Bob Herman
@bobjherman.bsky.social
Health care business reporter for @statnews.com and its Health Care Inc. newsletter. Contact: bob.herman@statnews.com or bobjherman.09 on Signal. Sign up: https://www.statnews.com/signup/health-care-inc/
Reposted by Bob Herman
Scoop: Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Prasad overruled FDA staff to reject Moderna's flu vaccine application
The rejection is the latest instance of Vinay Prasad overruling career FDA scientists to place vaccines under harsher scrutiny.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Scoop: Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
With the ACA's enhanced subsidies now expired, Trump officials are very motivated to make ACA coverage appear more affordable. So they are pouring gasoline on "catastrophic" plans and other skimpy options. More with @tarabannow.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/2...
Trump officials push for skimpier coverage in ACA marketplaces
The Trump administration wants the 2027 ACA marketplace to offer plans with lower premiums — but the tradeoff is high deductibles and risk for those needing care.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:24 PM
With the ACA's enhanced subsidies now expired, Trump officials are very motivated to make ACA coverage appear more affordable. So they are pouring gasoline on "catastrophic" plans and other skimpy options. More with @tarabannow.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/2...
Reposted by Bob Herman
So about TrumpRx: We crunched the numbers today and about half of the drugs on there have cheaper generics available already. www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/t...
February 6, 2026 at 11:09 PM
So about TrumpRx: We crunched the numbers today and about half of the drugs on there have cheaper generics available already. www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/t...
Multi-cancer early detection tests cost as much as $950. They aren't FDA-approved. There's no evidence they are beneficial for patients. And yet, Hims is advertising them in a Super Bowl ad. Read more from @katiepalmer.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/t...
Hims, other telehealth platforms push multi-cancer detection tests before evidence of benefit
Test makers and telehealth providers say they want to give people a chance to catch cancers early and seek treatment.
www.statnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Multi-cancer early detection tests cost as much as $950. They aren't FDA-approved. There's no evidence they are beneficial for patients. And yet, Hims is advertising them in a Super Bowl ad. Read more from @katiepalmer.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/t...
Reposted by Bob Herman
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Bob Herman
NEW: A look at how Jeffrey Epstein’s tremendous wealth and connections opened doors at a prestigious New York City hospital — from a 24/7 hotline for the "board and donor community" to house calls.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
How Epstein’s wealth opened doors at a prestigious New York hospital
The convicted sex offender enjoyed unusually close access to Mount Sinai doctors, records show.
www.politico.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
NEW: A look at how Jeffrey Epstein’s tremendous wealth and connections opened doors at a prestigious New York City hospital — from a 24/7 hotline for the "board and donor community" to house calls.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 3, 2026 at 10:38 PM
About 30% of prescriptions for weight loss drug Wegovy now come from Novo Nordisk's direct-to-consumer program — i.e., patients who are not actively using their health insurance. www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/n...
Novo Nordisk lowers sales, profits forecast as Wegovy faces growing competition
Novo Nordisk on Tuesday said it expects sales and profits to decline this year, as the maker of Wegovy faces growing competition in the obesity market.
www.statnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:41 PM
About 30% of prescriptions for weight loss drug Wegovy now come from Novo Nordisk's direct-to-consumer program — i.e., patients who are not actively using their health insurance. www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/n...
Reposted by Bob Herman
Doctors nationwide are seeing patients avoid care amid ICE crackdowns, sometimes with dire consequences.
Health providers are now employing pandemic-era tactics to keep care accessible.
How immigration policy is changing American health care:
www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...
Health providers are now employing pandemic-era tactics to keep care accessible.
How immigration policy is changing American health care:
www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...
Fearing ICE crackdown, immigrants nationally are avoiding treatment, sometimes with dire consequences
Doctors nationally are describing harrowing consequences for patients who put off medical care because of fears of ICE.
www.statnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Doctors nationwide are seeing patients avoid care amid ICE crackdowns, sometimes with dire consequences.
