CMS announces proposed rules for hospital payments in 2026
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USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Saquon Barkley among NFL stars who will join President Trump's council on Sports Nutrition
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will join Harrison Butker, Nick Bosa, Tony Romo, and Lawrence Taylor on President Trumps Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.' Saquon Barkley is a son, a fantastic father, the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year winner, and now a member of President Donald Trump's administration. In a move that will revive a standard from the Reagan, Clinton, and Bush era, Barkley will join Harrison Butker, Nick Bosa, Tony Romo, and Lawrence Taylor on President Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.' According to the Washington Post, President Trump on Thursday announced that the presidential fitness test, a hallmark of American physical education programs, will be making a comeback in public schools. The assessment was retired and replaced by a fitness program under the Obama administration. The presidential fitness test was initiated in the 1950s by a council established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower that was directed to improve the physical fitness of American youths, in response to fears they were falling behind their European counterparts when it came to athleticism. The project is an alternative way to get anti-obesity drugs to Medicare and Medicaid patients, after the administration said in April that neither program would cover GLP-1s for weight loss. In doing so, it scrapped a 2024 Biden administration proposal for the programs to start covering GLP-1s for patients with obesity. Several high-profile athletes — all of whom have existing ties to Trump — attended the ceremony and will serve on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. The attendees included professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who will chair the council; controversial National Football League kicker Harrison Butker; World Wrestling Entertainment mainstay Paul 'Triple H' Levesque; golfer Annika Sorenstam; and football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. The Eagles running back wasn't in attendance, but will be joined by golfers Jack Nicklaus, Nelly Korda, and Gary Player (who was also awarded the Medal of Freedom alongside Sorenstam); Tony Romo, Nick Bosa, and Barkley; legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky; and baseball player Mariano Rivera. The list also includes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whom Trump repeatedly scrutinized during his first presidential term. Barkley was criticized during the off-season for spending time with President Trump on a golf outing prior to the Eagles' ring celebration.
Business Upturn
6 hours ago
- Business Upturn
SmartVascular Dx™ Test Elevates Vascular Risk Detection in the Northeast & Partnership with MOMS
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MorningStar Laboratories, LLC., ('MSL' or 'the Company'), a leading developer of precision diagnostic tests addressing unmet clinical needs, is excited to announce that its SmartVascular Dx™ (SVDx) test, formerly known as the PULS™ Cardiac Test, is now more accessible than ever for patients in the northeastern United States. We are proud to share that we have been included in the Medicare fee schedule, allowing us to offer national Medicare coverage along with our new partnerships with CareSource and HealthPartners. The SmartVascular Dx test provides a significant clinical advantage by accurately detecting vascular inflammation, a crucial factor in assessing cardiovascular risk. In a healthcare landscape increasingly focused on preventive strategies, this test supports early intervention, aligning seamlessly with the commitment to proactive healthcare in the region. We encourage physicians in the northeastern United States to seize this opportunity to offer the SVDx test to their patients. By identifying vascular risks earlier, healthcare providers can implement timely interventions, ultimately saving lives and improving health outcomes. Furthermore, we are excited to announce our partnership with My One Medical Source® (MOMS), and its network of MAPs: Medical Access Points/Providers™, which will facilitate specimen collection opportunities for MorningStar Laboratories' patients across the country. As the 'Connection for the Collection™,' MOMS enhances access to testing by bridging labs like ours with the skilled personnel needed for specimen collection. For more information and to learn how to integrate the SmartVascular Dx test into your practice, please reach out MorningStar Laboratories at 866.299.8998. Join us in our mission to enhance vascular care and improve the health of our communities. About MorningStar Laboratories MorningStar Laboratories ('MSL') is a specialty diagnostics development clinical laboratory company that develops, performs, and distributes unique medical tests combining science, technology, and proprietary analytics which aim to detect high-risk diseases with significant unmet medical needs. MSL's laboratory information systems use data from multiple sources, including proteomics, genetics, metabolic, biochemistry, phenotype, imaging, and a patented algorithm to address the most challenging clinical problems related to endothelial and vascular inflammatory issues. Morningstar Laboratories, a subsidiary of Smart Health Diagnostics Company, is a CLIA-Certified and CAP Accredited laboratory offering comprehensive and customized services in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations and ISO 15189 standards. To learn more, visit MorningStar Laboratories at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn. About My One Medical Source® (MOMs) My One Medical Source® (MOMS) is a SaaS platform connecting labs and other clients with the skilled labor required to perform specimen collections. The MAP: Medical Access Point/Provider™ Network is comprised of both brick-and-mortar draw sites as well as mobile phlebotomy options in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, which serve as collection solutions for the Labs/Clients on the MOMS platform. To learn more, visit Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our future expectations, plans prospects, and assumptions regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words 'termed,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this document speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Media Contact [email protected] 866.299.8998 Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
