Jeff Lagasse

Author's posts

Reproductive care, including abortion, facing challenges

Reproductive care is becoming more difficult for women to access, and that’s especially true in the case of abortion care, finds a new Wisp survey. Over the last decade, about 20% of women tried to access abortion services, but a third of them faced ba…

Former Chicago hospital CEO charged with corruption, embezzlement

An ongoing federal investigation into alleged corruption and embezzlement at a Chicago hospital has resulted in a conspiracy charge against the hospital’s former CEO, George Miller, 73, of Dallas, Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

FTC makes updates to pre-merger policies

The Federal Trade Commission has made changes to a rule meant to improve its ability to detect illegal mergers and acquisitions before they happen, by requiring healthcare companies to provide more information to regulators.

Coverage for weight loss drugs could cost Medicare $35 billion by 2034

If Medicare were to cover anti-obesity medications (AOMs), federal spending would increase about $35 million between 2026 and 2034, finds a new Congressional Budget Office report.

Feds shore up healthcare supply chain in wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton

Two major hurricanes that struck the U.S. South over the past couple of weeks, Helene and Milton, have caused healthcare supply chain disruptions that have prompted the federal government to step in.
One major area the government is addressing is the s…

SDOH, tech key to advancing value-based care, says UHG

While progress toward the adoption of value-based care has been a slow lumber, the healthcare industry is still pushing toward that transition, with UnitedHealth Group weighing in on how best to accelerate that transformation.

Particle Health, Epic resolve dispute but antitrust lawsuit continues

Nonprofit health information exchange network Carequality has finished an investigation into a dispute between Epic and Particle Health regarding the accessibility of patients’ health data.

Texas pauses Medicaid contracts worth $116 billion

The state of Texas is applying the brakes to its new Medicaid contracts, with a Travis County district judge issuing a temporary injunction that stops the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) from carrying out new contracts for the Medicai…

CFPB warns of illegal tactics by medical debt collectors

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued guidance clarifying that debt collectors are violating federal law when they collect on inaccurate or legally invalid medical debts.

Pharma execs charged in $1.3 billion drug scheme

Five pharmaceutical distributor executives and five pharma sales representatives have been charged by the Department of Justice for the unlawful distribution of about 70 million opioid pills and 30 million doses of other prescription drugs – worth more…