UnitedHealth Group said it is seeking repayment of “interest-free” advances distributed to providers struggling during the shutdown of claims processing caused by the ransomware attack on Change Healthcare. 

Monoclonal antibody therapies will be the first drugs permitted to take advantage of alternatives, including advanced lab simulations and artificial intelligence. A pilot framework to phase out the decades-long requirement for animal testing will be rolled out in the coming year, the FDA said.

The Department of Health and Human Services is looking to replace lab animals with AI models. Even more bullish on AI is the new boss at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

GenAI initiatives are complex and—in some cases—costly. “As such, the main rationale for pursuing them needs to be business growth, not workforce reductions.” 

The authors of the survey report note that AI tools mentioned by respondents run the gamut from automated appointment reminders to dynamic “care gap” messaging. 

Some AI decision-support models have a proclivity for recommending aggressive care pathways. And doing so on the basis of patient demographics, not medical necessity.

In exclusive interviews, HealthExec spoke with the American Cancer Society about rising cancer rates, and a virtual provider service that's working to bolster struggling oncology staff.  

A data analysis from the Physicians Advocacy Institute and Avalere Health found corporate buyouts are leaving patients in low-population areas with fewer options, as doctors are opting to go elsewhere.