Healthcare Brew covers pharmaceutical developments, health startups, the latest tech, and how it impacts hospitals and providers to keep administrators and providers informed.

Healthcare Brew

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Healthcare Brew delivers the latest news and trends in healthcare.

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Biden administration bans asbestos as part of Cancer Moonshot initiative

Asbestos, a known carcinogen, is linked to more than 40,000 deaths a year. 

Maia Anderson

New bill aims to help providers identify patients at risk for suicide 

The legislation comes as suicide rates have increased dramatically.

Direct Care

illustrated headshot of caroline catherman, healthcare brew reporter

Caroline Catherman

Wondering who’s in and who’s out at major health companies, emerging startups, hospitals, and more? We’ve got you covered.

After more than four years as a regional CEO at UnitedHealthcare Community & State, the company made Cotton CEO of its Medicaid business, filling a role that now Optum Health COO Krista Nelson left in May, Becker’s Payer Issues 

The president and CEO of Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Sanford Health has been named as the American Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees chair-elect designate. He’ll serve as chair-elect of the trade group in 2026 and become chair in 2027.

 post, Hunter announced he’s now UnitedHealthcare’s CEO of government programs, an expansion of his previous role, CEO of Medicare and retirement.

Medications savings platform GoodRx has tapped Jensen as its chief commercial officer and president of pharma solutions, effective July 28, where she’ll manage and grow partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry. She was previously head of manufacturer and provider business development at Amazon Pharmacy.

 Xaira Therapeutics, a Brisbane, California-based biotech startup, appointed Jonker as president and COO on July 9. He previously served as president and CEO of drug discovery company Belharra Therapeutics.

Biotech startup Diagonal Therapeutics appointed the physician–scientist as its chief medical officer on July 8. He has held executive roles at Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb, and most recently was chief medical officer of another biotech startup, Nuevocor.

Bristol Myers Squibb turned to AstraZeneca for its new EVP, chief medical officer, and head of development. Massacesi—up until now, chief medical officer and oncology chief development officer for AstraZeneca—will take on the new roles on Aug. 1, when the old chief medical officer and head of development, Samit Hirawat, leaves.

 Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) tapped Muhsin to be the company’s EVP plus the president of its soon-to-begin Connected Care segment, which will focus on advanced analytics and AI solutions. Muhsin came to BD after 25 years at Masimo, a health tech and consumer electronics manufacturer.

The Stanford University school of medicine professor was appointed director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research on July 21.

Healthcare Brew's August on Rotation editorial feature

On Rotation: July 2025

We keep our fingers on the pulse of who’s moving where in the healthcare world.

The US recently hit a new record—and not a good one. The country has now seen more measles cases in 2025 than in any single year since the virus was 

As of July 29, there have been 1,333 confirmed measles cases in the US, according to the CDC. The previous record was 1,274 cases in 2019, which largely occurred in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York that had a 

Most of the cases this year (762) have been in Texas, connected to an 

 that started in January. New Mexico and Kansas are also seeing upticks in cases this year, with New Mexico reporting 96 as of July 24 and Kansas reporting 90 as of July 23.

 and deadly virus continuing to rise, Healthcare Brew asked executives across the healthcare industry how the spread of 

 is affecting their respective sectors as well as what health leaders can do to slow the spread.

Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Medical Center, told Healthcare Brew that while measles so far hasn’t significantly impaired the US healthcare system as a whole, the uptick in cases is putting a strain on local systems in outbreak areas, particularly in 

 “where we know that access to healthcare tends to be significantly less than in some urban areas.”

“It is important to remember and consider it is not only the population health of the growing measles epidemic but also the individual toll it takes,” Hawkinson said. “Getting sick or needing to be hospitalized significantly impacts each patient and typically their family.”

To help combat the spread of measles, he said hospital leaders and public health authorities need to “be vigilant in providing accurate, transparent messaging about potential risks of the measles, which could include death.

“While there is no treatment for measles itself, we have a very safe and effective preventative intervention with vaccination,” Hawkinson said. “It is a combination of these things—measles awareness, accurate messaging, access to healthcare and vaccination—that will help to combat the rise of measles cases.”

Brad Perkins, chief medical officer of Karius, a health tech company that focuses on infectious disease diagnostics, told us measles outbreaks are “exposing systemic vulnerabilities in vaccination coverage and public trust, undermining decades of progress in US measles control and elimination.”

“The resurgence of measles in the US is placing renewed strain on a healthcare system already stretched by chronic 

, persistent post-pandemic disruptions, and chronic budget uncertainties,” Perkins said.