Medicare Update: Trump Admin Launching Pilot Program to Cover Ozempic
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Trump administration is preparing a five-year pilot program that would allow Medicare and Medicaid to cover some of the most in-demand weight-loss drugs, a move that could transform obesity treatment for millions of Americans. The plan, which includes medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, represents a reversal in federal policy and signals a broader willingness to use public insurance to address the nation's obesity epidemic. Why It Matters The drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, were initially developed to treat Type 2 diabetes but have become a cultural phenomenon for their ability to suppress appetite and help patients lose as much as 20 percent of their body weight in clinical trials. The pilot builds on a proposal introduced in the final months of the Biden administration but shelved earlier this year when officials under President Donald Trump announced Medicare and Medicaid would not cover weight-loss medications. What To Know According to documents obtained by The Washington Post, the program would allow state Medicaid programs and Medicare Part D plans to voluntarily cover GLP-1 drugs for weight management. The initiative is scheduled to begin in April 2026 for Medicaid and January 2027 for Medicare and will be administered through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, which tests new payment models designed to reduce costs and improve care. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under former President Joe Biden, told the Post the experiment would be a "game changer" if it expands access to obesity treatments. "Increased coverage of anti-obesity medications in Medicare and Medicaid was a priority during my tenure because scientists and clinicians increasingly believe obesity is a serious health condition that should be treated accordingly," she said. A pharmacy owner displays an Ozempic package in Pristina, Kosovo, on March 27. A pharmacy owner displays an Ozempic package in Pristina, Kosovo, on March 27. Photo by ARMEND NIMANI/AFP via Getty Images The program faces a major hurdle: price. GLP-1 drugs typically cost from $5,000 to $7,000 a year, raising questions about whether widespread coverage is sustainable. "The short-term cost is still huge," Dr. Cynthia Cox, vice president at KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation), told Newsweek. "$1,000 a month per person is a massive outlay." A KFF analysis found that Ozempic's U.S. list price is $936 a month—more than five times the cost in Japan, where it sells for $169. Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient, costs roughly $1,349 a month in the U.S., compared to $328 in Germany. At the moment, 13 state Medicaid programs cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity. Medicare limits coverage to patients with related conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. With about 70 million people enrolled in Medicaid and 65 million in Medicare, even partial expansion could affect a significant share of the population. Ethicists warn of the potential economic fallout. "These drugs help over 50 percent of people lose up to 25 percent of their body weight," said Dr. Robert Klitzman, a Columbia University bioethicist, in an interview with Newsweek. "But they cost around $12,000 a year. If two-thirds of Americans needed them, it would bankrupt the health care system." Despite the financial concerns, GLP-1 medications are generating enthusiasm among doctors for their ability to improve multiple health markers beyond weight loss. Clinical trials show they can reduce blood sugar, lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular outcomes. "Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs are changing how we approach obesity, both in the doctor's office and for society in general," Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical adviser for Garage Gym Reviews, told Newsweek. "They're helping shift the conversation from 'this is a personal failure' to 'this is a medical condition that deserves real treatment.'" The Congressional Budget Office estimates that adding obesity coverage could cost Medicare $35 billion from 2026 to 2034. What People Are Saying A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, told The Washington Post: "We believe that comprehensive coverage through government and commercial insurance plans is critical to affordable health care and treatment options." Klitzman also said in the interview with Newsweek: "Insurance doesn't always cover it, especially for people who don't have diabetes or heart disease. Initially, the drugs were approved for diabetes-related obesity, but doctors have been prescribing them to people who are just overweight, without those conditions." What Happens Next With more than 100 million U.S. adults classified as obese and 22 million considered severely obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the program's potential impact is vast. The proposal is not final and could undergo a formal public comment period before implementation.
