Read today’s Kaiser Health News
In other news:
Scientists Say NIH Officials Told Them To Scrub mRNA References on Grants: National Institutes of Health officials have urged scientists to remove all references to mRNA vaccine technology from their grant applications, two researchers said, in a move that signaled the agency might abandon a promising field of medical research.
The mRNA technology is under study at the NIH for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including flu and AIDS, and also cancer. It was deployed in the development of covid-19 vaccines credited with saving 3 million lives in the U.S. alone — an accomplishment President Donald Trump bragged about in his first term.
A scientist at a biomedical research center in Philadelphia wrote to a colleague, in an email reviewed by KFF Health News, that a project officer at NIH had “flagged our pending grant as having an mRNA vaccine component.”
“It’s still unclear whether mRNA vaccine grants will be canceled,” the scientist added.
About healthcare quality and safety
How has the quality of the U.S. healthcare system changed over time? This MUST-read from the KFF is a treasure-trove of information on the many dimensions of US healthcare quality.
About health insurance/insurers
CMS doubles down on Medicare drug price negotiations: CMS will not change the Biden administration's plan to negotiate prices for 15 previously named prescription drugs, and the agency's next potential leader says he will defend the program in court.
In January, CMS selected Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Trelegy Ellipta, Xtandi, Pomalyst, Ibrance, Ofev, Linzess, Calquence, Austedo, Breo Ellipta, Tradjenta, Xifaxan, Vraylar, Janumet, and Otezla to be included in the second round of negotiations aimed at reducing drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
On March 14, CMS said it had signed agreements with manufacturers, who will now participate in meetings and roundtables throughout 2025 to negotiate maximum fair prices for the 15 drugs, with final agreements due by Nov. 1.
MedPAC Report Calls for Increases in Doc Pay for Medicare Services: Physician and other health professional services should get an annual 1.3% increase in Medicare claims reimbursement, and Congress should set a separate safety-net payment averaging 1.7% more for clinicians serving low-income fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries.
Those were two recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March report o Congress. The independent agency advises Congress on issues related to payment, quality of care, and access to care for 65 million beneficiaries.
About hospitals and healthcare systems
National Hospital Flash Report: Key Takeaways
1. Hospital performance remains stable at the start of 2025. This is due to a confluence of greater service volume and rising expenses.
2. Expenses continue to be driven primarily by the cost of drugs. However, the rate of cost growth has slowed considerably.
3. Inpatient revenue grew more quickly than outpatient revenue in January. More patients were treated in the hospital and emergency room.
Physician Flash Report [Based on Data From More Than 200,000 Employed Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers In More Than 100 Specialties]
• Overall revenue per wRVU continues to fall, highlighting broader reimbursement challenges and an indication that traditional fee-for-service structures aren’t sustainable.
• When examining revenue per wRVU by specialty cohort, primary care revenue is holding steady while other specialties have seen a decline.
• Value-based care and other risk sharing models could be a material driver of these differences, and points to value- based care as having a positive impact on revenue.
About pharma
Lifetime Health Effects and Cost-Effectiveness of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide in US Adults: This economic evaluation found that although tirzepatide and semaglutide offered substantial long-term health benefits, they were not cost-effective at current net prices.
About the public’s health
FDA chooses flu vaccine strains after interagency meeting: A little over two weeks after cancelling a planned advisory committee meeting to determine the composition of influenza vaccines, the FDA has released recommendations for which viral strains should be included in shots for the 2025-2026 season. According to the agency, the decision followed a meeting of scientific and public health experts from the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Defense.
The abrupt cancellation of the advisory committee meeting — which had been scheduled for March 13 — raised concerns that manufacturers would not have sufficient time to produce the vaccines ahead of the upcoming flu season.
However, in releasing its new recommendations, the FDA said it "does not anticipate any impact on timing or availability of vaccines for the American public."
About healthcare personnel
The feminization of medicine, explained: The feminization of medicine has accelerated dramatically in the last four decades.
In the 1980s, women made up about 30% of medical school students, but now they make up 54%. Between 2004 and 2022, the number of women in the active physician workforce jumped 97%, compared to an increase of 13% among men. And for the sixth year in a row, women outnumber men in medical schools.