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CMS Transitions CLIA Program to Fully Paperless System

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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has completed the transition to a fully paperless system for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program. CLIA certificates and fee coupons will no longer be mailed, and all certification and survey fees must now be paid online rather than by paper check. Laboratories must also ensure they have a valid email address on file to receive electronic certificates, billing notices, and other CMS communications to avoid potential certification…
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UnitedHealthcare Introducing New Referral Requirements for Some Medicare Advantage Plans in 2026

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Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, UnitedHealthcare will require most members enrolled in Medicare Advantage HMO and HMO-POS plans to obtain a primary care provider (PCP) referral before seeing certain specialists in outpatient, office, or home settings. Referrals must be submitted to UnitedHealthcare before the visit (and can be backdated up to five days), though many specialties and services—including mental health, OB/GYN, radiology, therapy services, labs, preventive care, telehealth, and emergency care—are excluded from the referral requirement….
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U.S. Measles Cases Surge Past 1,100, Raising Public Health Concerns

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 1,100 measles cases nationwide so far this year, putting the U.S. on pace for a record-breaking surge. As of Feb. 26, 1,136 cases had been reported—already six times higher than a typical full-year total in recent years. Health officials warn of serious complications, noting that approximately 1 in 1,000 infected children may develop encephalitis (brain swelling), and up to 3 in 1,000 may die. A…
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Southern States Among Leaders in U.S. News’ Top Home Health Rankings

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In its inaugural Best Home Health ranking, U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 12,000 Medicare-certified agencies nationwide using CMS quality and patient experience data. Just over 11% (1,320 agencies) earned the Best Home Health distinction for exceeding national benchmarks in timely care, patient improvement outcomes, and reduced preventable hospitalizations. Among the Southeast states highlighted: Top-rated agencies began care on time for 99% of patients (compared to 94% nationally) and demonstrated stronger improvement rates…
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Six Health Systems Named to Fortune’s Most Admired Companies List — Including Birmingham’s Encompass Health

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Six major health systems earned recognition on the 28th annual World’s Most Admired Companies list by Fortune and Korn Ferry, which evaluates companies on leadership, talent, quality, and social responsibility. Notably for Alabama, Encompass Health, based in Birmingham, ranked No. 4 in the medical facilities category. Other recognized systems include HCA Healthcare (No. 1 in its category for the 12th consecutive year), Universal Health Services, Tenet Healthcare, Ardent Health, and Community Health Systems. Resource: 6…
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Novo Nordisk to Cut U.S. List Prices for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus in 2027

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Novo Nordisk announced it will reduce the U.S. list price of Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus to $675 per month beginning Jan. 1, 2027—representing an approximate 50% reduction for Wegovy and 35% for Ozempic across all doses. The company stated the change is designed to improve affordability for patients whose out-of-pocket costs are tied to list prices, such as those with high-deductible plans or coinsurance, and will not impact existing self-pay options like NovoCare. The adjustment…
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Study Finds Medicare Patients Use Telehealth Broadly—Not Just for Behavioral Health

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New research from the University of Utah, conducted with support from the University of Michigan and the Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), shows that telehealth is widely used by Medicare beneficiaries for both behavioral and non-behavioral health concerns. Between 2021 and 2023, a sample of 15,000 Medicare patients accounted for roughly 31 million annual telehealth visits for behavioral health and 29 million for other conditions, including chronic care. The findings challenge the…
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Alabama Bill Would Require Physician Review and Greater Transparency for AI-Driven Prior Authorizations

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The Alabama Senate has passed legislation that would restrict how insurers use artificial intelligence in prior authorization decisions, requiring that any denial be made by a physician or qualified provider rather than AI alone. The bill mandates that AI tools base determinations on a patient’s individual medical history and clinical documentation—not solely on group-level data—and requires annual certification to the Alabama Department of Insurance confirming systems are non-discriminatory and produce consistent outcomes. Insurers would also need…
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New Clinical Research Highlights: Cancer Outcomes, Autoimmune Links, ILD Risk & PAH Medication Adherence

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Walking May Reduce Mortality Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors With Genetic Obesity Risk Research published in JAMA Network Open found that women with breast cancer who have a higher genetic predisposition to obesity face a 15% greater mortality risk. However, adding approximately 15 minutes of walking per day may reduce that elevated risk to levels comparable to lower-risk patients. Study Explores Link Between Low-Risk HPV and Thyroid Eye Disease A research letter in JAMA Ophthalmology…
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Alabama Eyes ED Physician Staff-Level Transparency Requirement

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The Alabama Senate is considering legislation that would require hospitals to publicly report emergency department physician coverage hours. Senate Bill 297 would mandate quarterly public reports detailing how many hours per week a physician is physically present in each hospital’s ED. The information would be posted online and displayed within the emergency department. The bill also authorizes the Alabama Department of Public Health to suspend or revoke licenses for noncompliance. If enacted, the requirement would…
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Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bill Allowing Insurer Reorganization

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The Alabama Senate unanimously passed legislation Feb. 17 that would allow Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama to reorganize under a nonprofit holding company structure. The bill now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives and, if signed into law, would take effect Oct. 1. The proposal would permit BCBS Alabama’s board to authorize the restructuring without prior approval from the state insurance department. The new holding company could create subsidiaries and invest in other…
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3 Trends Shaping the GLP-1 Landscape

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GLP-1 therapies continue to reshape chronic disease management, driving regulatory shifts, rapid market expansion and evolving clinical evidence. Here are three major trends to watch: Resource: 3 trends shaping the GLP-1 landscape