Paige Twenter

State of recruitment, compensation in oncology: 4 notes

08/18/2025

Hematologists and oncologists are the most in-demand physicians, according to an AMN Healthcare report, “2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives,” published Aug. 5. The staffing agency analyzed 1,420 permanent physician and advanced practitioner recruitment requests between April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.  Here are four notes…

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FDA approves Wegovy to treat liver disease

08/18/2025

The FDA has approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy to treat metabolic associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, in adults who have excessive scar tissue in the liver.  MASH is a serious liver condition linked to obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, affecting approximately 14.9 million adults in the U.S., according to an…

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CBO report warns of nearly $500B in potential Medicare cuts

08/18/2025

Medicare and other federal programs could see deep cuts under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed on July 4, according to an Aug. 15 Congressional Budget Office letter. The S-PAYGO act, enacted under former President Barack Obama, helps require Congress to…

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Cybersecurity law’s expiration could harm hospitals: Former FBI leader

08/18/2025

The expiration of a 2015 federal cybersecurity law could put hospitals and health systems at risk for more cyberattacks, a former FBI leader wrote in Fortune. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 has enabled rapid threat intelligence sharing between government and businesses, including thousands this year alone, preventing “countless”…

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Capital spending gap widens between large, small hospitals

08/18/2025

Large hospitals spent more on capital projects last year to stay competitive while small hospitals tightened their budgets, according to Moody’s. The ratings firm tracked financial data for 209 hospitals across the U.S., finding the gap in capital spending grew between the largest and smallest hospitals last year. Below are…

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Federal plan targets real-world data for health research: Report

08/18/2025

The federal government is looking to expand the use of real-world data in health research and regulation, according to a draft strategy report obtained by Politico. Here are six things to know about the draft strategy report: The draft report, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, outlines…

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7 drugs in shortage

08/18/2025

Here are seven new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  Amphotericin B injection: Leadiant Biosciences has discontinued manufacturing all presentations of its amphotericin B injection, an anti-infective used to treat serious fungal infections. The discontinued strengths are…

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CommonSpirit names regional president

08/18/2025

Matt Brown was appointed president of CommonSpirit Health’s south region, according to an Aug. 15 news release shared with Becker’s. Mr. Brown will lead an $8 billion healthcare market spanning Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. “[Mr.] Brown’s appointment follows a highly successful interim period and underscores his proven…

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Eli Lilly pushes back on proposed tariffs

08/15/2025

Eli Lilly recently spoke out against proposed tariffs on pharmaceuticals, warning they could increase drug costs and restrict patient access.  The drugmaker said it has invested more than $50 billion in U.S. manufacturing since 2020, including 10 projects aimed at supplying the domestic market entirely from within the country, according…

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Michigan hospital RNs, techs to hold ‘practice strike’

08/15/2025

Members of the Michigan Nurses Association at UP Health System-Marquette plan to hold a “practice strike” Aug. 18.  The union represents about 600 registered nurses and techs at the 222-bed specialty care hospital, according to the MNA. UP Health System-Marquette, part of Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health, has more than 1,800…

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HealthPartners expands digital hub to all adult patients

08/15/2025

When Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners launched its My dashboard interface in 2021, it was not available to everyone. The personalized digital hub — designed to surface the right prompts, tools and health reminders for each user — was rolled out in phases: first to HealthPartners members who also received care within…

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How to launch a central pharmacy

08/15/2025

Health systems interested in building a central pharmacy should prioritize personalization and preparation, according to Melanie Massiah-White, vice president and chief pharmacy officer of Fairfax, Va.-based Inova Health System.  “[Spend] time initially scoping services you hope to provide from your pharmacy service center,” Ms. Massiah-White told Becker’s. “Then do your…

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18 maternity service closures in 2025

08/15/2025

A Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform report found that less than 42% of U.S. rural hospitals still offer labor and delivery services. That same report found more than 100 rural hospitals have halted or plan to stop delivering babies since 2020. Becker’s has reported on the following hospitals…

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Signature Healthcare to reduce workforce by 3.8%

08/15/2025

Brockton, Mass.-based Signature Healthcare will reduce workforce by 3.8% at its Brockton Hospital and Signature Medical Group due to ongoing financial challenges. The health system is also pausing or discontinuing multiple planned projects and holding certain open roles after recent resignations to manage its staff levels, according to an Aug.…

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Semaglutide may reduce muscle size, strength: Study

08/15/2025

As semaglutide sees a surge in use, new research raises questions about the medication’s  effects on muscle health. A study published Aug. 5 in Cell Metabolism and led by researchers at Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health found that while mice treated with the drug lost less muscle mass…

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48 health systems call for telehealth expansion

08/15/2025

Several dozen healthcare organizations, including 48 health systems, have written a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to extend telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. The pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities are set to expire Sept. 30 without an extension. “While we strongly support making Medicare telehealth access permanent, if that’s not achievable at…

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Hospitals brace for more high-risk pregnancies

08/15/2025

Hospitals and health systems are preparing for a rise in high-risk pregnancies, even as many labor and delivery units shut down.  Vizient company Sg2 projected that the proportion of high-risk pregnancies will accelerate alongside a rise in obesity-related comorbidities, including high blood pressure and diabetes.  Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, part…

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CHS shed 39 hospitals since 2020

08/15/2025

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems signed a letter of intent Aug. 6 to sell three Pennsylvania facilities to hospital turnaround firm Tenor Health Foundation. Since 2020, CHS has announced or completed the sale of 39 hospitals:  2025 Regional Hospital of Scranton (Pa.)* Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton (Pa.)* Wilkes-Barre (Pa.)…

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HHS revives childhood vaccine task force: 6 notes

08/15/2025

HHS has reinstated the Safer Childhood Vaccines task force, the agency said in an Aug. 14 news release. Here are six things to know: 1. The task force, created by Congress, was originally disbanded in 1998.  2. In its new iteration, the panel will include senior leadership from the National…

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65 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs

08/15/2025

A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces or jobs amid financial and operational challenges.  Below are workforce reduction efforts or job eliminations announced in 2025.  Editor’s Note: This webpage was created Jan. 22 and updated on Aug. 15. August 1. Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare cut an unspecified…

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Minimally invasive spine in 2028: 5 predictions

08/15/2025

Minimally invasive spine techniques have been the focus of recent medtech innovations, and more growth is expected in the motion preservation aspects. Five spine surgeons discuss what the near future of minimally invasive techniques will look like.  Question: What will motion-preserving spine surgery look like in 3 years? Tan Chen,…

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