FierceHealthcare | Hospitals & Health Systems - Health

Centene stock sinks as insurer withdraws 2025 guidance

Centene pulled back its guidance for the year after an actuarial report suggested its growth in the ACA marketplaces will be slower than expected.

CMS sued over Trump administration's ACA final rule

A collection of cities and advocacy groups has found issue with ACA enrollment changes set to take effect in late August.

Rethinking the mental healthcare model | Fierce Healthcare

A growing number of healthcare stakeholders are recognizing the importance of whole-person care, which addresses both physical and mental health.

Nordic Capital takes majority stake in Arcadia

The strategic partnership will accelerate Arcadia’s growth and scale its impact, the companies said.

Beacon Health System acquires Ascension's 4 Michigan hospitals

The deal boosts Beacon's footprint to a total of 11 hospitals, roughly 190 care sites and nearly 11,000 workers.

Biotech leaders urge FDA to not restrict abortion pill access

The letter notes that there are "over a hundred peer-reviewed studies" demonstrating mifepristone's safety and efficacy.

Tombot fetches $6M for robotic pet — Fierce Fundraising Tracker

Recent funding rounds include Handspring Health securing $12 million for youth mental health and Tombot's $6.1 million raise for robotic pets.

Astrana Health closes $708M acquisition of Prospect Health

The deal gives the integrated care delivery company control of a health plan, multiple medical groups, an acute care hospital and other assets.

Senate bill cuts Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood

The Senate bill includes a provision that would prohibit federal Medicaid funding for any services provided by Planned Parenthood for one year.

CMS says 100K impacted in 'data incident'

More than 100,000 individuals may have been impacted by a "data incident" where unauthorized Medicare beneficiary accounts were made with their data.

Judge sides with states, blocking HHS reorg and mass layoffs

States won a partial block of mass layoffs and the HHS reorganization imposed by the Trump administration in a ruling by a district judge Tuesday.

Cadence launches Advanced Primary Care Management business

Cadence uses its AI-based Proactive Care Engine to find care gaps within the patient’s electronic health record.

Optum Rx eliminates reauthorization requirements for 60 more drugs

The PBM giant's list of drugs includes products for behavioral health, HIV, dry eye disease, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Payer Roundup—How premiums could increase from tariffs

Keep up with some of the latest headlines in the payer space with our ongoing monthly roundup for June 2025.

TeleTracking, Palantir partner to streamline hospital operations with AI | Fierce Healthcare

Senate passes reconciliation bill in 51-50 vote

Following a record-breaking "vote-a-rama" and tie-breaker vote, the massive bill now returns to the House where it is expected to face more scrutiny.

CMS study: Healthcare spending likely to grow by 7.1% in 2025

A new report from federal actuaries estimates that national health spending will increase by 7.1% in 2025.

Duke pitches AI scribe evaluation framework as VCs up investment

AI scribes are mounting in popularity and attracting big investments. Duke researchers are now proposing a standard way to evaluate the technologies.

New CMMI model adds prior auth for some services in Medicare

A new CMMI model will connect tech vendors with payers to reduce abuse in Medicare through additional prior auth requirements for certain services.

DOJ announces largest-ever $14.6B healthcare fraud takedown

The takedown includes charges against 29 individuals said to be participating in transnational criminal organizations behind $12 billion of fraud.

$9M Saved on MSK: Risk-Based Provider Cuts Costs 81% Treating NJ Commercial Plan Patients | Fierce Healthcare

Certify nabs $40M to build out provider data infrastructure

Provider data have been managed through fragmented, error-prone processes. Certify sees a massive opportunity to offer a modern infrastructure.

Best Buy sells Current Health back to co-founder

Current Health co-founder Christopher McGhee reacquired the company and wants to focus on moving complex, high-cost care out of the hospital.

Joint Commission accreditation revamp to cut 700-plus standards

The changes are described by organization as “the most significant, comprehensive evolution of Joint Commission’s accreditation process since 1965.”

22 attorneys general reaffirm EMTALA obligations after CMS pulls guidance

Blue state legal officers said CMS' rescindment of guidance on stabilizing abortion care doesn't change the requirements laid out in federal statute

SCOTUS upholds ACA preventive services task force in 6-3 ruling

The Supreme Court upheld a key preventive services task force in a 6-3 ruling issued Friday morning.

Walgreens reports $39B in sales, $175M loss in fiscal Q3

Walgreens reported a 7% jump in sales to reach $39 billion in its fiscal third quarter, reflecting sales growth in its U.S. retail pharmacy segment.

UnitedHealth taps Patrick Conway as CEO of Optum Health

Optum CEO Patrick Conway will be playing double duty as UnitedHealth Group has named him CEO of its Optum Health unit, a spokesperson confirmed.

Medical groups 'deeply alarmed' by 'politicized' ACIP

American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan Kressly, M.D., said the creation of federal immunization policy is “no longer a credible process.”

Industry Voices—Employers are driving healthcare disruption

Health systems and employers can co-design programs for preventive care that keeps people out of the hospital by addressing needs upstream.

Insurers hesitant on sustainability due to political concerns

A new model developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance lays out a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from health plans.

ACIP floats new subcommittee to scrutinize childhood vaccines

The CDC's ACIP, recently overhauled by RFK Jr., is creating a new work group to examine the cumulative effect of childhood vaccine schedules.

CDC adcomm recommends against use of thimerosal in flu vaccines

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s revamped ACIP has struck its first blow against vaccines, recommending against the use of a common preservative in flu shots.

WeightWatchers inks deal with Novo Nordisk to sell Wegovy

Novo Nordisk is partnering with WeightWatchers to offer consumers access to Wegovy after it abruptly ended its collaboration with Hims & Hers.

Key Medicaid changes found ineligible for reconciliation bill

Controversial provider tax changes are among the provisions ruled out by the Senate parliamentarian, Democrats announced Thursday.

Hospitals increasingly tap pharmacists in clinical care: survey

Hospital pharmacy director survey responses showed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians alike taking on broader roles in recent years.

RFK Jr. says US will pull funding for global vaccine agency

RFK Jr. said this week that the U.S. government will no longer make financial contributions to Gavi, the leading global organization on vaccination.

Caremark to pay $95M in Pennsylvania; CVS faces 3 new lawsuits

Keep track of the most recent legal developments for CVS Health and Caremark.

Memorial Sloan Kettering set to go out of UHC's network

Memorial Sloan Kettering is warning patients that it may soon be out of network for UnitedHealthcare members.

Deloitte: Healthcare finance leaders see storms ahead

In an uncertain policy and macroeconomic environment, healthcare finance leaders are concerned about what the future holds, a new report shows.