Tuesday report
From Washington, DC,
- The Wall Street Journal reports,
- “President Trump is urging Republicans to get their “one big, beautiful bill” to his desk by July 4. That’s just a week from Friday, and lawmakers still face a series of hurdles and headaches on issues ranging from artificial intelligence to deficit spending to rural hospitals.
- “Senate GOP leaders are revising their version in advance of potential votes later this week, searching for a mix that can garner a majority in the chamber, which is divided 53-47. Anything that gets through the Senate must pass the House, which is divided 220-212 in Republicans’ favor; any subsequent House changes would require another Senate vote. Lawmakers are scheduled to leave Washington for a recess next week but signaled they were prepared to stay to finish the bill.”
- The American Hospital Association News tells us,
- “Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. today appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health for a hearing to testify on the HHS fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, which requests $94.7 billion.”
- Modern Healthcare informs us,
- Prescription drug middlemen should end the complicated system of drug rebates before the government steps in to change it, Medicare and Medicaid chief Mehmet Oz said Tuesday.
- The remarks signal the Trump administration may revive attempts to eliminate the payments drugmakers send to pharmacy benefit managers after prescriptions are filled. In his first term in 2019, President Donald Trump considered regulations that would have eliminated that system, but officials abandoned them before they went into effect.
- “There’s a possibility that we have a window now where the three big PBMs might actually consider doing away with the rebate-slash-kickback system,” Oz told a meeting hosted by Transparency-Rx, a coalition of smaller PBMs committed to more open pricing. The three largest companies in the industry, CVS Health Corp., UnitedHealth Group and Cigna Group, handle about 80% of US prescriptions.” * * *
- “Oz met with large insurers about separate issues on Monday. The insurers voluntarily committed to reduce the use of preapprovals for medical care, and Oz said that there could be an opportunity for insurers to take similar voluntary action to change how they pay for medicines.”
- Healthcare Dive also discusses the CMS Administrator’s presentation at this meeting with a focus on drug price transparency.
- Federal News Network lets us know,
- “Rep. Robert Garcia was elected the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, charting a new direction for the party’s opposition to congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump’s administration.
- “Garcia, of California, won the job overwhelmingly in a closed-door vote of the House Democratic caucus. He beat out Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, 150-63.”
- Fierce Healthcare summarizes the public comments submitted in response to the May 13, 2025, CMS and National Coordinator of Health IT RFI “on how to ease data exchange among the healthcare ecosystem for patients, providers, payers, vendors and value-based care organizations.”
- Fierce Healthcare also points out,
- “While major provider organizations welcomed insurers’ pledge earlier this week to reform prior authorization, these groups withheld praise without yet seeing the efforts bear fruit.
- “Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement that patients and physicians both will need to see the promises made yield significant results to ease the headaches around prior auth.
- “Mukkamala said that many of the elements of Monday’s pledge echo a 2018 consensus statement from major payer and provider organizations, such as reducing the number of required prior authorizations, preserving the continuity of care for the patient and expanding automation.
- “He said the AMA will “closely monitor” the rollout of the prior authorization changes and continue to work with regulators and legislators on this issue.”
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force today gave a Grade B to “screening women of reproductive age, including those who are pregnant and postpartum for intimate partner violence.” The USPSTF also “concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for caregiver abuse and neglect in older or vulnerable adults [Grade I]. Both grades are consistent with the conclusions that the USPSTF reached in 2018 following a similar analysis.
- MedPage Today adds,
- “Expanding eligibility criteria for lung cancer screening to include 20-year smoking history without requiring a certain number of pack-years yielded a relative 28% increase in the number recommended for screening.
- “The number of lung cancers identified would have increased by a relative 17%.
- “The increase in detection was particularly seen among women and Black persons, groups with under-detection by current criteria.”
- Per PR Newswire,
- “More than 1.3 million women in the U.S. enter menopause every year. Menopause affects every woman—but not every woman gets the care, clarity, and support she deserves. A new national program, “Menopause for All,” intends to change that and will launch in Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C., on June 28th and 29th, respectively.
- “The National Menopause Foundation, a leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to empowering women with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate menopause through igniting community and harnessing science, has teamed up with Perry, a pioneering digital health platform transforming perimenopause care through expert-led community support, evidence-based education, and training of health care professionals. Together, they believe menopause care should be local, personal, and accessible.
- From trusted medical professionals and wellness experts to culturally sensitive support groups, the Menopause for All program will help women and their families connect with resources in their own local communities—because navigating menopause shouldn’t be done alone or in the dark.
