Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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A $50B rural health fund was negotiated with hospitals in mind. Experts are split on whether it will help them at all.
The fund was created to help Republicans secure critical votes for their reconciliation bill. But experts aren't quite sure how it'll work, creating a $50 billion dollar question with major ramifications for rural hospitals.
Susanna Vogel • Aug. 26, 2025 -
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via Getty Images
White House data sharing plan boasts big ambitions, but has scant details
Improving health data exchange is a worthy goal, but the initiative has to overcome challenges like data security, under-resourced providers and slow technology uptake, experts say.
Emily Olsen • Aug. 21, 2025 -
Courtesy of UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth, Amedisys merger appears set to close post-DOJ settlement
The settlement is weaker than at least one antitrust expert expected based on the severity of the DOJ’s concerns. But it means the $3.3 billion merger is very likely to close.
Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 8, 2025 -
Courtesy of Thermo Fisher Scientific
The Trump administration wants to onshore drug manufacturing. Technologists are answering the call.
Looming threats to the pharmaceutical supply chain have brought fresh attention to onshoring. Experts say innovation is happening, but slowly.
Susanna Vogel • July 9, 2025 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
340B could have a new cop on the beat. Hospitals are worried.
The HHS wants to move oversight of the controversial drug discount program to the CMS, which has a more aggressive history with 340B than its covered providers would prefer. “It could be truly devastating,” one expert said.
Rebecca Pifer • July 2, 2025 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
House committees advance reconciliation text with big impacts on healthcare
Republicans in Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means have approved their portions of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” after marathon markups. Here’s an extensive look at what the legislation means for healthcare.
Rebecca Pifer • May 15, 2025 -
Emily Olsen/Healthcare Dive
Medicaid cuts could have ‘drastic impact’ on providers
Some providers may need to reduce services, lay off staff or close their doors if Congress enacts major cuts to the safety-net insurance program, experts say.
Emily Olsen • May 9, 2025 -
Permission granted by Racquel Garcia, HardBeauty
A public health grant provides a lifeline for pregnant and postpartum women in Colorado. Federal cuts threaten its stability.
The abrupt end of $11 billion in public health grants nationally disrupted a program in Colorado that provides residents critical access to behavioral health and substance abuse support.
Sydney Halleman • May 7, 2025 -
Darko Mlinarevic via Getty Images
Trump HHS tiptoes around endorsing conversion therapy for transgender minors
A new Trump administration report said teens struggling with gender dysphoria should undergo “exploratory” therapy and that conversion therapy was misunderstood.
Susanna Vogel • May 2, 2025 -
andresr via Getty Images
A judge blocked the FDA’s plan to regulate LDTs. What now?
One attorney said the ruling “isn’t quite the stake in the heart.” The FDA is unlikely to challenge the court’s decision, but Congress could still pass legislation addressing LDT regulation
Susan Kelly • April 16, 2025 -
Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
HHS layoffs may be illegal, legal experts say
The federal health department sidestepped normal procedures as it laid off 10,000 employees, according to sources. One union has already filed an internal complaint, while at least two law firms are exploring suits.
Rebecca Pifer • April 15, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Healthcare tackles AI oversight with no aid from Trump administration
The president’s deregulatory bent means more responsibility rests on the shoulders of healthcare stakeholders to get artificial intelligence right.
Rebecca Pifer • March 10, 2025 -
Rebecca Pifer/Healthcare Dive
EHR vendors turn to artificial intelligence to modernize health records
Software companies like Epic and Oracle say they’re weaving AI into clinicians’ workflows to meet client demand, keep up with competitors and improve the productivity of a swamped healthcare system.
Rebecca Pifer • March 6, 2025 -
eggeeggjiew via Getty Images
Could artificial intelligence increase clinician burden?
Vendors say their AI scribes and assistants will save doctors time. But the need for careful oversight, along with hospitals’ inclination to see as many patients as possible, could mean clinicians’ schedules won’t be freed up by AI tools.
Rebecca Pifer • March 6, 2025 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Insurers closed out 2024 on shaky footing
Operating income fell for all but two major payers’ insurance divisions in the fourth quarter. And 2025 may be no better, after many insurers released outlooks suggesting medical costs will continue to rise.
Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 25, 2025 -
Permission granted by Vertex Pharmaceuticals
A new, non-opioid pain drug is here. Getting it to patients could be agony.
After decades of research, Vertex Pharmaceuticals now has an approved pain medication. Can one of the world’s most powerful biotechs contend with a healthcare system that’s long favored opioids?
Jacob Bell • Feb. 11, 2025 -
LaylaBird via Getty Images
Providers to target efficiency, supply chain resilience in 2025
Health systems will work to expand their supply chains and ink nontraditional partnerships in 2025, while trimming excessive AI programs and nonclinical staff.
Susanna Vogel • Jan. 22, 2025 -
eggeeggjiew via Getty Images
Top healthcare technology trends in 2025
The shape of AI regulation will be uncertain under the Trump administration this year, while healthcare companies will continue bolstering cyber defenses to withstand increasing attacks, experts say.
Emily Olsen • Jan. 15, 2025 -
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Health insurers will step off the roller coaster in 2025
After a turbulent year, things should calm for payers with the advent of a business-friendly Trump administration — though challenges will persist. Here are experts’ biggest predictions for 2025.
Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 8, 2025 -
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States curb CON laws to boost bed capacity
The COVID-19 pandemic and population growth have led many states to scale back or eliminate Certificate of Need laws, which require providers to get regulatory approval before expanding or adding healthcare facilities.
Michael Brady • Jan. 3, 2025 -
Emily Olsen/Healthcare Dive
AI could be a game changer, but healthcare needs to be ‘exceedingly careful’
Artificial intelligence tools could help solve workforce challenges. Implementation, however, can be difficult, pushing organizations to consider less risky administrative and back-office tasks first.
Emily Olsen • Oct. 28, 2024 -
FDA
5 steps to navigate the FDA’s new lab developed test rule
Laboratories face a series of upcoming deadlines to comply with stricter FDA oversight of in-house tests. Here are five strategies labs can take to be ready.
Susan Kelly • Oct. 28, 2024 -
Emily Olsen/Healthcare Dive
Tech companies pitch AI platforms for healthcare, outline plans for responsible rollout
Google, Microsoft and GE Healthcare say they’ll power the next wave of AI advancement. But executives are split on how to offer the tools to providers responsibly — and whether all clinicians are equally ready for them.
Susanna Vogel • Oct. 28, 2024 -
Daniel Karmann/Picture-Alliance/DPA/AP
The number of AI medical devices has spiked in the past decade
The FDA has authorized nearly 1,000 medical devices with artificial intelligence features as companies including GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers build out their AI efforts.
Elise Reuter and Jasmine Ye Han • Oct. 9, 2024 -
Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
4 steps to minimize the threat of legacy medical devices
Older medical devices with unsupported software pose cybersecurity threats that regulators and industry are struggling to solve. Here are four steps experts say can help mitigate risks.
Ricky Zipp • Sept. 23, 2024
