Senate finds UnitedHealth used ‘aggressive strategies’ in Medicare Advantage
Elizabeth Casolo / beckershospitalreview - UnitedHealth Group leveraged “aggressive strategies” to get higher-paying Medicare Advantage diagnoses, according to a Jan. 12 Senate report that Becker’s viewed. The Wall Street Journal initially covered the news. Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R…
AI Summary: A Senate investigation has alleged that UnitedHealth Group employed aggressive strategies to trigger more diagnoses, thereby boosting its reimbursements under Medicare Advantage. The revelations—based on thousands of pages of documentation—raise serious concerns about insurer practices and regulatory scrutiny in the Medicare market.
New US diet guidelines push whole foods, meat and dairy
medicalxpress - The federal government has released new dietary guidelines that shift how Americans are urged to eat.
AI Summary: The federal government has unveiled a major revision in its dietary guidelines—urging Americans to favor whole foods such as lean meats, dairy and protein sources while cutting ultraprocessed items. This unexpected pivot in nutritional policy is sparking conversations about what “healthy eating” will really mean moving forward.
New Jersey system to join RWJBarnabas
Kristin Kuchno / beckershospitalreview - West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health and Englewood (N.J.) Health have signed a definitive agreement under which Englewood would become part of RWJBarnabas Health. The transaction is subject to state and federal regulatory approvals, according to a J…
AI Summary: A definitive agreement has been reached for Englewood Health to become part of West Orange–based RWJBarnabas Health, signaling a major consolidation in the New Jersey market. The merger is expected to drive significant investment in regional hospital networks and overcome previous regulatory hurdles, marking a new phase in local healthcare integration.
House approves 3-year ACA subsidy extension
Andrew Cass / beckershospitalreview - The House of Representatives voted to extend the ACA enhanced tax credits that expired at the end of 2025 for three years, which now heads to the Senate. The 230-196 vote followed a Democrat-led discharge petition that reached the required 218 representat…
AI Summary: Multiple reports reveal that lawmakers are urgently working to extend enhanced ACA tax credits beyond 2025. The House has approved a three‐year extension to guarantee affordable coverage, as Congress debates renewing these critical subsidies for millions of Americans.
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health: 5 Things to Know
Katie Adams / medcitynews - OpenAI announced a new dedicated platform for health conversations. The company said the new offering is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment — but rather to provide support for personal health navigation.The post OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health…
AI Summary: OpenAI has rolled out ChatGPT Health, a dedicated platform enabling health‐focused conversations by integrating data from health apps and medical records. Although not intended for diagnosis, the move sparks wry remarks as the tech giant ventures boldly into sensitive, regulated health terrain.
RFK Jr.'s CDC whacks 6 vaccines from childhood recommendation list after opaque monthlong review
fiercehealthcare - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has upended the immunization schedule for children in the United States, eliminating six of the 17 vaccines that were previously recommended to protect them from disease.
AI Summary: In an unexpected twist to the longstanding immunization program, the CDC has eliminated six previously universal childhood vaccines following a monthlong review—sparking debates and eyebrow raises among healthcare officials. The policy change now tailors recommendations to higher-risk groups while shifting away from a one‐size‐fits‐all approach.
UK starts ban on junk food ads on daytime TV and online
medicalxpress - New regulations come into force Monday in Britain banning daytime TV and online adverts for so-called junk foods, in what the government calls a "world-leading action" to tackle childhood obesity.
AI Summary: British regulators have implemented new rules banning junk food advertisements on daytime TV and online platforms. The measures—targeting products like soft drinks, chocolate, pizza, and ice cream—are part of a government drive to curb unhealthy food marketing and protect public health, especially among younger audiences.
Maimonides Health to merge with NYC Health + Hospitals supported by $2.2B state grant
fiercehealthcare - Brooklyn, New York-based Maimonides Health is merging with New York City's public health system NYC Health + Hospitals, the organizations announced Monday.
AI Summary: Brooklyn-based Maimonides Health is merging with New York City’s public health system, bolstered by a $2.2 billion state grant. The integration is expected to streamline services and strengthen healthcare delivery in the region, ultimately broadening patient access and improving community care.
Judge blocks 340B rebate pilot program
Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Department of Health and Human Services from launching its 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, which was scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2026. U.S. District Judge Lance Walker of the District of M…
AI Summary: A federal judge has temporarily halted the rollout of a 340B rebate pilot program designed to reshape drug pricing ahead of its January start. The ruling challenges the current administration’s approach to reforming pricing models, casting uncertainty on the initiative’s future.
Advocates Applaud DEA’s Fourth Extension of Remote Prescribing Flexibilities
Marissa Plescia / medcitynews - The DEA extended telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances through the end of 2026, drawing praise from telehealth advocates who are urging a permanent solution.The post Advocates Applaud DEA’s Fourth Extension of Remote Prescribing…
AI Summary: The Drug Enforcement Administration has extended telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances through 2026, maintaining the COVID-era approach. Telehealth advocates are cheering the move as it cements remote care as a long-term fixture, even as regulators and critics continue debating its broader safety implications.
