The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Healthcare M&A activity was up in 2023 following a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Kaufman Hall. Last Monday, Anu Singh, Managing Director and Leader of the Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice at Kaufman Hall, spoke with host J. Carlisle Larsen about how financial distress was the main driver of many of the smaller-to-medium sized hospital deals last year. In the second half of their conversation, they discuss how more financially stable health systems are considering less traditional, strategic M&A deals and what kinds of conversations are happening right now in C-suites. You can listen to the first part of our conversation here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leaders of three major pharmaceutical companies testified on Capitol Hill this week about the high cost of prescription drugs. The Biden Administration outlines how Medicare Advantage insurers can use AI. And, Walgreens taps a new executive to lead its healthcare business. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A House panel passes a key PBM reform for health insurance for federal employees. Amazon will lay off hundreds of employees across its healthcare division. And, healthcare jobs grew at the fastest rate since the early 1990s. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Optum plans to purchase Oregon-based multi-specialty medical group The Corvallis Clinic. Medicaid’s net enrollment is down by about 10 million midway through the continuous enrollment unwinding process. And, Walgreens partners with pharmacy schools to address workforce shortages. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden Administration finalizes telehealth flexibilities for opioid treatment programs. Novo Nordisk’s parent company will buy a US-based facility reportedly to ramp up production of its blockbuster weight loss drugs. And senior-oriented primary care provider Cano Health files for bankruptcy. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There were 65 hospital and health system M&A deals announced last year, an increase from 53 in 2022. The rise  reflects a growing momentum following a pandemic-related slow down, according to a recent report from Kaufman Hall. Anu Singh, Managing Director and Leader of the Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice, joins the podcast to talk more about how financial distress was a driving factor in smaller deals, as well as how other systems looked for more strategic partnerships. Upcoming webinar: Navigating Strategic Options in a Transformed Operating Environment. (February 26, 2024 at 2:00pm-CT) Register here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biogen will stop selling its Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, amid controversy. The Biden Administration makes its initial offers to drug companies on the first ten drugs to be negotiated through Medicare, as courts weigh lawsuits brought by pharmaceutical companies challenging the negotiation process. And, participation in Medicare accountable care organizations is up. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cigna officially offloads its Medicare Advantage business to Health Care Service Corporation. The Biden Administration will negotiate on behalf of states to provide a groundbreaking gene therapy for Medicaid beneficiaries with sickle cell disease. And, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute is issuing corrections and retracting some research papers amid falsification allegations. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fitch Ratings says lower operating margins at nonprofit hospitals may be here to stay. The Biden Administration wants stakeholder input on making Medicare Advantage more transparent. And, a new study examines a small number of transmissible Alzheimer’s cases tied to a medical treatment that’s no longer used. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal regulators sue to block Novant Health’s purchase of two Community Health Systems hospitals in North Carolina. Insurers say that the No Surprises Act prevented 10 million surprise bills for patients in the first nine months of 2023. And, North Carolina says it will no longer pay for popular–and costly–weight loss drugs for state employees. That’s coming up on today’s episode of Gist Healthcare Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.