Physicians see 1 in 6 patients as ‘difficult,’ study finds

In nonpsychiatric settings, primary care physicians consider 17% of their patients as “difficult,” particularly those who have anxiety or depression, according to research published Jan. 12 in Annals of Internal Medicine.  Researchers at Clement J. Zablocki Veterans’ Administration Medical Center and Medical College of Wisconsin, both based in Milwaukee, reviewed studies that included marking patients […]

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Hospital groups push CMS to revise drug cost survey

Eight national hospital associations are urging CMS to revise a statement in its drug acquisition cost survey, saying the language in one of its frequently asked questions misleadingly implies hospitals are required to respond. In a Jan. 12 letter, the groups said it is “wrong to tell hospitals and health systems that they ‘are to’ […]

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Nuevas alternativas para resolver la crisis del cuidado de salud en casa

Estás listo para salir del hospital, pero todavía no te sientes en condiciones de cuidarte solo en casa. O bien ya terminaste un par de semanas de rehabilitación. ¿Podrás manejar una rutina complicada de medicamentos, además de hacer las compras y cocinar? Tal vez te caíste en la ducha y ahora tu familia quiere que […]

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‘Abortion as Homicide’ Debate in South Carolina Exposes GOP Rift as States Weigh New Restrictions

COLUMBIA, S.C. — When a trio of Republican state lawmakers introduced a bill last year that would subject women who obtain abortions to decades in prison, some reproductive rights advocates feared South Carolina might pass the “most extreme” abortion ban in the United States. Now, though, it seems unlikely to become state law. In November, […]

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Millions of Americans Are Expected To Drop Their Affordable Care Act Plans. They’re Looking for a Plan B.

It’s feeding time for the animals on this property outside Nashville, Tennessee. An albino raccoon named Cricket reaches through the wires of its cage to grab an animal cracker, an appetizer treat right before the evening meal. “Cricket is blind,” said Robert Sory, who is trying to open a nonprofit animal sanctuary along with his […]

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64 recent hospital, health system executive moves

Hospitals and health systems began 2026 with a flurry of executive moves. Since Dec. 19, 2025, Becker’s has tracked 125 leadership changes, including 75 in the new year. Editor’s note: This live page was launched Jan. 2, 2026, and will be updated regularly. 2026 Jan. 3-9 1. Eric Liston was named regional president for Salt […]

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OSF HealthCare pilots clinical intelligence platform

Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare has begun testing a new platform aimed at helping clinicians recognize changes in patient health more quickly by displaying trend data directly within electronic health records. The platform, called CliniPane, is a clinical intelligence tool developed by OSF Innovation. It is currently being piloted by a small group of primary care […]

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Virtual specialty consults avert 1,900 in-person visits in Maine

Bangor, Maine-based St. Joseph Healthcare and the Community Care Partnership of Maine, an ACO, have received over $491,000 to expand virtual specialty care consults across the state. The funding from Northern Border Regional Commission, a federal-state economic development partnership, will be used to continue access to the curbside consults for the next three years to […]

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Uncertainty rises in wake of CDC vaccine overhaul: 4 notes

Several states are rejecting the CDC’s changes to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, reaffirming their commitment to long-standing vaccine guidance amid growing confusion among patients, providers and public health leaders. The federal update on Jan. 5 removed routine, age-based recommendations for six pediatric vaccines — flu, COVID-19, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus and meningococcal disease […]

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