From Washington, DC,

• Per a Senate news release,
  • “The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold two field hearings in Louisiana this week to discuss how Congress can make health care affordable and improve mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The Committee will hear from a variety of perspectives within the health care system, including patients, providers, and local subject matter experts.” * * *
  • “Title: Making Health Care Affordable Again Part 2: Perspectives from Employers, Patients, and Providers
  • “Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
  • “Time: 9:00 AM CT/10:00 AM ET
  • “Location: LSU Foundation Building, 3796 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge, LA
  • “Click here to watch this hearing live.”

• The Wall Street Journal reports,
  • “Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is announcing steps that he said are aimed at helping wean some Americans off psychiatric medications, including antidepressants.
  • “Too many patients begin treatment without a clear understanding of the risks, and how long they will stay on these drugs, or how to come off them,” he said to an audience at an event hosted by the Make America Healthy Again Institute, a nonprofit, on Monday. “We are going to fix it.” 

• Here is a link to the HHS news release about this announcement.

• Per U.S. Office of Personnel Management news releases,
  • “The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today recognized Public Service Recognition Week, honoring the federal employees who serve the American people every day and highlighting the critical role public servants play in delivering results for taxpayers.
  • “Observed annually during the first full week of May, Public Service Recognition Week celebrates the dedication, professionalism, and impact of public servants across the federal government and at all levels of public service. This recognition also comes as OPM continues its work to strengthen the federal workforce through modern hiring, performance management, and workforce development initiatives.”
• and
  • “The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today announced the expansion of access to USA Class, an artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled tool designed to accelerate the creation of federal position descriptions, to all federal agencies using USA Staffing at no additional cost.
  • “This move integrates USA Class directly into the federal government’s primary hiring platform, providing hiring managers and human resources professionals with modern tools to reduce administrative burdens and speed the hiring process.
  • “USA Class uses AI technology trained on thousands of existing federal position descriptions to help managers quickly generate structured draft duties and assist classifiers in aligning those duties with OPM classification standards. The tool is designed to strengthen collaboration between managers and classifiers, reduce rework, and significantly shorten timelines needed to prepare position descriptions, an essential first step in the hiring process.”

• OPM Director Scott Kupot discusses the USA Class initiative in the latest post in his Secrets of OPM blog.
  • “Don’t get me wrong – hiring is still hard, and I don’t suspect AI will fully solve that problem in the near term. But we are using AI to streamline the tasks for which computers are very capable and free up time for HR professionals and hiring managers to focus on the people-facing aspects of recruiting and assessing candidates. More to come.”

• Fierce Healthcare offers “A deeper dive into the ACCESS Model—Who’s participating, potential headwinds and how it could spur health plan adoption.”
  • “The CMS ACCESS Model creates a new category of Medicare Part B providers, ACCESS organizations, that can receive outcome-aligned payments for managing qualifying chronic conditions. The model shifts away from remote patient monitoring (RPM) and chronic care management (CCM) billing codes that offer payments for specific activities.
  • “This access model introduces an alternative approach, which is, you get rid of the billing codes altogether, and you have these new outcomes-aligned payments,” said Aneesh Chopra, chair of the Arcadia Institute.
  • “Chopra, who served as the first U.S. Chief Technology Officer, asserts that the ACCESS model redefines value-based care as it eliminates complexity and makes value-based care scalable.
  • “The use of AI technologies enables companies and providers to take a scarce resource—care management—and make it abundant, Chopra noted, to scale it to more patients living with chronic conditions.”

• Healthcare Dive relates,
  • “The Department of Justice’s fraud division last week launched a strike force dedicated to rooting out healthcare fraud on the West Coast, as the Trump administration continues to double down on fraud enforcement across the country. 
  • “The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force brings the DOJ’s healthcare fraud unit together with the U.S. attorney’s offices for Arizona, Nevada and the Northern District of California, to coordinate on cases in the region, according to a Thursday press release. 
  • “The strike force will bring increased enforcement resources to Northern California — one of the nation’s hubs for health technology development — and Arizona and Nevada, where the DOJ says healthcare fraud schemes are rising.” 

From the Food and Drug Administration front,

• Fierce Pharma reports,
  • “Incyte is poised to expand the reach of its blockbuster JAK inhibitor Jakafi with a new once-daily, extended-release version that’s soon to hit pharmacy shelves. 
  • “The FDA signed off on Jakafi XR under the same indications as original Jakafi, allowing its use to treat intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, polycthemia vera and graft-versus-host disease. In a bioequivalence study, a single 55-mg Jakafi XR tablet exhibited consistent, day-long exposure comparable to a twice-daily 25-mg immediate-release Jakafi dose. 
  • The new version allows for expanded treatment options “without changing the well-established role of Jakafi in clinical practice,” Incyte’s CEO Bill Meury explained in a company release.”
• and
  • “Along with partner Lannett, a subsidiary of China’s Sunshine Lake Pharma has brought a biosimilar of Sanofi’s insulin glargine Lantus to the U.S., adding a cheaper interchangeable option to the diabetes treatment landscape. 
  • “The green light makes Lannet and Sunshine’s product the first long-acting insulin from a Chinese company to win the FDA’s blessing. 
  • “The biosimilar will be sold under the brand name Langlara and is now FDA-approved to treat adult and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes as well as adults with type 2 diabetes. Langlara also received an interchangeable designation from the FDA, meaning that it can be distributed by pharmacists in place of Lantus without sign-off from a physician.”   

