About Covid-19
End of data sharing could make Covid-19 harder to control, experts and high-risk patients warn “The federal government’s public health emergency that’s been in effect since January 2020 expires May 11. The emergency declaration allowed for sweeping changes in the U.S. health care system, like requiring state and local health departments, hospitals, and commercial labs to regularly share data with federal officials.
But some shared data requirements will come to an end and the federal government will lose access to key metrics as a skeptical Congress seems unlikely to grant agencies additional powers. And private projects, like those from The New York Times and Johns Hopkins University, which made covid data understandable and useful for everyday people, stopped collecting data in March.
Public health legal scholars, data experts, former and current federal officials, and patients at high risk of severe covid outcomes worry the scaling back of data access could make it harder to control covid.”
About health insurance/insurers
Best Health Insurance Companies of 2023 FYI
Clover Health's stock could be delisted from the Nasdaq, company says “Clover told investors in a filing last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was notified by the stock exchange that its shares have failed to trade above $1 per share for 30 consecutive business days, as is required for inclusion on the Nasdaq.
Clover said it has 180 calendar days, or until Oct. 17, to regain compliance with the requirement, meaning its stock must trade above $1 for 10 consecutive business days…
Fellow insurtech Bright Health Group also faces a stock delisting from the New York Stock Exchange as it has struggled to keep its stock above $1 per share. It was trading at 17 cents per share midafternoon Monday as it stares down potential bankruptcy at the end of this month.”
HHS Releases Proposal to Expand Health Care for DACA Recipients “he Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), today released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that, if finalized, would expand access to health care by reducing barriers for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Earlier this month, HHS announced its intention to release this rule by the end of April, and today’s announcement marks the fulfillment of that promise. The proposed change applies to the Health Insurance Marketplaces, the Basic Health Program, and some Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).”
Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid & Work: A Look at What the Data Say “KFF analysis of federal survey data from 2021 reveal that, overall, more than six in ten (61%) nonelderly adults with Medicaid who are not also covered by Medicare and do not qualify for Medicaid as disabled under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program (referred to hereafter as “Medicaid adults”) were working full or part-time. The leading reasons for not working among remaining Medicaid adults were caregiving responsibilities, illness or disability, or school attendance. The remaining nine percent of Medicaid adults reported that they are retired, unable to find work, or were not working for another reason.”
The entire article is worth reading.
What's next on the No Surprises Act A good, short review of the topic from Axios.
About hospitals and healthcare systems
Tenet Healthcare reports $143M Q1 net income “Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare reported $143 million in net income for the first quarter of 2023 on revenue of $5 billion.
That figure compared with net income of $139 million on $4.7 billion of revenue in the same period last year. Net income was $102 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.”
About pharma
20 drugs have been in shortage for nearly 8 years: ASHP FYI
Novartis pens $425M biobucks deal with German biotech, scooping up more radiopharmaceutical tech “Novartis is doling out $40 million cash for exclusive licensing rights to 3B Pharmaceuticals’ cancer-targeting tech, wrapping up some loose ends for a radiotherapy picked up from Clovis Oncology at the end of last year.
Novartis is giving 3BP the chance to make up to $425 million in biobucks in return for global rights to develop and commercialize therapeutic and imaging applications stemming from 3BP’s technology.”
Novartis prunes assets, axing 10% of pipeline programs to narrow R&D focus “Novartis has undertaken an old-fashioned decimation of its pipeline. The Swiss drugmaker has decided to dump or out-license 10% of its R&D projects to narrow its sights on five core therapeutic areas and focus investment on its most promising programs within those spaces.
In recent quarters, Novartis has decided to make five therapeutic areas—cardiovascular, hematology, solid tumors, immunology and neuroscience—and a small clutch of technology platforms the focus of its R&D activities.”
About the public’s health
EU outlines plan to take control of medicine production in health crises “The EU is planning a compulsory licensing system to allow it to take control of the manufacture of drugs and vaccines during a public health emergency, despite calls from pharmaceutical groups to protect patents. Brussels wants the ability to act swiftly to manufacture vital treatments across the bloc during health crises such as Covid-19. The draft proposal from the European Commission and seen by the Financial Times is part of a sweeping reform of pharmaceutical regulation that has unnerved the industry and could change before publication on Wednesday.”
Comment: A great lesson for the U.S., but political lobbying would probably make this action unfeasible.
About healthcare IT
6 riskiest medical devices for cybersecurity “These devices carry the greatest risks, according to an analysis by cybersecurity firm Armis…”
Best Telemedicine Companies of 2023 “To determine the best telemedicine companies, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on the top telemedicine companies, assigning star ratings based on membership fees, types of care offered, provider availability and more. Read on to see which telemedicine companies topped our ranking—and why.”
About health technology
GE HealthCare reports 8% revenue growth “Following its spinoff, GE HealthCare reported 8 percent year-over-year revenue growth and organic revenue growth of 12 percent in the first quarter.”
About healthcare finance
J&J Consumer-Health IPO Process to Kick Off Key Test for Moribund New-Issue Market “Johnson & Johnson is poised to begin a roadshow to pitch shares of its consumer-healthcare business, the producer of household names such as Tylenol, in a test for an IPO market that has been in the doldrums for the past year.
Kenvue Inc. plans to start meeting with prospective investors as early as Monday, people familiar with the matter said. The goal is to raise $3.5 billion or more in the offering at a valuation close to $40 billion, the people said. IPO roadshows typically last anywhere from a few days to a week ahead of the stock’s trading debut.
Assuming the company and its advisers manage to pull off the listing, Kenvue’s stock would trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KVUE.
J&J’s consumer business makes well-known over-the-counter medicines including Tylenol; Band-Aids and other wound-care products; baby-care products such as Johnson’s Baby Shampoo; and skin-care offerings such as Aveeno and Neutrogena. The division slated to become Kenvue generated $14.95 billion in global sales last year, about 15.7% of J&J’s total.”