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Federal court nixes HHS’ LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination rule
In a preliminary injunction last week, a federal judge in Mississippi has ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services’ antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ patients cannot be enforced. The ruling cited the Supreme Court’s recent overtur…
Texas court stalls FTC noncompete ban
A Texas federal court last week issued a preliminary injunction against the Federal Trade Commission’s noncompete ban, which if implemented would allow existing noncompete arrangements for senior executives to remain in effect, but would bar employers …
Medicare Advantage boasts highest gross margins for insurers
The highest gross margins among insurers come from Medicare Advantage, which boasted gross margins per enrollee of $1,982 on average by the end of 2023, compared to $1,048 in the individual market, according to a new KFF
Modified criteria helping Mass General treat pediatric allergic reactions
A Mass General team has developed modified criteria that may help healthcare professionals more accurately identify anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, in infants and young children.
UHG, Amedisys divesting care centers to smooth merger bid
The planned $3.3 billion merger of UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys will likely close in the second half of the year, with both companies making a bid to mollify federal antitrust regulators by divesting care centers to VCG Luna, a VitalCaring Group aff…
Cleveland Clinic expands maternity program to more hospitals
After adopting a unique labor and delivery initiative in the fall of 2022, Cleveland Clinic is expanding its TeamBirth model to three additional hospitals, citing higher patient satisfaction and a reduction in Cesarean section rates.
Communication paramount in securing patient trust, survey finds
What patients need from providers and hospitals, even more than convenience and affordability, is clear and direct communication from their healthcare organization, according to the
OCR partners with Iowa on disability rights
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has entered into an agreement with the State of Iowa to enforce federal disability rights laws.
The agreement was spurred by an investigation, based on a complaint filed by Garret…
Prior authorization leads to serious adverse events for patients, AMA survey says
The prior authorization process continues to have a “devastating” effect on patient outcomes, physician burnout and employee productivity, according to a new physician survey from the American Medical Association.
FDA says updated COVID-19 shots should target KP.2 strain
The federal Food and Drug Administration is advising vaccine manufacturers to ensure new vaccines for 2024 and 2025 are targeting the KP.2 variant of COVID-19.
The agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted unan…