Like Hawkinson, he stressed the need for health tech leaders to combat misinformation and support vaccine education.

“Leadership in this moment means advocating for evidence-based foundations of public health and the critical importance of routine childhood vaccinations,” he said.

Anita Patel, VP of pharmacy services development at Walgreens, told Healthcare Brew the growing number of measles cases in the US is a “reminder of how essential routine vaccinations are,” adding that the virus puts an “unnecessary strain on our healthcare systems and leads to avoidable hospitalizations and suffering.”

As pharmacies are one of the most common places where people are immunized, pharmacy leaders “play a critical role in vaccine education and access,” Patel said. 

Amy Compton-Phillips, EVP and chief medical officer at CVS Health, said the rise in measles cases are placing an “unnecessary strain” on the healthcare system, increasing costs by requiring additional staffing and resources.

Providers should “take steps to remind patients about the illness, its dangers, and the safe and effective ways to help prevent it,” she added. “Pharmacies can also play an important role in the fight against measles by reinforcing the importance of preventive vaccination for patients, particularly for those with known vaccination gaps.”

Alison Hunt, a spokesperson for GSK, a UK-based drugmaker that makes the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine Priorix, told us the company has been working with “local governments, healthcare providers, and public health partners” to boost vaccination rates in outbreak areas.

GSK has enough MMR vaccines for the current outbreaks, and the company is monitoring the situation to make sure it maintains an adequate supply, Hunt said.

Illustration of faces with one yellow one in the middle that has red spots around it

Healthcare execs on how the measles outbreak is affecting the industry 

Leaders from across tech, pharma, and hospitals say public health messaging is crucial as the virus spreads. 

Nicole Ortiz

Occasionally, we schedule our rounds with Healthcare Brew readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? 

 column, where we feature experts in the healthcare industry and highlight what they do, the challenges and misconceptions they face, and the parts of their jobs that bring them the most joy.

We spoke with Robert Andrews, CEO of the Health Transformation Alliance (HTA), a group of healthcare organizations working to provide better healthcare experiences for employees and their families. Before starting HTA, Andrews served as a member of the New Jersey House of Representatives for almost 25 years.

“Put simply, we’re all working together to do one thing: fix our broken healthcare system,” he told us about the company’s goals.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What’s the best change you’ve made at a place you’ve worked?

At the HTA, we have learned the immense value of saying a polite “no” when a potential partner’s services are not a good fit for our members. By embracing the practice of politely declining partnerships that do not align with our collective goals, we ensure that our valuable resources and efforts are focused on collaborations that have a higher probability of success and a positive impact. While it can be challenging to turn down opportunities, especially when a potential partner presents an appealing solution, we believe it is crucial to assess every opportunity for the greater good of the collective.

What’s the biggest misconception people might have about your job?

One of the most common misconceptions about our work at the HTA is that our sole focus is on saving money for employers. While it’s true that we do strive to achieve cost efficiencies, our primary mission is focused on the people we serve. We are passionately dedicated to driving meaningful change in the healthcare system by focusing on better health outcomes for millions of employees and their families.

What healthcare trend are you most optimistic about?

The growing emphasis on consumer-centric care signifies a pivotal step toward better healthcare outcomes. When healthcare services are tailored to meet the needs and preferences of the patients, it fosters a stronger sense of engagement and empowerment among individuals. This, in turn, can lead to higher levels of adherence to treatment plans, increased participation in preventive care, and, ultimately, better health outcomes.

As more and more consumers demand convenient healthcare delivery, it can also act as a catalyst for innovation in the industry. Healthcare providers and systems may respond to this demand by adopting and integrating technologies that enhance access to care, such as telemedicine, remote monitoring devices, and digital health platforms. These advancements can break down barriers to access, making healthcare more readily available to a broader population, including those in remote or underserved areas.

What healthcare trend are you least optimistic about?

While the intention behind making pricing information more transparent is noble, there are two key reasons why I am cautious about its impact.

Firstly, the process of obtaining and disseminating accurate and comprehensive price data is taking far too long. The implementation of price transparency initiatives has faced significant challenges, including data collection, standardization, and collaboration between various healthcare stakeholders. As a result, the information made available to consumers might not be as up-to-date or as comprehensive as needed to make fully informed decisions.

Secondly, the publication of price data in the absence of quality data raises concerns about potential unintended consequences. While knowing the price of healthcare services is essential, it is equally vital to consider the quality of care being offered. Relying solely on price data without accompanying information about the quality of services or outcomes may lead patients to make decisions based on cost alone, overlooking critical aspects like provider expertise, treatment effectiveness, and patient safety.

