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Southeast Population Growth Signals New Opportunities and Pressures for Healthcare Providers

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Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that although overall U.S. population growth is slowing, several metro areas—especially across the Southeast—are expanding at a significantly faster pace. This ongoing shift toward smaller and mid-sized markets is reshaping where and how healthcare services are needed. Much of the slowdown is tied to declining international migration, while domestic migration continues to favor less densely populated areas over major urban centers. For healthcare providers, these changes are…
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Final Reminder: 2025 QPP Data Submission Deadline Is March 31

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Time is running out for clinicians participating in the Quality Payment Program—the 2025 performance year data submission period closes tomorrow, March 31, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET. Providers should ensure all required data has been submitted or reviewed through the QPP portal, including any information reported by third parties. Once the deadline passes, no corrections can be made, making it critical to verify accuracy before final submission. To complete the process, users must log in…
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Federal Judge Allows Medicare Advantage Kickback Lawsuit to Proceed

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A federal judge has ruled that a high-profile lawsuit involving major insurers—including Aetna, Elevance Health, and Humana—can move forward, rejecting efforts to dismiss allegations of improper broker payments tied to Medicare Advantage plans. The case, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, builds on a whistleblower complaint and claims that insurers paid brokers substantial sums to steer beneficiaries toward their plans between 2016 and 2021. The lawsuit also includes brokers such as GoHealth, SelectQuote, and…
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FDA Warns of Seizure Risk Linked to Common Parkinson’s Medications

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a new safety communication highlighting a potential seizure risk associated with certain Parkinson’s treatments, specifically medications containing carbidopa/levodopa. According to the agency, this risk is tied to vitamin B6 deficiency, which can occur in patients taking these medications and, in rare cases, lead to seizures. As a result, the FDA is requiring manufacturers to update prescribing information with clearer warnings about this potential side effect. The updated…
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FDA Issues Warning Over Misleading Claims About Cancer Drug Anktiva

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to ImmunityBio and its founder, Patrick Soon-Shiong, regarding promotional statements made about the cancer drug Anktiva. According to regulators, comments made in a podcast and television advertisement suggested the drug could treat, cure, or even prevent multiple types of cancer—claims the FDA says are misleading and not supported by current approvals. While Anktiva received FDA approval in 2024 for a specific type of bladder…
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Maryland Cracks Down on Cigna’s Automatic Downcoding Policy

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The Maryland Insurance Administration has fined Cigna $80,000 and ordered the insurer to halt its use of automatic downcoding for certain evaluation and management (E/M) claims, citing violations of state law and concerns over payment delays. Cigna’s policy allowed adjustments to higher-level E/M codes—such as 99204–99205, 99214–99215, and 99244–99245—if documentation did not meet specific complexity criteria. However, regulators determined that instead of automatically reducing claim levels, insurers must formally dispute questionable claims and request additional…
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Severe Infections in Older Adults Linked to Increased Dementia Risk

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New research published in PLOS Medicine suggests that serious infections in older adults may play a more direct role in the development of dementia than previously understood. The study found that conditions such as Urinary tract infection and other bacterial infections requiring hospital treatment were associated with a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. Analyzing decades of health data, researchers identified multiple conditions linked to increased dementia risk—but notably, infections remained a significant…
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Tirzepatide Shows Lower Cardiovascular Risk Compared to Dulaglutide in Type 2 Diabetes

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New findings published in Diabetes Care highlight meaningful differences in cardiovascular outcomes among commonly prescribed diabetes therapies. Researchers found that tirzepatide—marketed as Mounjaro—was associated with a lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to dulaglutide (Trulicity) in adults with type 2 diabetes and existing cardiovascular disease. The study analyzed real-world data from a large national database, comparing outcomes across multiple GLP-1–based therapies. While tirzepatide demonstrated a reduced rate of cardiovascular events versus dulaglutide, researchers found…
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UAB Expands Access with Planned Freestanding Emergency Department in Oxford

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UAB Health System is continuing its expansion of community-based care with plans to develop a third freestanding emergency department—this time in Oxford, Alabama. The project is currently in the early stages, with a letter of intent submitted to the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency to obtain necessary approvals. The proposed facility would be a joint effort between UAB, the city of Oxford, and Oxford Health Systems, reflecting a collaborative approach to addressing growing…
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10 Recent Healthcare Billing Fraud Cases Highlight Ongoing Enforcement Trends

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Recent enforcement activity across the healthcare industry underscores continued scrutiny around billing practices, particularly involving telemedicine, durable medical equipment (DME), and medical necessity. Here’s a high-level look at 10 notable cases reported since early March, ranked by scale and impact: 1. $59.9M Medicare DME Fraud Scheme (Texas)A Texas individual received a lengthy prison sentence for involvement in a massive scheme billing Medicare for medically unnecessary equipment—one of the largest cases in this group. 2. $12.5M…
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CLFS Reporting Requirements Begin May 1: What Labs Need to Know

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Clinical laboratories subject to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) should prepare for the upcoming data reporting period beginning May 1, 2026. This requirement applies to independent labs, physician office labs, and hospital outreach laboratories that meet the criteria of an “applicable laboratory” under federal guidelines. The reporting window runs from May 1 through July 31, 2026, and is based on data collected between January 1 and June 30, 2025. Laboratories will need to submit…
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Study Suggests Methylphenidate May Lower Psychosis Risk in Children with ADHD

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New research highlights important insights into the long-term safety of commonly prescribed ADHD medications. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that methylphenidate—widely used in treatments like Ritalin and Concerta—does not increase the risk of psychosis in pediatric patients and may even offer protective benefits when used over time. Researchers analyzed health data from nearly 4,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and found no increased risk of psychosis among those treated with methylphenidate compared…
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