Optum Rx: 100% of network community pharmacies shift to cost-based model

fiercehealthcare - Earlier this year, Optum Rx announced that it would shift to a cost-based model, which would boost reimbursements for brand-name drugs at community pharmacies.

AI Summary: In a significant payment model overhaul, Optum Rx has moved 100% of its community and independent pharmacies to a cost‐based model, a change aimed at aligning reimbursements with actual expenses and enhancing pharmacy viability in a challenging market.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially rescinded its long‐standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth.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.

Ronan Kelly: Christine Handy’s Award-Winning Breast Cancer Film Premieres in Dallas

oncodaily - Ronan Kelly, Director of Precision Medicine and Scientific Discovery at Baylor University Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn: “It was a privilege to meet Christine Handy, executive producer of […]

AI Summary: A recent CDC analysis has reinforced the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric care, demonstrating a significant reduction in emergency department and urgent care visits among vaccinated children during the first six months post-vaccination. These findings underscore the critical role of vaccines in safeguarding child health and supporting public health policy.

Carolyn Bertozzi Returns to Eli Lilly and Company Board of Directors 2025

oncodaily - Eli Lilly and Company has announced the election of Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Ph.D., as a returning member of its Board of Directors, effective December 8, 2025. In her renewed role, […]

AI Summary: Eli Lilly has announced the return of renowned scientist Carolyn Bertozzi to its Board of Directors. Her comeback underscores the company’s commitment to a research‐intensive strategy and reinforces its focus on cutting–edge oncology and other therapeutic innovations.

FDA approves 1st gene therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - The FDA has approved Waskyra (etuvetidigene autotemcel), the first gene therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. Waskyra is indicated for pediatric patients 6 months and older, as well as adults with Wiskott-Aldri…

AI Summary: In a landmark decision, the FDA approved Waskyra – the first gene therapy for Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome – offering new hope for patients with this rare and life‐threatening immune disorder. The agency’s flexible approach in handling rare disease treatments marks a turning point in precision medicine.

Zoliflodacin shows promise as single-dose treatment for gonorrhea

A Phase III trial has demonstrated that zoliflodacin – a single-dose oral antibiotic – is highly effective against drug‐resistant gonorrhea, offering an innovative solution to a mounting public health threat. The encouraging results suggest a potential game‐changer in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Mobile Health Tool May Improve Quality of Life for Adolescent and Young Adult Breast Cancer Survivors

Kathleen Medora / aacr - SAN ANTONIO – A mobile health (mHealth) intervention for adolescent and young adult breast cancer survivors that offered tailored support by monitoring electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) significantly improved quality of life and symptoms relate…

AI Summary: A mobile health intervention tailored for adolescent and young adult breast cancer survivors has demonstrated significant benefits in quality of life. By providing personalized, real‑time support, the tool addresses treatment‐related challenges and promotes better survivorship outcomes.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy May Not Pose Breast Cancer Risk for Women With BRCA Mutations

Kathleen Medora / aacr - SAN ANTONIO – Using menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, according to the results of a matched prospective analysis presented at the San …

AI Summary: A new analysis shows that menopausal hormone therapy does not increase breast cancer risk among women with inherited BRCA mutations, challenging long‐held concerns. This reassurance may help guide decision‐making for patients weighing their treatment options.

Adding Tucatinib to First-line Maintenance Therapy Delayed Disease Progression in HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer in HER2CLIMB-05 Trial

Kathleen Medora / aacr - Benefit was seen across all subgroups, including in patients with brain metastasis SAN ANTONIO – Adding tucatinib (Tukysa) to first-line maintenance therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) delayed disease progression in patients with…

AI Summary: A phase III trial—part of the HER2CLIMB-05 study—showed that adding tucatinib to first‑line maintenance therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab significantly delayed disease progression in patients with HER2‑positive metastatic breast cancer, with benefits observed across key subgroups including those with brain metastases.

King Charles III to speak about his cancer treatment, recovery on TV show

go - King Charles III will speak about his cancer diagnosis and recovery during a TV broadcast on Friday as the monarch continues to use his personal story to encourage others to get the early screening that can boost their chances of survival

AI Summary: King Charles III is set to deliver a personal message about his cancer diagnosis and recovery on a televised broadcast. The monarch’s candid reflection – part public service, part self-parody – aims to humanize his experience while subtly critiquing the pressures of public life in the face of illness.

