Life

Health, science, climate, and society-focused reporting.

Briefing: Novo Nordisk, Hims reach deal to end bitter dispute over Wegovy sales

Strategic angle: Novo Nordisk and Hims & Hers have reached a deal that, for now, appears to end their bitter dispute around Hims’ sale of compounded versions of Novo’s blockbuster obesity drug.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: Fresh turmoil at the FDA with Prasad’s exit

Strategic angle: Prasad out again, generic Ozempic on its way, and more health news from Morning Rounds

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: Lack of FDA Advisory Committees Raises Concerns

Strategic angle: Growing worries about the FDA's diminishing use of advisory committees for public discourse.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: Talkspace to be acquired for $835 million by mental health services giant

Strategic angle: Universal Health Services announces acquisition of virtual mental health company Talkspace.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: Xenon Pharmaceuticals’ seizure drug shows strong efficacy in late-stage trial

Strategic angle: Xenon Pharmaceuticals reported significant reduction in seizure frequency with its new treatment compared to placebo.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: Blue Cross Blue Shield says data back up claim that AI is driving up medical bills

Strategic angle: A new data analysis from Blue Cross Blue Shield shows how AI coding may be driving up the cost of health care.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

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Briefing: Health tech company says it will dive into Medicare’s new chronic care experiment

Strategic angle: How a remote patient monitoring company is reworking its tech to enroll in a Medicare program seeking to align payment with health care outcomes.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: Opinion: The financial reason why parents beg me to diagnose their kids with autism

Strategic angle: Parents often pressure Lawrence Diller, a behavioral/developmental pediatrician, to diagnose their children with autism. He thinks he knows why.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Briefing: STAT+: As controversial decisions mount, FDA shuns public advisory meetings

Strategic angle: The FDA is cutting back on public advisory committee meetings, even as the public and other stakeholders seek more transparency.

Editorial Staff Mar 9

Life

Limited Impact of CMS's New Risk-Adjustment Model on Medicare Advantage Benefits

A study in Health Affairs indicates that the new risk-adjustment model from CMS has not substantially altered Medicare Advantage benefits for the 2024-25 period.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Strategic view: Health Care Workforce, Medicare, And More

Strategic implications in focus: An overview of critical issues in health care as discussed in Health Affairs.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Family Physicians' Retention in Training States: Implications for Healthcare Access

A recent study highlights that most family physicians remain in the states where they trained, raising questions about workforce distribution and healthcare access.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Strategic view: Practice Pattern Changes After Adoption Of Diagnostic AI Tool Used In Conjunction With Cardiac Imaging

Strategic implications in focus: Health Affairs, Volume 45, Issue 3, Page 238-245, March 2026.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Primary Care Physician Burnout: A Decade of Declining Satisfaction

A comprehensive analysis reveals troubling trends in primary care physician satisfaction in the US and nine comparator nations, indicating systemic issues that could affect healthcare outcomes.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Private Equity's Role in Primary Care: A Balancing Act

Recent findings suggest that while private equity is driving investment in primary care, clinician growth is tempered by a notable increase in exits.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Disenrollment Rates for Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Raise Concerns

A recent study indicates that disenrollment rates for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have tripled between 2017 and 2022, prompting questions about plan stability.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

SSDI Beneficiaries Face Increased Mortality Rates During Medicare Waiting Period

A study spanning 2000 to 2021 reveals concerning mortality trends among SSDI beneficiaries awaiting Medicare, highlighting systemic healthcare risks.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Staffing Mandates in Nursing Homes: Analyzing Financial and Operational Outcomes

An examination of nursing home staffing mandates from 2010 to 2023 shows increased staffing levels with negligible financial impact and no notable rise in closures.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Analyzing Labor Unions' Role in Nurse Staffing Ratios and Care Quality

A recent study highlights the complex dynamics between labor unions and nurse staffing ratios in US nursing homes, with implications for care quality.

Editorial Staff Mar 8

Life

Strategic view: 5 Lessons from Vinay Prasad’s Turbulent Tenure at the FDA

Strategic implications in focus: Vinay Prasad's unique ability to attract criticism — even when his bosses, including the president, wanted him to keep his head low — did him in at the FDA.

Editorial Staff Mar 8