Health providers are now employing pandemic-era tactics to keep care accessible.
How immigration policy is changing American health care:
www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...
Health providers are now employing pandemic-era tactics to keep care accessible.
How immigration policy is changing American health care:
www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...
UnitedHealth Group is getting smaller. But there's more to the story: This purge of Medicare Advantage enrollees, other insurance members, and unnamed assets also means "intercompany eliminations" — how much business UHG does with itself — are declining. www.statnews.com/2026/02/02/u...
February 2, 2026 at 5:09 PM
UnitedHealth Group is getting smaller. But there's more to the story: This purge of Medicare Advantage enrollees, other insurance members, and unnamed assets also means "intercompany eliminations" — how much business UHG does with itself — are declining. www.statnews.com/2026/02/02/u...
Reposted by Bob Herman
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 30, 2026 at 12:56 AM
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Big tech and consulting firms pledge $600M of "savings" so they can set up Medicaid work requirements. “This announcement only underscores to me that these corporations are licking their chops at the business opportunity.” @tarabannow.bsky.social reports: www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/m...
Trump’s latest deal: $600 million of tech company discounts to help implement Medicaid work requirements
States must have their work requirements systems running by Jan 1., a tight timeline for many.
www.statnews.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Big tech and consulting firms pledge $600M of "savings" so they can set up Medicaid work requirements. “This announcement only underscores to me that these corporations are licking their chops at the business opportunity.” @tarabannow.bsky.social reports: www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/m...
Very normal things from the owner of the Los Angeles Times bsky.app/profile/jaso...
Not to be overlooked in this @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social scoop: Patrick Soon-Shiong says he has met with WH's Susie Wiles, RFK Jr., and FDA's Marty Makary as he seeks to expand the approval for his company's cancer drug.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/i...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/i...
ImmunityBio’s Soon-Shiong mischaracterized talks with FDA over cancer drug, sources say
ImmunityBio Chairman Patrick Soon-Shiong mischaracterized talks with the FDA over the company's cancer drug, sources say.
www.statnews.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Very normal things from the owner of the Los Angeles Times bsky.app/profile/jaso...
Reposted by Bob Herman
I will simply never recover from reading this sentence:
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
Today, Luke Farrell (@lukef.bsky.social) explains how complex eligibility requirements have turned America’s safety net into a lucrative revenue stream for monopolistic private contractors.
The Means-Testing Industrial Complex
As Republicans tightened work requirements and eligibility rules for Medicaid and SNAP last year, Equifax’s CEO openly celebrated the profits to be made from administering this deprivation.
lpeproject.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:33 PM
I will simply never recover from reading this sentence:
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
Reposted by Bob Herman
You can buy a whole host of sketchy drugs at many gas stations. I wondered why gas stations, of all places, were the premier destination for people seeking quasi-legal recreational (or knockoff pharmaceutical) drugs. I dig into why in this week's @statnews.com STATus Report. youtu.be/4QsVjgIWVZs
January 28, 2026 at 2:31 PM
You can buy a whole host of sketchy drugs at many gas stations. I wondered why gas stations, of all places, were the premier destination for people seeking quasi-legal recreational (or knockoff pharmaceutical) drugs. I dig into why in this week's @statnews.com STATus Report. youtu.be/4QsVjgIWVZs
January 28, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Trump's CMS agency is proposing tiny Medicare Advantage pay increase for 2027. Also some more big risk adjustment changes, including requiring diagnoses to be linked to actual encounters with doctors. Health insurers will scream. Still should get $17B more. www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/m...
Trump administration proposes tiny pay raise to 2027 Medicare Advantage plans
The Trump administration plans to increase payments to next year’s Medicare Advantage plans by less than 0.1% on average — far below what industry expected.
www.statnews.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Trump's CMS agency is proposing tiny Medicare Advantage pay increase for 2027. Also some more big risk adjustment changes, including requiring diagnoses to be linked to actual encounters with doctors. Health insurers will scream. Still should get $17B more. www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/m...