From the judicial front,

• Per a Department of Justice news release,
  • “Two men were sentenced today for their roles in a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance companies by submitting over $522 million in fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary genetic tests that were obtained through the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes.
  • “Reyad Salahaldeen, 57, of Buford, Georgia, was sentenced to 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Mohamad Mustafa, 28, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to paying health care kickbacks.
  • “Under the guise of health care, these two fraudsters attempted to steal more than half a billion dollars from taxpayers through a web of sham contracts, lies, and bribes,” said Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “These schemes deplete America’s pocketbook and destroy the trust in medicine that patients deserve and demand. The Department of Justice will remain vigilant in our efforts to deter those defrauding the American people in the name of health care. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners at FBI and HHS-OIG who worked tirelessly for this just outcome.”

From the public health and medical / Rx research front,

• A neurologist, writing in the Washington Post, tells us about “six ways to keep work stress from fueling headaches.”

• The American Medical Association lets us know what doctors wish their patients knew about Lyme Disease.
  • “An early sign of Lyme disease is a bullseye rash from a tick bite. But symptoms can worsen if left untreated. Three infectious diseases physicians share more.”

• Cardiovascular Business reports,
  • “Long-term antidepressant use may increase a person’s risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), according to new findings published in Heart Rhythm.
  • “SCD frequently occurs without warning, often in individuals without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease,” wrote first author Jasmin Mujkanovic, MD, a cardiologist with Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues. “It accounts for a significant proportion of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Psychiatric disorders have previously been shown to be associated with SCD, with major depressive disorders having a twofold increased risk … Pharmacologic treatment of depression, with antidepressants among the most common pharmaceuticals prescribed, adds another layer of complexity.”

• MedPage Today relates,
  • “Kids seen by primary care clinicians for acute respiratory tract infections were prescribed antibiotics less often during telemedicine visits versus in-person visits in a cross-sectional study.
  • “The difference was driven by more telemedicine diagnoses of viral infections and sinusitis versus more in-person diagnoses of acute otitis media and streptococcal pharyngitis.
  • “There were no significant differences between groups in antibiotic management guideline concordance, follow-up visits, or antibiotic prescription within 14 days after the initial visit.”
• and
  • “A 10% increase in ultraprocessed food intake was tied to lower attention scores and greater dementia risk in a cross-sectional study.
  • “The relationships persisted even in people who followed a Mediterranean diet.
  • “No relationship emerged between ultraprocessed food intake and memory scores.”

• Health Day informs us,
  • “Antibiotics don’t appear to increase a person’s risk of developing celiac disease, a new study says.
  • “Patients with celiac disease had a 24% higher odds of antibiotic use compared to healthy siblings or members of the general public, researchers reported recently in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 
  • “However, the odds of antibiotic use were even higher — 50% — among a group of people whose gut lining was normal, when they were compared to the general public, researchers said.
  • “These results indicate that earlier studies that linked celiac disease to antibiotics reflect a heightened awareness of the disorder, in which the gut becomes inflamed if a person eats gluten.
  • “We do not see a causal link between celiac disease and antibiotics,” said lead researcher Dr. Maria Ulnes, a pediatrician and doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.”

• Radiology Business points out,
  • “A new 4D mammography technique could diagnose cancer with up to four times the precision of 3D digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) exams. 
  • “That’s according to early data out of an ongoing first-in-human clinical trial at Baptist Health Hardin in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The trial is testing the utility of the 4D mammography system developed by Calidar Inc.—a medical technology startup out of North Carolina. Calidar’s 4D system harnesses X-ray diffraction imaging to measure molecular-level signatures of disease; these tissue “fingerprints” could help providers diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages, but current mammography systems do not have this capability. 
  • “Calidar has indicated that its 4D system also allows for exams to be completed more quickly, and at a reduced radiation dose compared to 2D and 3D scans.” 

From the U.S. healthcare business and artificial intelligence front,

• Beckers Payer Issues explains,
  • “Healthcare more broadly has been focused on reaching consumers where they are at. Health systems have established virtual care partnerships, and prescription drugs are now more accessible via direct-to-consumer pathways.
  • “But health insurers have also been developing strategies to reach members more directly, such as through transparent pricing and shifts in product offerings.”
  • The article offers several examples.

