The Gist Healthcare Podcast

On today’s Gist Healthcare Podcast: Medicare Part B premiums rise 10 percent next year, the White House is in talks about extending ACA enhanced tax credits, and a federal judge signs off on Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan tied to the opioid crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following recent improvements in surgical outcomes, hospitals are now confronting new challenges tied to patient complexity, post-acute care access, and workforce capacity.   In this episode, Chris DeRienzo, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Physician Executive for the American Hospital Association, discusses findings from the latest Vizient and AHA analysis, including how delayed discharges and administrative demands affect care delivery. The conversation also looks at what hospitals are doing to sustain safety gains amid increasing acuity and staffing pressures.  You can listen to the first half of the conversation here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s Gist Healthcare Podcast: The government shutdown ends without an agreement to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. Canada loses its measles elimination status, signaling renewed public health risks. And the Trump Administration seems likely to extend telehealth flexibilities that allow clinicians to prescribe controlled substances without an in-person visit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s Gist Healthcare Podcast: The Senate passes a spending bill to end the government shutdown without extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. The FDA plans to remove black box warnings from hormone replacement therapies for menopause. And UnitedHealthcare pulls back coverage for remote patient monitoring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new analysis from Vizient and the American Hospital Association shows that outcomes for hospitalized surgical patients have improved in recent years.   In this episode, Chris DeRienzo, Senior Vice President and Chief Physician Executive for the AHA, discusses the data behind those findings and what may be contributing to the changes. The conversation looks at how hospitals are managing increasingly complex patients while maintaining gains in safety and quality.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump Administration reaches a deal to lower prices on weight loss drugs, the FDA fast-tracks biosimilars, and a new report shows UnitedHealthcare pays its Optum physicians more than others. Hear the latest on The Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast, CMS finalizes a Medicare pay bump for physicians. Kimberly-Clark to purchase Tylenol maker Kenvue, and Pfizer sues to block Novo Nordisk’s merger with an obesity startup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of Americans relying on food assistance could lose benefits as the government shutdown continues. A new study explores how proposed H-1B visa changes may affect staffing in rural hospitals. Plus, a court ruling dismisses a case from nurse practitioners challenging the definition of “doctor.” All that and more on today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Texas files suit against the maker of Tylenol, alleging hidden autism risks. Furloughed CMS employees are called back to manage Medicare and ACA enrollment. And Cigna takes a new approach to drug pricing by moving away from rebates. Hear these stories and more on The Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast, the nation’s second-largest measles outbreak continues to expand along the Arizona–Utah border. Family job-based health insurance premiums hit an average of $27,000 in 2025, while UnitedHealth Group launches an AI tool designed to accelerate medical claims processing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moderate House Republicans are urging Speaker Mike Johnson to take up the issue of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits once the shutdown ends. A new poll shows declining trust in President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while DocGo moves to acquire SteadyMD. Those stories and more on The Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast, we look at three headlines shaping healthcare this week: rising 2026 ACA exchange prices, California’s plan to sell its own insulin, and Prospect Medical Holdings’ move to sell more hospitals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, pregnant women have been excluded from most clinical drug trials. The policy was meant to protect mothers and babies, but it has left major gaps in medical knowledge. Now, renewed debate over the safety of common medicines like Tylenol has brought those gaps into sharp focus.   In this episode, STAT News reporter Lizzy Lawrence joins host J. Carlisle Larsen to discuss how history, politics, and caution shaped the science of pregnancy, and what it will take to ensure women are fully included in research that affects their health.  You can read her piece here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast, we look at headlines making waves in the industry: Qualtrics’ plan to acquire Press Ganey Forsta in a multibillion-dollar deal, new polling that shows a decline in public trust in the CDC, and a report revealing that some potentially unnecessary back surgeries have cost Medicare nearly $2 billion over three years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast, President Trump signals that he's open to healthcare discussions with Democratic lawmakers as part of efforts to end the government shutdown. General Catalyst’s HATCo has finalized its acquisition of Summa Health. And the CDC approves new vaccine recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast, we cover the political fight over extending Affordable Care Act tax credits as lawmakers avert a shutdown. The Trump administration has reached a deal with Pfizer to lower drug costs in the United States. And dueling lawsuits reflect how competition is intensifying in the AI healthcare space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump is expected to propose changes to the nation’s largest work visa program, with implications for healthcare staffing. A CMS pilot adding prior authorizations to traditional Medicare is facing pushback from Congressional leaders. A major medical supply manufacturer is reportedly planning a high-profile IPO next month. More on these stories in today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast, the CDC’s top vaccine panel prepares to vote as questions grow around future access. Privia Health expands further into value-based care with a new deal to acquire Evolent’s ACO business. And a new report explores why more hospitals are closing in urban areas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast, we look at three headlines making waves in the industry: the Trump administration’s claim of a connection between Tylenol use during pregnancy and conditions such as autism and ADHD, CVS’s Omnicare division filing for bankruptcy protection, and VillageMD will sell more than 30 of its Texas clinics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of this year’s most talked-about shows is The Pitt, a critically acclaimed HBO Max medical drama starring Noah Wyle of ER fame. Touted as one of the most realistic portrayals of an emergency department, the series recently earned multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Best Lead Actor.In this episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast, host J. Carlisle Larsen speaks with Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, a medical consultant for the show who helped shape key storylines. Dr. Owusu-Ansah is an associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and serves as director of EMS at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.