Reposted by Bob Herman
STAT actually has a little bureau here in the Twin Cities. I’m glad my colleague @mmolteni.bsky.social was able to get out and cover this health care worker’s vigil www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/a...
Alex Pretti remembered by health care workers at a Minneapolis vigil as a ‘standup guy’
Health care workers brought flowers and wreaths, lit candles, and draped stethoscopes over a wooden cross as a makeshift memorial to nurse Alex Pretti
www.statnews.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:14 PM
STAT actually has a little bureau here in the Twin Cities. I’m glad my colleague @mmolteni.bsky.social was able to get out and cover this health care worker’s vigil www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/a...
Attention residents and employers of Huntsville, Alabama: You are on the brink of a true hospital monopoly. www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/h...
Alabama hospital system would gain monopoly with proposed $450 million deal
A $450 million deal would leave Huntsville, Ala., with a single hospital system, unless regulators step in.
www.statnews.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Attention residents and employers of Huntsville, Alabama: You are on the brink of a true hospital monopoly. www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/h...
Pretty galling what the first urologist tried to do here. www.statnews.com/2026/01/21/w...
January 21, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Pretty galling what the first urologist tried to do here. www.statnews.com/2026/01/21/w...
Reposted by Bob Herman
Shared clinical decision making was devised to help patients & their doctors make choices when the answer isn't clear cut. People who devised the approach fear it's being hijacked to undermine decades of study supporting #vaccines, @ericboodman.bsky.social writes. www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/s...
Is 'shared decision-making' being hijacked by U.S. health officials to sow doubt about vaccines?
Experts worry that health officials' use of 'shared decision-making' in new vaccine guidance distorts the concept's meaning and disregards the importance of evidence.
www.statnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Shared clinical decision making was devised to help patients & their doctors make choices when the answer isn't clear cut. People who devised the approach fear it's being hijacked to undermine decades of study supporting #vaccines, @ericboodman.bsky.social writes. www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/s...
Dr. Oz told health care executives at a fancy yacht club that they don't need to worry about the impending Medicaid cuts. Plus, he said the people who are about to lose Medicaid coverage are couch potatoes anyway. @tarabannow.bsky.social reports from #JPM26: www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/j...
January 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Dr. Oz told health care executives at a fancy yacht club that they don't need to worry about the impending Medicaid cuts. Plus, he said the people who are about to lose Medicaid coverage are couch potatoes anyway. @tarabannow.bsky.social reports from #JPM26: www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/j...
When it comes to vaccine schedules, the U.S. is now the outlier, @helenbranswell.bsky.social and @jaspar.bsky.social report. www.statnews.com/2026/01/09/c...
January 9, 2026 at 5:11 PM
When it comes to vaccine schedules, the U.S. is now the outlier, @helenbranswell.bsky.social and @jaspar.bsky.social report. www.statnews.com/2026/01/09/c...
“Weight-loss drugs have arguably made weight loss very easy, but maintaining the weight loss is now a bigger challenge than ever.” Read more from @elizabethcooney.bsky.social about this downside of GLP-1s: www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/w...
Stopping obesity drugs means people regain weight and lose heart health benefits
Why the weight, and heart risks, return after stopping GLP-1 drugs.
www.statnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:12 PM
“Weight-loss drugs have arguably made weight loss very easy, but maintaining the weight loss is now a bigger challenge than ever.” Read more from @elizabethcooney.bsky.social about this downside of GLP-1s: www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/w...
Reposted by Bob Herman
Nearly half of Trump-appointed experts involved in shaping the new dietary guidelines have financial ties to meat and dairy industries.
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries
The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Nearly half of Trump-appointed experts involved in shaping the new dietary guidelines have financial ties to meat and dairy industries.
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...