The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to review an August appeals court decision that curtailed access to the widely used abortion pill mifepristone.
Why it matters: It sets the stage for another major abortion case at the court 18 months after it overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the constitutional right to abortion.
The vast majority of American patients are wary of how their doctor may use generative AI to help treat them, according to a new Wolters Kluwer Health survey.
Why it matters: The technology is still in limited use in physician offices — mostly to help with administrative tasks — but one day may help doctors make diagnoses or develop care plans.
The Housejust passed what could turn out to be its most substantial health care legislation before the elections. But hospital opposition to the package will cloud negotiations with the Senate after the Christmas break.
Driving the news: Lawmakers advanced a health price transparency bill affecting hospitals, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers in an unusually bipartisan 321-70 vote on Monday.
Health insurer Humana has been using an AI algorithm that systematically denies seniors rehabilitation care recommended by their doctors, according to a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday evening.
Why it matters: The suit makes Humana the second major health insurer to face legal action over its use of an AI tool to allegedly restrict medically necessary care for Medicare Advantage patients.
The sudden collapse of SmileDirectClub has stranded users of its clear-plastic, removable teeth aligners — in some cases just weeks after they were given a discount for paying up front.
Why it matters: Customers experiencing problems with their treatment will not be able to get new aligners, treatment, or other support from the company.
Driving the news: The ACLU of Kentucky, which is representing thewoman identified as Jane Doe, informed the court of the update Monday, just days after filing a class-action lawsuit challenging the state's abortion bans.
The largest pharmacy chains in the U.S. give patients' medical records to law enforcement without warrants, a new congressional investigation found.
Why it matters: Legislators urged the Department of Health and Human Services — for the second time this year — to revise HIPAA regulations to protect Americans' medical records.
French pharma company Sanofi scrapped a $750 million drug licensing deal with California-based Maze Therapeutics, just hours after the FTC sued to block the arrangement.
Why it matters: This is a significant, and de factosuccessful, expansion of the Biden administration's "killer acquisition" theory, to a drug that's still in the early stages of development.
America's big drugstore chains are facing long lines, burned-out pharmacy staff and massive cutbacks, including the closure of hundreds of stores.
At the same time, they're determined to right the ship by transforming themselves into hubs for care that draw in customers by going far beyond their traditional role of dispensing drugs.