- Menopause for All events are free and open to the public, but space is limited. On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the event will be held at Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral Street in Baltimore, MD from 1:30-4:30 p.m. On Sunday, June 29, 2025, the event will be held at the Hill Center at the Old Navy Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, D.C., from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
- “Our expert-led sessions will provide women with practical, scientifically-backed guidance and real solutions ensuring every woman has the care and support she deserves,” added Claire Gill, founder and President of NMF. “We’re grateful to our presenting sponsor [and FEHB, PSHB and FEDVIP carrier] Government Employees Health Association (G.E.H.A) and supporting sponsor Clearblue for their commitment to advancing women’s midlife health.”
From the Food and Drug Administration front,
- Fierce Pharma reports,
- “The FDA has blessed AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Datroway to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The accelerated nod—which could hinge upon verification of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial—applies to patients who have received prior EFGR-related treatment and platinum-based chemotherapy.
- “The label expansion comes five months after Datroway secured its first FDA nod, for patients with previously treated metastatic, HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. With the nod, Datroway becomes the first TROP2-directed therapy in the U.S. for NSCLC.
- “Addressing disease progression in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated lung cancer after prior targeted therapy and chemotherapy is very challenging with limited later-line treatment options available,” Jacob Sands, M.D., of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an investigator in two trials that paved the way for the latest approval, said in a June 23 press release.”
- STAT News relates,
- “A sutureless device for peripheral nerve repair could be available on the market in the coming months.
- “The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a polymer-based device developed by medical technology company Tissium. The authorization, announced Tuesday, will give physicians a new method for treating peripheral nerve injuries.
- “This approval is really a game-changer for patients with peripheral nerve injuries,” said Jeffrey Karp, a Tissium co-founder who developed the device’s technology. “For the first time, surgeons now have a sutureless, bio-inspired option that can really simplify the procedure while improving outcomes.”
- Per Cardiovascular Business,
- “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expansion of an earlier Medtronic recall, now issuing a new Class 1 recall for Medline Industries’ procedure kits that contain Medtronic aortic root cannulas. The recalls indicate that there may be excess material in the male luer, which could potentially lead to serious adverse events, including procedure delays, neurological deficits, strokes, or even death.”
- “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expansion of an earlier Medtronic recall, now issuing a new Class 1 recall for Medline Industries’ procedure kits that contain Medtronic aortic root cannulas. The recalls indicate that there may be excess material in the male luer, which could potentially lead to serious adverse events, including procedure delays, neurological deficits, strokes, or even death.”
- Per Health Exec,
- “In what is being referred to as a recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a notice on behalf of GE HealthCare for a line of its Carestations due to a risk the ventilation systems may not work properly. Despite the serious risk of death or injury caused by inadequate respiration, the problem has been isolated and can be fixed with updated use instructions.
- “Although no devices have been removed from care settings, this recall has been designated a Class I by the FDA, reserved for the most serious issues. Luckily, no injuries or deaths have been reported.
- “The systems are typically used to aid with anesthesia in patients of all ages. They can be found in many hospitals and surgery centers across the country.”
From the public health and medical research front,
- MedPage Today tells us,
- “Over the last two decades, U.S. neonatal mortality has generally declined, though not all leading causes of death followed this trend.
- “There were 283,696 neonatal deaths from perinatal complications, with the top leading causes being disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight; maternal complications of pregnancy; and complications of placenta, cord, and membranes.
- “Mortality due to slow fetal growth and fetal malnutrition increased annually, and mortality from maternal complications and bacterial sepsis of the newborn remained stable.”
- Per Endocrinology Advisor,
- “Individuals with celiac disease or thyroid disease have a significantly increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D), according to study findings published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.”
- Per Pulmonology Advisor,
- “Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in those age 50 years and older, but manifests differently by race/ethnicity and sex, with the most rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep respiratory events in Black women and the highest oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels in Mexican American women. These were among study findings published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.”
- BioPharma Dive lets us know,
- “A targeted lung cancer drug from Nuvalent led to tumor responses in about half of people who previously received at least one therapy like it, and 44% of those who had received at least two similar medicines, according to results from a clinical trial the company shared Tuesday.
- “The study of Nuvalent’s drug, zidesamtinib, involves people whose metastatic non-small lung cancer has alterations in the gene ROS1. In addition to past treatment with so-called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, some participants had also received chemotherapy beforehand. Nuvalent will use the data to support a U.S. approval application for these “pre-treated” patients, which it expects to complete in the third quarter.
- ‘Nuvalent is also studying zidesamtinib in ROS1-positive lung cancer patients who haven’t yet been treated and is discussing with the Food and Drug Administration the possibility of a “line-agnostic expansion” for the drug. A similar medicine from Nuvation Bio was approved this month for patients regardless of whether they’d previously been given a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.”
- Per Healio,
- “COPD mortality rates varied across North Carolina, often correlating with access to care and other risk factors, according to a pair of posters presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.
- “What we’re looking at is your risk of COPD mortality based on your ZIP code,” Alexa M. Zajecka, MD, a first-year pulmonary critical care fellow at East Carolina University Medical Center, told Healio.”