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.

Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy led to similar progression-free survival as standard of care for some breast cancers: Trial

medicalxpress - Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancers had similar progression-free survival (PFS) whether they were treated with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy) or standard-of-care chemotherapy as the first treatment af…

AI Summary: Trial results indicate that patients with HR‑positive, HER2‑negative advanced breast cancers treated with sacituzumab govitecan‑hziy experienced similar progression‑free survival to those receiving standard care. Two reports from the same trial underlined these findings, reinforcing the therapy’s potential for endocrine therapy‑refractory tumors.

Tanning beds mutate skin cells far beyond the reach of ordinary sunlight, study shows

medicalxpress - Tanning bed use is tied to almost a three-fold increase in melanoma risk, and for the first time, scientists have shown how these devices cause melanoma-linked DNA damage across nearly the entire skin surface, reports a new study led by Northwestern Medic…

AI Summary: A groundbreaking study reveals that tanning beds cause widespread DNA damage in skin cells – nearly tripling melanoma risk compared to sunlight exposure. The research provides the first definitive evidence that these artificial light sources trigger mutations at levels comparable to a “three‐fold” increase, raising serious public health concerns.

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.

AHA President Rick Pollack to retire by end of 2026

fiercehealthcare - Longtime American Hospital Association President Rick Pollack will retire by the end of 2026, the organization announced on Wednesday.

AI Summary: Longtime American Hospital Association President Rick Pollack is set to retire by the end of 2026, signaling a major leadership transition in U.S. hospital lobbying. Reports note his decades‐long influence and spark speculation about the AHA’s next era of strategic direction.

Novel Endocrine Therapy Giredestrant Improves Disease-free Survival Over Standard of Care for Patients With Early-stage Breast Cancer in Phase III lidERA Trial

Kathleen Medora / aacr - SAN ANTONIO – The investigational, oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) giredestrant given as an adjuvant therapy showed significant improvement in invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) compared with the current standard-of-care endocrine ther…

AI Summary: An international Phase III trial led by UCLA reveals that giredestrant, a novel endocrine therapy, significantly reduces recurrence risk in early‐stage breast cancer compared with standard care. The robust findings promise to shift hormonal treatment paradigms—even if skeptics may raise a wry eyebrow at yet “another” incremental advance in a crowded field.

ACA approval hits new high as subsidies set to expire: 7 things to know

Alan Condon / beckershospitalreview - Approval of the ACA recently climbed to a new high of 57% — driven largely by a surge in support among independents — even as pandemic‑era enhanced subsidies are set to expire Dec. 31 unless Congress acts, according to a survey published Dec. 8 by the Wes…

AI Summary: Multiple reports point to growing concerns that the impending expiration of expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies could leave millions facing steep premium hikes or loss of coverage. Survey findings and policy analyses underscore the potential financial strain on vulnerable populations as the deadline nears.

A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds

go - A new study suggests a single HPV vaccination appears just as effective as two doses at preventing the viral infection that causes cervical cancer

AI Summary: A new study finds that a single dose of the HPV vaccine offers comparable protection against cervical cancer as the traditional two‐dose regimen, potentially simplifying vaccine delivery and increasing immunization rates in public health initiatives.

CVS Health agrees to pay $37.8M to settle fraud allegations over insulin pens

fiercehealthcare - CVS Health agreed to pay $37.76 million to settle allegations that it dispensed too many insulin pens to patients and improperly billed federal healthcare programs for those prescriptions.

AI Summary: CVS Health has agreed to pay approximately $38 million to settle allegations that it improperly dispensed insulin pens and misbilled federal health programs, resolving accusations of fraudulent practices and restoring trust in its operations.

Will All Newborns Still Receive Hepatitis B Shots? A Committee’s Vote Will Tell.

Apoorva Mandavilli / nytimes - The federal vaccine panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is likely to decide on Thursday that the shots should be delayed for infants whose mothers test negative for the virus.

AI Summary: Multiple posts detail a contentious re‐evaluation of the newborn hepatitis B vaccination schedule. As a federal committee prepares for a key vote, figures such as RFK Jr. warn that delaying routine vaccination may leave infants less protected, sparking heated debate across the healthcare community.