HHS targets information-blocking, certification cuts in new rule
Naomi Diaz / beckershospitalreview - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 22 proposed a rule that would significantly reduce federal health IT certification requirements, revise information-blocking policies and establish a framework to support AI-enabled interoperability…
AI Summary: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a sweeping new rule aimed at slashing nearly 34 of the existing 60 health IT certification requirements. The move is designed to curb information blocking and reduce administrative burdens, signaling a major policy shift for healthcare technology.
19 states, DC sue HHS over gender-affirming care restrictions
Kristin Kuchno / beckershospitalreview - A coalition of 19 states and Washington, D.C., have filed a lawsuit challenging a declaration from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that threatens to cut off federal funding to hospitals that provide certain gender-affirming care to minors. Here are se…
AI Summary: A coalition of 19 states and Washington D.C. has filed lawsuits against HHS, challenging recent regulatory moves that could restrict access to gender‑affirming care for youth. The legal battle highlights rising state-level resistance aimed at protecting transgender healthcare rights amidst intense political debate.
FDA Removes Key Limitation on the Use of Real-World Evidence in Regulatory Reviews
oncodaily - On December 15, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a significant update to its regulatory approach regarding the use of real-world evidence (RWE) in drug and medical […]
AI Summary: The FDA has dramatically loosened its long‐standing limitations on the use of real‐world evidence in regulatory reviews, signaling an era where big data may facilitate quicker approvals for innovative drugs. Officials are also urging early-phase trials reform to better capture real‐world outcomes.
House floats new healthcare bill after Senate proposals fail
Andrew Cass / beckershospitalreview - House Republicans have unveiled new healthcare legislation in the wake of votes in the Senate that failed to pass bills addressing expiring ACA enhanced subsidies. Seven things to know: 1. The House Republicans’ proposal does not extend the subsidies that…
AI Summary: House Republicans have introduced new legislation aimed at containing rising healthcare costs after recent Senate proposals failed. Notably, the bill deliberately excludes any extension of ACA subsidies or changes to health savings accounts, signaling a distinctly partisan approach that is already stirring debate on its future impact.
CMS proposes new price transparency rules
Madeline Ashley / beckershospitalreview - President Donald Trump’s administration proposed significant updates Dec. 19 to healthcare price transparency rules to help make costs more “clear, accurate and actionable for Americans.” The proposal, shared by CMS, in partnership with the labor and the …
AI Summary: The Trump administration has proposed significant updates to CMS’s price transparency regulations, aiming to make healthcare pricing data more accessible and actionable for patients and payers by enforcing clearer disclosures and enhanced oversight.
CMS creates office to oversee rural health funding
Andrew Cass / beckershospitalreview - CMS has created an office focused on rural health transformation initiatives. The Office of Rural Health Transformation will oversee the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, according to an announcement published in the Federal Register. The p…
AI Summary: CMS has established a dedicated office to oversee rural health transformation initiatives—including managing a $50 billion funding program—to improve healthcare access in underserved areas through targeted policy reforms and more effective oversight.
Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination drive of the year after surge in new cases
medicalxpress - Pakistani authorities on Monday launched the final nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to protect 45 million children after more than two dozen cases of the potentially paralyzing disease were reported, officials said.
AI Summary: Pakistani authorities have launched the final nationwide anti‐polio vaccination campaign of 2025, aiming to protect 45 million children after a recent surge in cases. Despite longstanding debates about booster efforts, officials insist it’s high time to stamp out the poliovirus once and for all.
CDC Ends Universal Hepatitis B Newborn Vaccination
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially rescinded its long‐standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. The change reflects new evidence and a shift toward individualized risk‐based immunization protocols, prompting hospitals and pediatricians nationwide to adjust their preventive strategies accordingly.
Dueling Democrat, Republican ACA subsidy plans fail in Senate
fiercehealthcare - Dueling partisan proposals to address the expiry of the Affordable Care Act subsidies both failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday.
AI Summary: In a pivotal Senate showdown, dueling bipartisan proposals to extend ACA subsidies collapsed, leaving millions at risk of higher premiums. Lawmakers’ partisan clashes underscored deep divides in healthcare policy and uncertainty over future insurance affordability.
Texas sues Epic over alleged EHR monopoly
Emily Olsen / healthcaredive - The suit also accuses Epic of restricting parents’ access to children’s medical records. Epic called the complaint “flawed and misguided.”
AI Summary: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Epic Systems alleging that the company monopolizes the electronic health records market and restricts parental access to children’s medical records—a move that has sparked regulatory and legal scrutiny over its alleged anti‐competitive practices.