Independent pharmacies have struggled in recent years to stay open—and new financial constraints may mean a record number of pharmacy closures in 2024.

Nearly a third of independent pharmacies are at risk of going out of business due in part to a new rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that results in lower prescription reimbursements, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), a trade group that represents more than 19,400 US pharmacies.

“This is an emergency,” NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey said in a statement. “If Congress fails to act again, thousands of local pharmacies could be closed within months and millions of patients could be stranded without a pharmacy.”

The CMS rule, which went into effect on January 1, requires payers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to apply what’s called direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees at the time a patient picks up a prescription.

Keep reading here.—MA

Do you work in healthcare or have information about the industry that we should know? Email Maia at [email protected]. For confidential conversations, ask Maia for her number on Signal.

When it comes to managing health proactively, knowledge is ~power~. Introducing your knowledge source: LetsGetChecked’s new inherited disease screening solution, myGeneticScreen.

Payers, providers, and employers can now enable individuals and their families to learn their genetic risk for three conditions recommended by the CDC as actionable Tier 1 conditions: Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC), Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), and Lynch Syndrome (LS).

Around 1%–2% of the population (that’s 3.3–6.6 million people!) carry a variant underlying these conditions.

That’s where myGeneticScreen comes in. This user-friendly screening test that's collected at home uses the power of genomics to inform healthcare decisions, enabling organizations to help people:

• understand their risk for hereditary conditions
• enact preventive measures early
• improve outcomes

Bring knowledge to your population.

New York City residents could soon take advantage of a planned $8 million clinic that aims to offer pregnant individuals and families living with substance use disorder access to prenatal and postnatal care, addiction medicine, and behavioral health services.

Mayor Eric Adams announced the 6,500-square-foot facility Tuesday as part of his administration’s $43 million gender equity plan and a push to reduce both maternal mortality disparities and opioid-related deaths. The Family Substance Use Disorder clinic, set to open in 2026 at NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H)/Lincoln in the Bronx, is expected to serve about 200 families annually.

With overdoses being a leading cause of deaths in pregnant and postpartum residents, Wendy Wilcox, NYC H+H’s chief women’s health service officer, said she’s “thrilled NYC Health + Hospitals is launching a holistic program to treat pregnant and postpartum people who have substance use disorder with their families.”

Keep reading here.—SY

Do you work in healthcare or have information about the industry that we should know? Email Shannon at [email protected]. For confidential conversations, ask Shannon for her number on Signal.

When you think of “digital health tools,” you might think of telehealth apps and patient portals—platforms that you only access when you’re in need of medical attention.

In reality, you’re likely using a digital health tool right now. Whether it’s a menstrual-tracking or fitness app, the text chain with your therapist, or even someone on TikTok giving advice about how to alleviate headaches—these are all examples of digital health tools that anyone with a phone can easily access.

For a lot of pregnant patients, these digital tools can go from being a crutch to being a lifeline. A March report from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, which surveyed 2,000 people who were pregnant in the past two years, found that 77% of respondents used digital tools to help with their mental health, appointment scheduling, ovulation tracking, and more.

Keep reading here.—QS

Do you work in healthcare or have information about the industry that we should know? Email Quinn at [email protected]. For confidential conversations, ask Quinn for their number on Signal.

Clear your healthcare HR hurdles. Wondering how to tackle workforce shortages and regulatory compliance issues? Let Paylocity help. Their guide lays out how to win over (and keep) top talent, why it’s crucial to create a culture of engagement, and which processes are most primed for automation. Get your guide.