Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hospital Groups Urge CMS To Set Higher Pay Rates Next Year
Alongside their annual criticisms of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ annual pay rate increase for inpatient care, hospital groups are pushing the agency to reconsider a mandatory nationwide test of an episode-based payment model rolling out for most hospitals next fall. (Muoio, 6/11)
Fewer healthcare organizations are filling chief medical or nursing officer roles, while interest is rising for leaders focused on artificial intelligence. Regardless of position, however, executive recruitment firms say clients are being more cautious about their hiring selections. Along with job-specific competencies, they’re looking for emotional intelligence to help navigate industry hurdles. (Davis, 6/11)
Nurses left their primary jobs at nearly double the rate between 2018 and 2022, rising from 13% to 24%, according to a University of Michigan study published in Medical Care. (Gooch, 6/11)
Every time a paramedic walks into a hospital and hands off a patient, Jonathan Washko, assistant vice president at the Northwell Health Center for Emergency Medical Services and SkyHealth, notices something: The emergency room workflow is usually structured. But once a patient gets admitted, the coordination often dissolves. Nobody is running the whole show. (Ruder, 6/11)
Workplace violence against healthcare workers remains a persistent problem nationwide. Several states have passed or introduced new or expanded legislation in 2026 aimed at protecting hospital workers, from prevention planning requirements to weapons prohibitions. (Kuchno, 6/11)
At this week’s annual meeting of hospital finance leaders, the exhibit hall was packed with dozens of billing and collections companies. Armed with candy, tote bags, and pens, they smiled at passersby, eager to explain why their tactics would extract the most money from health insurers. (Bannow, 6/12)
Pharmaceutical developments —
Amgen Inc. has engaged an independent academic organization to reevaluate data for a rare disease drug that US regulators are trying to pull from the market. The Duke Clinical Research Institute is reviewing study results that were used to approve the medicine, called Tavneos, Amgen said in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration that was posted online Thursday. That review began in February, according to the letter dated June 1. (Swetlitz, 6/11)
In a rare move, nonprofit organization Blood Cancer United announced Thursday it was buying the remaining supplies of Luvelta, a discontinued investigational cancer drug. (Chan, 6/11)
