Gilead Sciences has named Daniel O'Day, the chief of Roche's pharmaceuticals unit, as its new CEO, effective March 1.
Why it matters: Gilead is one of the largest and most profitable drug manufacturers on the planet, known for its hepatitis C and HIV medicines. O'Day will lead a company that has had falling sales of its hepatitis drugs and is investing more in new, expensive gene therapies.
HHS recently called on states to repeal laws that require providers to ask for permission before they can build new facilities. Now, Modern Healthcare's Susannah Luthi reports that the department might try to force states' hand using the leverage of Affordable Care Act waivers.
What they're saying: "If you think the markets work better (than regulation), and you want to allow competition, and if competition improves the market, find a way to measure that and use waiver authority to go that direction," the American Enterprise Institute's Thomas Miller told Modern Healthcare.
The United States spends more on hospitals per capita than any other of the 36 countries that are in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Why it matters: It's not just prescription drug prices, although the difference between what Americans pay and what other countries pay for drugs has dominated headlines. If the U.S. is ever going to lower the gap in health spending between us and other wealthy countries, it will have to address all parts of the health care system.