Health Transformation Alliance CEO Robert Andrews

Health Transformation Alliance CEO Robert Andrews on what led him to leave his government role and found the collective

The group of health organizations is trying to “fix our broken healthcare system,” CEO  Robert Andrews says.

Health Transformation Alliance CEO on what led him to leave his government role and found the collective

Medical debt will be allowed to remain on consumer credit reports after a Texas federal judge overturned a rule on July 11 that would have banned the information from being used to determine someone’s credit worthiness.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) 

 in June 2024 and finalized it this January in an effort to shield consumers from the negative consequences of high medical costs. Rohit Chopra, who was the CFPB director at the time, said in a statement “medical bills on credit reports too often are inaccurate and have little to no predictive value when it comes to repaying other loans.”

The Biden-era CFPB estimated last year that roughly 15 million people in the US had a combined $49 billion in medical debt that was negatively affecting their credit scores. In 2021, about 8% of all US adults had medical debt totaling at least $220 billion, according to the 

Though the rule was set to take effect this March, two credit agency trade groups—Cornerstone Credit Union League and the Consumer Data Industry Association—sued the CFPB, arguing only Congress has the power to pass such a change.

A court order delayed the rule’s implementation, and in April, the CFPB, now under the Trump administration, 

 the credit agency plaintiffs in asking for it to be thrown out.

US District Judge Sean Jordan of the Eastern District of Texas sided with the plaintiffs, agreeing the CFPB had exceeded its authority when it passed the rule.

“As it stands, [the Fair Credit Reporting Act] authorizes [credit reporting agencies] to include information about a consumer’s medical debts in consumer reports when properly coded to conceal the name of the provider and the nature of the services provided. It also permits creditors to use that information to determine a consumer’s credit eligibility,” Jordan wrote in his decision.

 Colin Reusch, director of policy at Community Catalyst, a nonprofit that advocates for an equitable health system, said in a July 16 statement Jordan’s ruling is a “disappointing setback.”

“The CFPB’s rule would have kept unfair, often inaccurate medical bills from destroying people’s credit scores. Instead, a court sided with corporate profiteers rather than the public,” he said.

A group of senators, including Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, were also seemingly not pleased with the judge’s decision, saying in a July 18 

 they would “push” the CFPB to release information on why it decided to drop the rule.

On the other side, Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association—one of the credit agencies that sued the CFPB—reportedly told 

 in a statement that “information about unpaid medical debts is an important element in assessing a consumer’s ability to pay. This is the right outcome for protecting the integrity of the system.”

Ge Bai, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Healthcare Brew last year when the rule was proposed that it may be bad news for hospitals, as it could make it harder to collect unpaid debts.

“Once hospitals know that the chance for them to collect debt becomes lower, they will have to take other actions to remedy. That actually will make it harder for low-income patients to access care,” Bai told us.

Two business hands shaking with money in between falling out. (Credit: Illustration: Anna Kim, Photos: Adobe Stock)

Federal judge overturns rule barring medical debt from credit reports 

Under the Biden administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said medical debt had little value in determining credit worthiness. 

In this edition, we’re featuring dental artificial intelligence (AI) startup Overjet’s Chief Dental Officer Teresa Dolan, who oversees real-world applications of its AI platform.

How would you describe your specific job to someone who doesn’t work in healthcare?

I oversee a team of experienced dentists who collaborate closely with our engineers, machine learning scientists, and product teams. We guide how the AI is trained and evaluated so that it can accurately detect dental disease from X-rays and data from the patient’s record. I also bring in feedback from the field. I spend a lot of time speaking with dental practices, DSOs [dental service organizations], and insurers to understand what’s working, what’s broken, and where AI can genuinely help.

So while I’m responsible for ensuring clinical accuracy, I’m equally focused on usefulness. If a feature is technically impressive but doesn’t make a dentist’s life easier or improve care, we rethink it.

What’s the best change you’ve seen at a place you’ve worked?

The shift from building tools in isolation to developing solutions alongside clinicians. That’s been a major turning point, both for Overjet and the broader industry.

Early on, a lot of health tech companies focused heavily on what was possible with technology. They weren’t always solving real problems, or they built things that didn’t fit into clinical workflows. Now, there’s a much stronger feedback loop between the people developing the product and the people using it.

Preventive care, especially when it’s supported by personalized data. We’re getting better at identifying risk earlier, and that changes everything.