- “The researchers noted that although COPD is a leading cause of mortality and that North Carolina has one of the highest COPD-related death rates in the United States, there has been little research into its spatial clustering at the local level.”
- Gen Edge reports,
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains one of the most devastating and biologically elusive neurodegenerative diseases. Despite decades of research, its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. The condition presents a complex and highly variable interplay of genetic mutations, environmental factors, and cellular dysfunctions that differ widely across patients. This heterogeneity has slowed the development of effective diagnostics and therapeutics, leaving researchers to chase a moving target across a fragmented molecular landscape.
- Yet much of ALS research still relies on static models—snapshots of a disease in motion. The condition unfolds dynamically, impacting multiple neural and non-neural cell types in real time. Capturing that progression requires lifelike systems that can replicate ALS as it unfolds in the human body. Without that, critical windows for intervention may remain hidden in plain sight.
- “In a new study published in Cell Stem Cell titled, “An organ-chip model of sporadic ALS using iPSC-derived spinal cord motor neurons and an integrated blood-brain-like barrier,” researchers at Cedars-Sinai have developed a dynamic ALS model using patient-derived stem cells. This system may help uncover both the causes of ALS and new therapeutic targets.”
- Per an NIH Intramural Research Program release,
- It seems like every news report touting the health benefits of a daily glass of wine is soon followed by another that claims consuming any amount of alcohol harms health. While the jury is still out on this issue for younger individuals, a recent IRP study suggests that alcohol consumption may accelerate the typical age-related erosion of the cardiovascular system
From the U.S. healthcare business front,
- Healthcare Dive reports,
- “It is becoming more difficult for insured and uninsured Americans to access affordable healthcare services, according to a new report from S&P Global Ratings.
- “The United States spends more on healthcare services than any other country by any metric, according to the report. As of 2023, an individual could expect average out-of-pocket annual healthcare costs to run them an average of $6,159 annually and ancillary costs to account for approximately 6% of their average annual income before taxes.
- “Efforts to rein in healthcare spending thus far have been mixed, and recent cost pressures could cause costs to climb further still, according to the report. Should headwinds continue, providers may be forced to make tough choices about what services they offer and where.”
- and
- “Ascension CEO Joseph Impicciche will retire at the end of the year, the nonprofit health system announced Tuesday.
- “The health system’s board of directors has appointed President Eduardo Conrado to succeed Impicciche, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
- “Ascension said it has been preparing for Impicciche’s departure for some time, adding the executive will be “actively engaged” in Conrado’s transition.”
- Per BioPharma Dive,
- “Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Funds and venBio Partners are contributing up to $40 million to a spinout of genetic medicine maker Lexeo Therapeutics to that will aim to advance drugs for heart conditions.
- “The new biotech will focus on RNA-based medicines for genetically mediated cardiac conditions using a non-viral delivery method, according to a Tuesday announcement from Lexeo.
- “Under the agreement, Lexeo will hold double-digit percentage equity in the new company, and could receive future milestone payments, royalties and opt-in rights to its programs.”
- MedCity News informs us,
- “Cohere Health, a clinical intelligence company, launched a new solution called Review Assist, which speeds up medical necessity reviews for health plans, the company announced on Monday.
- “Boston-based Cohere Health provides AI-powered prior authorization solutions to help improve the relationship between payers and providers. The new tool is meant to help health plan clinical staff with prior authorization reviews, which are often extremely burdensome, according to the company. The typical process requires reviewers to analyze hundreds of pages of clinical records in order to determine if a patient procedure is medically necessary.
- “Review Assist operates within existing utilization management workflows. It uses Cohere’s AI and large language models to analyze unstructured and structured clinical data and provide actionable insights for reviewers, as well as links to its source for this information. In addition, it has an AI chatbot that can answer questions for the reviewer and find additional insights.”
- and describes Cigna Healthcare’s six new digital tools to improve the customer experience.
- Per Beckers Health IT,
- “Amazon One Medical and Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health continue to open clinics across New Jersey to expand access to primary care.
- “The two organizations joined forces in 2023 to co-open the offices and make Hackensack a specialty care referral partner of Amazon One Medical.
- “We hope to have 20 or maybe even more of these types of centers,” Hackensack CEO Robert Garrett said at a ribbon-cutting of the latest clinic June 17 covered by NJBiz. “It’s so well-needed. We’re going to be looking at different locations throughout the state of New Jersey in terms of where we think there’s a need for greater access to care.”
- Modern Healthcare reports,
- Current Health cofounder Chris McGhee has reacquired the at-home care company from Best Buy Co.
- Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
- “McGhee is returning as Current’s CEO. Former Chief Technology Officer Stewart Whiting and other former team members are also returning, according to a Tuesday announcement on the company’s website.”