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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…

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…

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”…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

A few weeks ago, CIO of Richmond, Ind.-based Reid Health Muhammad Siddique was doing a round of the ED department when he ran into one of his physician colleagues. She stopped to make a quick but meaningful comment. “She looked at me, glanced at my computer, and said, ‘You know…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

The potential expiration of the ACA premium tax credits at the end of 2025 could lead to a significant increase in emergency department visits, exacerbate provider burnout and drive up healthcare costs for everyone — not just those who would lose coverage. “This isn’t just a policy change that’s going…

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.)…

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…

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…

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,…

Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health doubled its rate of early-stage lung cancer diagnoses after implementing an AI-powered tracking tool within its Epic EHR. The tool has led to more than 70% of all lung cancer diagnoses to occur during stage 1 or stage 2, according to a July 21 news release from the American Medical Association.  […]
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St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare is laying off 535 employees across the health system in response to “significant external pressures” including rising costs and reimbursements rates “that no longer cover the true cost of care,” a spokesperson for the health system said in a statement shared with Becker’s.  The layoffs affect 44 locations and represent nearly […]
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