly celebrating the decision as one less bureaucratic headache to manage.
A newborn's death likely linked to the mom drinking raw milk while pregnant
go - Health officials in New Mexico have said a newborn baby died from a listeria infection likely linked to the child's mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy
AI Summary: New Mexico health officials report a tragic newborn death attributed to a listeria infection linked to the mother’s consumption of unpasteurized raw milk during pregnancy, re–igniting long–standing concerns about food safety standards and the risks involved in consuming unregulated dairy products.
HHS scraps 340B rebate pilot in win for hospitals
Emily Olsen / healthcaredive - The Trump administration agreed to drop a controversial pilot that would have allowed drugmakers to give post-sales rebates on some drugs instead of upfront discounts.
AI Summary: Federal health officials have reversed course on a highly controversial 340B rebate pilot program after federal courts blocked its implementation – a move hailed by providers as a long‐awaited relief from cash flow and administrative burdens.
FTC deal over insulin prices forces Express Scripts to overhaul policies
Elizabeth Casolo / beckershospitalreview - The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Cigna’s Express Scripts in a case over alleged inflation of insulin prices, according to a Feb. 4 agency news release. Under the settlement, Express Scripts must keep drug manufacturer compensation de…
AI Summary: Federal regulators reached a settlement with Express Scripts amid long‐standing allegations that the pharmacy benefit manager overcharged for insulin. The deal forces sweeping policy revisions to curb price inflation and protect patients from rising costs, following years of regulatory scrutiny over insulin rebate practices.
India says it has contained Nipah virus outbreak as some Asian countries ramp up health screenings
go - Indian authorities have contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in eastern West Bengal state
AI Summary: Indian health authorities report that a recent Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal – marked by two confirmed cases – has been successfully contained. In response, airports and health officials have stepped up screenings to curb further spread, highlighting growing regional vigilance in controlling the outbreak.
CMS official defends flat Medicare Advantage rate proposal for 2027
Rebecca Pifer Parduhn / healthcaredive - Medicare director Chris Klomp said the Trump administration is “massively” in support of MA as health insurers cry foul over the meager rate update.
AI Summary: A CMS official defended the administration’s plan to freeze Medicare Advantage rate adjustments for 2027 despite industry outcry. Critics argue the flat-rate approach may hurt patient benefits while officials insist it brings consistency amid a contentious policy environment.
CMS proposes nearly flat Medicare Advantage payments for 2027: 5 notes
Jakob Emerson / beckershospitalreview - CMS proposed its 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D capitation rates and payment policies Jan. 26, putting forth a slowdown in payment growth after a $25 billion boost for 2026. Five things to know:The post CMS proposes nearly flat Medicare Advantage paym…
AI Summary: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has unveiled proposals for the 2027 payment rules, featuring nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates and a plan to exclude chart reviews from risk adjustment. This comprehensive policy update may notably impact insurer revenue structures and patient care delivery nationwide.
US life expectancy hit an all-time high in 2024, CDC says
medicalxpress - U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024—the highest mark in American history.
AI Summary: Recent CDC data reveal that U.S. life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024—the highest level in American history. Despite the many challenges the nation continues to face, experts point to improvements in healthcare delivery and preventive measures driving this historic milestone.
UnitedHealth CEO Hemsley says insurer will rebate ACA profits to consumers
fiercehealthcare - UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley said that the insurance giant will rebate profits from its Affordable Care Act plans back to customers.
AI Summary: Two stories reveal that UnitedHealth’s CEO announced plans to return profits from its Affordable Care Act plans back to customers, a move designed to ease health‐insurance costs and signal a strategic shift in the company’s approach ahead of congressional testimony.
Oregon baby is still battling infant botulism after ByHeart formula exposure
go - A Portland, Oregon, baby got sick with infant botulism after drinking contaminated ByHeart formula donated through a program that helps poor and homeless families
AI Summary: Two reports describe how a Portland baby continues to struggle with severe infant botulism after ingesting contaminated ByHeart formula distributed via a charity, raising concerns about quality control and the safety of aid programs.
Colorectal Cancer Is Now the Leading Cause of Cancer Death Under 50 – Fight Colorectal Cancer
oncodaily - Fight Colorectal Cancer shared a post on LinkedIn: “Breaking news: Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for people under 50, according to new data released by […]
AI Summary: Recent research indicates a stark shift in cancer mortality as colorectal cancer now leads as the top killer among Americans under 50. Studies highlight an earlier disease onset with increasing incidence, prompting urgent calls for revised screening guidelines and robust public health interventions to address this alarming trend.
