Here are some of Healthcare Brew’s top stories from the first half of the year

Our readers have spoken, and they’re saying, “Healthcare Brew is our favorite healthcare news source, hands down!” And then there’s lots of confetti and cheering and general merriment.

Or at least that’s what we’re picturing as we reflect back on some of our top-read stories from the first half of the year.

Here’s a look at five of our most-read stories since January and what they delved into.

5. Prior authorization gold cards might need a new prescription by Caroline Catherman

Did you know that some payers offered gold cards to help address long prior authorization wait times? Well, we took a look at what they were and if they were actually working to address the issue. (Spoiler: They’re not really helping much so far.)

4. Walgreens sells to private equity firm Sycamore Partners by Nicole Ortiz

The retail pharmacy world has been tumultuous since the pandemic was deemed over, and two years later, Walgreens officially announced its sale to a private equity (PE) group. We looked into what the company’s biggest hurdle has been (*cough* VillageMD *cough*) and what analysts think this could mean for future PE activity in the space.

3. 700+ rural hospitals at risk of closing by Cassie McGrath

We’ve seen a lot of closures and changes in rural areas, including among maternal health facilities and specialty care centers. A report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform revealed a shockingly high number of potential future closures, and we provided some additional analysis about what’s happening at an Alabama facility.

2. DOGE comes for CMS, staffing by Cassie McGrath

The news cycle has been relentless since January with lots of changes coming under the Trump administration. This piece is one of our many analyses on how things like staffing reductions, grant cuts, and potential tariffs could impact the industry.

1. Healthcare union alleges Kaiser Permanente illegally uses unlicensed clerks to direct mental health care by Maia Anderson

Not only was this story our most-read so far this year, it’s actually our most-read story of all time! The National Union of Healthcare Workers filed a complaint against California’s Kaiser Permanente, and we spoke with both sides to get an idea of what’s been going on.