Health

US physicians continue to lose their independence: Nearly 4 in 5 are now employed by a health system or corporate entity. This ongoing trend may negatively affect healthcare competition in local markets as well as patient care.

Many younger consumers will ask about new medications: Their thirst for knowledge is a big opportunity for pharma marketers.

US drug shortages hit record high: While HHS issued recommendations to address the shortages, they’re not enough. We explore what needs to change.

How are healthcare orgs advancing on health equity? They’re making progress, but health disparities are still far too prevalent in the US. We explore what needs to improve.

Medical claim denials are spiking: Provider-payer battles over denied claims result in a lot of wasted money. It may get uglier in 2024, particularly in the Medicare Advantage market.

80% of docs lost revenues from Change Healthcare cyberattack: Meanwhile, strong cybersecurity has generated 4X financial performance for some organizations. We detail how protecting against cyberattacks can drive financial returns.

Pharma marketers adapted to doctors’ content preferences last year: Many doctors don’t want to meet with pharma sales reps in person. We explore which digital channels got the biggest utilization boosts in 2023.

Seniors aren’t comfortable with all digital health tools: They prefer human help for managing health-related needs. But they must be able to trust the people who are supporting them.

More digital health deals, lower check sizes in Q1: Healthcare AI startups are a hot investor item right now. Other sub-sectors of digital health? Not as much.

Meta makes the Quest 3 more like Apple’s Vision Pro: It launches an experimental app with spatial computing features. The Quest’s relative affordability is Meta’s advantage.

Consumer access to OTC birth control pill improves: CVS Caremark’s decision to cover Perrigo’s Opill at no cost for many health plan sponsors comes at a critical time.

Telehealth usage continues to slump: Virtual care giants like Teladoc and Amwell are struggling to stand out as people return to in-person doctor visits.

GoodRx adds Publix pharmacies to its Gold network: We examine why working directly with pharmacies, as well as with PBMs, is important for GoodRx’s business.

AI healthcare milestone: The FDA’s greenlight for AI sepsis tech developed by Prenosis could help make hospitals and clinicians more comfortable with AI.

LGBT patients deal with discrimination in healthcare: Providers and marketers must step up to meet the needs of all patients. Here’s how they can do it.

Costco adds GLP-1 access to its new healthcare service: Online weight loss programs offer members fast access to doctors and meds—but not lower prices on the GLP-1 drugs themselves.

Retail clinics trail other providers in healthcare delivery: They may not be the market disruptors we once believed. Here’s why.

New power for digital stethoscope: An algorithm to help spot heart failure just won the FDA’s ok, and it’s backed by clinical evidence.

Insurers face reduced pay rates: Medicare Advantage insurers will see rates trimmed next year, adding pressure on firms like UnitedHealth and Humana to adapt. We could see MA benefits get slimmer.

Its latest AI model clones voices from short clips for varied applications. OpenAI is taking a cautious approach and leaning on partners to ensure ethical use.