US officially leaves World Health Organization
bbc - Trump ordered the withdrawal a year ago, accusing the UN agency of failing to adopt reforms and mishandling the pandemic.
AI Summary: The U.S. has officially completed its exit from the World Health Organization—a policy ordered over a year ago—while uncertainties remain regarding the full finalization timeline. This move marks a dramatic reorientation of America’s role in global health governance.
‘Vertical integration is destroying people’s ability to access care’: Payer CEOs face bipartisan congressional grilling
Jakob Emerson / beckershospitalreview - The CEOs of the nation’s largest health insurers drew the ire of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle during congressional hearings Jan. 22 over industry consolidation, prior authorization practices and executive pay, with members pressing executives to e…
AI Summary: Lawmakers grilled top health insurance executives in a high‐profile congressional hearing over rising healthcare costs, vertical integration and shifting of cost burdens to hospitals and drug makers. The grilling highlighted deep concerns over patient access and systemic inefficiencies in American healthcare.
Epic & Providers Sue Health Gorilla Over Alleged Data Exploitation
Katie Adams / medcitynews - Epic Systems and several healthcare providers have sued Health Gorilla and other companies, alleging they exploited interoperability networks to improperly access and monetize nearly 300,000 patient medical records without consent.The post Epic & Provider…
AI Summary: A lawsuit has been filed by Epic Systems along with several major healthcare providers alleging that Health Gorilla exploited interoperability networks to access patient records for financial gain. The legal action raises questions about data security practices in digital health exchanges.
US overdose deaths fell through most of 2025, federal data reveals
go - U.S. overdose deaths fell through the most of last year, suggesting a lasting improvement in an epidemic that had been worsening for decades
AI Summary: New federal data reveal that overdose fatalities in the United States dropped markedly throughout most of 2025, signaling a potential turning point in a decades‐long worsening epidemic. Concerns over opioid misuse remain, but these trends hint at improved outcomes.
European women's lung cancer mortality rates predicted to level off by 2026
medicalxpress - After increasing for more than 25 years, lung cancer death rates are finally leveling off among women in European Union (EU) countries apart from Spain, according to predictions of mortality rates from the disease for 2026.
AI Summary: After more than 25 years of steadily rising death rates, recent findings indicate that lung cancer mortality among European women is now stabilizing—with projections extending to 2026 in most EU nations. Health experts view this as a promising sign that improved screening, prevention, and treatment strategies are beginning to have an impact.
F.D.A. Decisions on Abortion Pill Were Based on Science, New Analysis Finds
Pam Belluck / nytimes - A study of more than 5,000 pages of agency documents on mifepristone over 12 years found that agency leaders almost always followed the evidence-based recommendations of scientists.
AI Summary: New in‑depth analyses of internal FDA documents reveal that regulatory decisions on the abortion pill mifepristone were firmly based on thorough evidence rather than political pressure, dispelling common misconceptions about politicized review processes.
Life-extending prostate cancer drug to be offered to thousands in England
bbc - Abiraterone will be available in a matter of weeks and will be offered to 7,000 men a year.
AI Summary: Health authorities in England have announced that nearly 7,000 additional men with hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer will soon be eligible for abiraterone—a breakthrough treatment that extends survival. The drug is expected to be available within weeks, marking a significant step forward in targeted prostate cancer care.
FDA rejects cancer therapy for rare post-transplant disease
Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - Atara Biotherapeutics received a second complete response letter from the FDA for its biologics license application for Ebvallo (tabelecleucel). The letter, received Jan. 9, said the FDA no longer considers the single-arm ALLELE trial adequate to support …
AI Summary: The FDA has again rejected Atara’s cell therapy aimed at treating rare post‐transplant complications linked to Epstein–Barr virus. Despite high hopes for this innovative approach, regulatory concerns remain over its safety and efficacy—clearly a “repeat performance” in the world of breakthrough therapies.
Judge orders HHS to restore funding for children's health programs as lawsuit continues
go - A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore nearly $12 million in funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics
AI Summary: A federal judge has stepped in to save nearly US$12 million for the American Academy of Pediatrics – not exactly a miracle cure, but a legal fix that forces HHS to undo its funding cuts. The order guarantees critical support for children’s health programs amid ongoing litigation.