Anthem joins CivicaRx’s division to bring lower-cost generic drugs to pharmacies. The first patient receives the controversial newly approved Alzheimer’s medicine. And some research finds vaccine mixing holds promise.

Some states lift nearly all pandemic restrictions as vaccination rates reach the 70 percent threshold. Humana deepens its push into home care with another acquisition. And a charity buys up nearly $300M in medical debt.

A judge tosses out the case challenging Houston Methodist’s vaccine mandate. HCA Healthcare trauma centers are charging patients up to 10 times more than other trauma centers. And more than 1M individuals bought coverage on Healthcare.gov since February.

Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO and co-founder of Aledade, discusses how quality reporting for physicians has become time-intensive and no longer commensurate with incentives. He tells us the whole system is in need of “radical surgery”.   

After blowback, UnitedHealthcare delays its policy of not covering emergency department visits it deems unnecessary. Datavant and Ciox Health announce plans to merge.  And Biogen’s newly approved Alzheimers has a huge price tag.

The heart rate, sleep and exercise data Apple devices capture can now be sent to your electronic health record. Hospitals start enforcing vaccine mandates and penalties for non compliance. And the pandemic has changed how we use the emergency department.

Retail giants Amazon and Walmart go head to head with competing pharmacy offerings. UnitedHealthcare will start denying emergency department claims if it deems a past visit to the ER nonemergent. One for-profit and one nonprofit medical school look to expand in Montana.

One Medical is acquiring senior-focused primary care company Iora Health. The FDA approves the first Alzheimers drug in 18 years. And Colorado Children’s Hospital is so overwhelmed with pediatric mental health patients, last month it declared a state of emergency. 

Now that vaccinated Americans are out and about, get ready for those seasonal viruses to make a comeback. Physician Assistants vote to change their title. And Dr. B promised to match leftover vaccine doses to recipients, but it’s unclear the service actually helped any patients get shots. 

Companies are offering free baseball tickets, beer, flights with vaccines. Democrats are trying to find a federal work-around to expand Medicaid in holdout states. And a UK telemedicine company is buying up large numbers of doctors in the US.