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.

Foods with healthy-sounding buzzwords could be hiding added sugar in plain sight

medicalxpress - Many consumers feel pride in avoiding the glazed pastries in the supermarket and instead opting for "all natural" granola that comes packed with extra protein. Same goes for low-fat yogurts "made with real fruit," "organic" plant-based milks and bottled "…

AI Summary: Investigative posts reveal that foods flaunting “all‐natural” or “healthy” buzzwords can secretly pack in a surprising amount of added sugars, leaving consumers to wonder if their guilt‐free choices are anything but sweet. A reminder that not every label is as wholesome as it sounds.

Johns Hopkins Hospital names associate chief medical officer

Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital has named Kavita Sharma, MD, as associate chief medical officer, effective Jan. 6. Dr. Sharma announced her new role in a Dec. 22 post on X, writing that she is “grateful for patients who allow us the privilege of ca…

AI Summary: Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has announced that Dr. Kavita Sharma will serve as its new associate chief medical officer, effective January 6. Both reports confirm the leadership change as the institution aims to further strengthen its clinical operations and strategic direction.

'Don't use them': Tanning beds triple skin cancer risk, study finds

medicalxpress - When Heidi Tarr was a teenager, she used a tanning bed several times a week with her friends because they all wanted to glow like a celebrity.

AI Summary: Recent studies warn that using tanning beds dramatically increases skin cancer risk—one report shows a threefold surge in risk while another links tanning to significant skin mutations and melanoma. Experts urge consumers to steer clear and embrace safer alternatives.

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.

Sanofi buys hepatitis B vaccine maker Dynavax for $2.2B; gets CRL for MS drug

Elizabeth Cairns / endpoints - Sanofi is set to supplement its vaccine offering with the acquisition of Dynavax Technologies for $2.2 billion in cash, the companies said Wednesday. Separately, Sanofi said the ...

AI Summary: Two separate reports confirm that Sanofi has completed a $2.2 billion deal to acquire Dynavax Technologies. This strategic move strengthens Sanofi’s vaccine lineup by adding a commercially proven hepatitis B vaccine and a clinical‐stage shingles candidate, positioning the company for enhanced market competitiveness amid global pressures.

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Pill Becomes First FDA-Approved Oral GLP-1 Drug for Weight Loss

Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - Beyond weight reduction and long-term maintenance of weight loss, the FDA decision for oral Wegovy covers use of the once-daily pill for reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events. Novo Nordisk expects the Wegovy tablet will launch in early January.…

AI Summary: The FDA has given its nod to Novo Nordisk’s oral GLP‑1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management – a historic first for an anti‑obesity pill. The approval offers patients a non‑injectable alternative, potentially transforming obesity care in a market hungry for innovation.

Medline raises IPO to $6.3B

Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - Medline priced its upsized initial public offering at $29 per share for 216,034,482 shares of Class A common stock, according to a Dec. 16 news release from the company. Shares are expected to begin trading Dec. 17 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under…

AI Summary: Medline’s initial public offering has burst onto the market with a valuation around $6.3B, making it one of the year’s largest healthcare IPOs. The debut has generated significant investor buzz and underscores a strong current of market confidence in the company’s prospects.

FDA Approved Rucaparib for BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

oncodaily - On December 17, 2025, the FDA issued a regular approval for rucaparib (Rubraca®), marking the formal conversion of its earlier accelerated authorization into full approval for BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate […]

AI Summary: The FDA has granted full approval to rucaparib (Rubraca®) for treating adults with BRCA‐mutated metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer, converting its prior accelerated approval into standard approval. This landmark decision offers a new treatment option for patients with this genetic profile.

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.

Diarrhea and stomachaches plagued Roman soldiers stationed at Hadrian's Wall, discovery of microscopic parasites finds

livescience - Analysis of latrine sediments at the Roman fort of Vindolanda has revealed that at least three parasites were widespread among Roman soldiers.

AI Summary: Archaeologists analyzing latrine sediments at Hadrian’s Wall have uncovered clear evidence that Roman soldiers suffered from parasitic infections which led to diarrhea and stomach pain. These findings illuminate the daily sanitary challenges of ancient military life and underscore the hardships of maintaining health in large, mobile armies.

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.

ChristianaCare, Virtua Health call off $6.3B merger plans

fiercehealthcare - ChristianaCare and Virtua Health have pulled the plug on their merger plans, jettisoning a deal that would have created a health system with a combined $6.3 billion in annual revenue.

AI Summary: Providers ChristianaCare and Virtua Health have abruptly halted merger discussions for a deal valued at $6.3 billion. Officials argue that operating independently will better serve their local communities, even if joining forces might have promised a blockbuster scale – proving once again that sometimes size isn’t everything.

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.