A Medicare proposal some Republicans want to include in their sweeping megabill has the backing of a key Democratic senator — though he doesn’t want it included in the party-line package. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon said in a statement that he stands behind the No UPCODE Act, a bill co-sponsored with Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy that tackles tools Medicare Advantage plans use to get higher payments from the federal government — calling it 'common sense' that health insurers 'shouldn't be allowed to overcharge taxpayers for the care they deliver.'
The leaders of a sex-focused women’s wellness company that promoted 'orgasmic meditation' have been convicted of federal forced labor charges. A Brooklyn jury on Monday found Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the California-based company's former sales director, guilty after deliberating for less than two days following a five-week trial. The two each face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced later.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday he is removing all 17 sitting members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with new members.
Nonprofit Bayada Home Health Care, one of the nation's biggest home care providers, cut about 100 jobs, or about 10% of the staff at its Pennsauken headquarters. The organization employs 32,000 people nationwide. No frontline workers in home care, hospice, pediatric home nursing, or other divisions lost their jobs, Bayada said.
Prime Healthcare is eliminating more positions at its Chicago-area hospitals. The California-based company purchased eight hospitals from Ascension Health back in March. It says 100 positions across those hospitals will be consolidated, because they are duplicated or not aligned with Prime's care model. Those affected will be able to apply for other open positions.
A trade group representing Oregon hospitals appeared before the Ninth Circuit on Monday, challenging a state law that requires agency approval for health care mergers and acquisitions as unconstitutionally vague. The law gives a state agency the authority to review certain proposed health care business transactions to make sure they prioritize patients over profit.