• The Wall Street Journal reports,
  • UCB said it agreed to buy Candid Therapeutics [which is based in San Diego, CA] for up to $2.2 billion, in a deal that seeks to bolster the Belgian pharmaceutical company’s pipeline of experimental treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
  • Brussels-based UCB said Sunday that it would pay $2 billion upfront and up to $200 million subject to future targets to acquire Candid. Its latest acquisition follows a licensing agreement with China’s Antengene valued at up to $1.18 billion in March, and a deal to buy epilepsy-therapy developer Neurona Therapeutics for up to $1.15 billion last month.
  • Privately held Candid is developing a portfolio of experimental drugs to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and its lead candidate, cizutamig, is a so-called bispecific antibody being tested in multiple early-stage clinical trials across a number of indications, UCB said.

• Fierce Healthcare relates,
  • “UPMC and CommonSpirit’s talks to hand over a three-hospital system in eastern Ohio have progressed to a definitive agreement between the parties with a transaction expected to close in the fall. 
  • “Financial terms of the deal for CommonSpirit’s Trinity Health System were not disclosed, and a close would require regulatory clearances.
  • “Trinity Health System and UPMC share a commitment to providing top-tier care and serving the most vulnerable members of our community,” Dwayne Richardson, interim president of Trinity Health System, said in a Monday release announcing the agreement. “UPMC’s proven track record of community service and compassionate approach to care were key factors in our decision, and will significantly benefit our patients.”
  • “Trinity Health System includes facilities for urgent care, behavioral health and physician offices alongside its hospitals. The deal reflects a market expansion for UPMC, which is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and dominates the western half of that state with more than 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites.” 

• Radiology Business notes,
  • “It may be more than anxiety and forgetfulness to blame for women missing their scheduled mammograms, according to new survey data. 
  • “Missed breast imaging appointments are not uncommon. In fact, prior research has suggested that breast imaging appointments account for the largest number of no-shows in imaging. This can be problematic for both practices and patients, experts explain in a new paper in Academic Radiology.” * * *
  •  

• Healthcare Dive tells us,
  • “Healthcare bankruptcies rose in the first quarter after declining last year, according to a report released last week by restructuring advisory firm Gibbins Advisors.
  • “Twelve healthcare companies with liabilities of at least $10 million filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first quarter, up 33% from the fourth quarter of 2025. 
  • “Senior care firms and physician practices drove bankruptcies in the first quarter, with four filings each.” * * *
  • “The most common reason for missing an exam was forgetting about the appointment, cited by 35% of respondents. Financial and logistical issues, however, also represented a significant barrier for many; 19% indicated that financial hardship prevented them from attending their appointment, while another 20% said they did not have transportation to get to their exam. Notably, respondents who fell under lower income brackets most often cited issues with payments and transportation. Notably, around 30% of the patients who missed their appointment never rescheduled. 
  • “In terms of improving follow through, respondents suggested that more frequent reminders would be beneficial; the majority signaled that text message reminders were the most effective. Other suggestions included some form of payment assistance and transportation services.”  

• Joanna Stern writing in the Wall Street Journal describes a personal experience with AI enhanced mammography.

• Per an Institute for Clinical and Economic Review news release,
  • “The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) posted a Protocol today outlining how it will conduct its second annual analysis titled the “Launch Price and Access Report,” which will examine launch prices and patient access for new FDA-approved treatments. This protocol was developed with input from a multi-stakeholder working group* consisting of patient and consumer advocates, clinicians, policy experts, payers, and life science companies. 
  • “In the upcoming report, to be released in October 2026, ICER will analyze launch price trends over four years (2022-2025). ICER is also conducting an in-depth review of newly launched drugs (July 2024 to June 2025 novel drug approvals) by:
    • “Evaluating the impact of pricing above ICER’s Health Benefit Price Benchmark (HBPB)^† for drugs that ICER has previously reviewed.
    • “Evaluating patient access to newly launched drugs using real-world pharmacy and medical claims data, payer coverage policies, and direct patient surveys.
  • “The complete timeline for ICER’s Launch Price and Access report is available here.”

• Fierce Pharma tells us,
  • “With three weeks of data on Lilly’s oral GLP-1 launch in obesity now on the books, the dimensions of Foundayo’s rollout—and its critical comparison to that of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill—are coming into focus. 
  • “In its third week on the U.S. market, which ended April 24, Foundayo generated some 5,600 prescriptions, analysts at Jefferies wrote in a May 1 note to clients. That level of adoption is numerically lower than the stats recorded by the Wegovy pill in its third week, when prescriptions for the oral obesity med came in at around 26,100, per the note. 
  • “Nevertheless, almost all of Foundayo’s recorded performance stems from cash pay channels, according to the Jefferies team, with commercial access via insurance set to come online by the middle of this month, which will likely give Foundayo a substantial boost in uptake. 
  • “The team acknowledged that Foundayo’s reimbursement “appears to be ramping more slowly vs oral Wegovy’s.” 
  • “Overall, the analysts described Foundayo as “off to a solid start,” and estimate the drug will generate $146 million in the second quarter and $1.6 billion for all of 2026. That compares to consensus forecasts of $134 million and $1.2 billion, respectively.”