Historically, much of dentistry has been reactive. A patient comes in with a problem, and we fix it. But when we can identify risk factors early, through imaging, genomics, patient history, and now AI, we can intervene before disease progresses. That’s better for the patient and more efficient for the system.

AI plays a key role here. It can highlight subtle changes on an X-ray, flag missed diagnoses, and show patients exactly what’s happening in their mouths in a visual, understandable way. That transparency helps patients engage earlier and more actively in their care.

The average dental student now graduates with $350,000 in debt. That limits their choices. Many feel pressured to enter private practice immediately, often in high-income areas, just to manage their loans. That’s understandable, but it makes it harder to recruit dentists into underserved communities, academia, or public health, all areas where we need more investment.

It also impacts diversity. Students from lower-income backgrounds may not even consider dentistry because of the up-front cost. And without diverse perspectives in the profession, we risk missing important cultural, linguistic, and community-specific aspects of care.

If we want to reduce disparities and expand access to oral healthcare, we need to address the financial barriers that are shaping who enters the field and what roles they pursue.

Headshot of Overjet's Chief Dental Officer Teresa Dolan

This AI platform is working with clinicians to shift dentistry toward preventative care

Chief Dental Officer Teresa Dolan talks AI and how the dental industry is evolving.

The CDC’s Division of Oral Health has been gone since April 1, and dentists are lining up to do what they do best: fill the cavity left in its absence.

 Healthcare Brew they hope private industry will supplement the CDC’s canceled work, and now it appears that’s happening.

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS), an international membership organization, announced Tuesday it’s starting a group called the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science to pick up where the CDC left off.

In the federal oral health division’s absence, the group wants to oversee industry guidelines for infection control in dental healthcare settings, according to a release. These guidelines cover everything from how to sterilize instruments to which PPE to wear. Though not inherently mandatory, some states have made these rules part of laws that govern dental professionals, Michelle Lee, who will serve as the institute’s executive director and currently serves as ADS executive director, told us.

“We stepped forward and said: There is no one to oversee this guidance now, and so we would like to step in,” Lee said.

The last major update to these guidelines was in 2003, with several new recommendations published in a 2016 supplement. Lee said a CDC workgroup was drafting new guidance on dental unit waterlines in collaboration with organizations like ADS before its efforts were shut down, and the new group hopes to continue that work.

“Guidelines don’t change all the time, but they do need to be tweaked. Things might need to be added,” Lee said.

Lee said she plans for the group to include an advisory panel of 10 healthcare professionals. She estimates the group will need about $2 million to cover its costs for three years, including administrative spending and hiring experts as paid staff, and is looking to private foundations for potential grant funding.

There are a number of other things the CDC’s division did that this new institute won’t do, though, she said. For instance, the division collected data and supported initiatives like free school sealant programs, according to the American Dental Association.

“I’m hopeful that others will step up. We’re taking the lead on this piece, and maybe it will encourage others,” Lee said.

If the CDC ever did take up this task again in the future, the organization “would welcome that,” Lee added.

Some in the federal government do not seem as enthusiastic about the effort, however.

“This self-appointed group is masquerading as oversight. This department will continue to be the statutory and regulatory authority guiding national industry standards for safe oral healthcare,” HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon told us in an email.

Digital generated image of flat lay tooth with dental mirror on blue background.

Private group wants to take over previously CDC-led dentistry guidelines 

Tired: CDC. Wired: Private groups.

We’re a little over halfway through 2025, and it’s safe to say this year has seen a lot of movement and 

So we decided to check in with some execs we spoke with at the beginning of the year about where they’re at with the goals they 

These interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Brian Evanko, president and COO, the Cigna Group

The first half of 2025 has proven that the US healthcare system remains highly dynamic, and we continue to innovate and evolve rapidly to meet the needs of our customers, clients, clinician partners, and all those we serve. We’ve accelerated our work to leverage data, advanced analytics, and emerging AI capabilities to improve our customers’ experiences as part of our “Commitment to Better” [initiative] launched earlier this year, and we just announced an AI-powered virtual assistant and a suite of other digital features to help Cigna Healthcare customers navigate their healthcare more easily. These are just examples of the actions we are taking to make healthcare simpler, more personalized, and more technologically enabled. We still have work to do, but I am proud of the progress we are making.

Chris McKee, SVP, chief strategy and business development officer, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

We’ve made progress on many key priorities that allow us to continue to deliver exceptional patient care, to define the leading edge of cancer treatment and research, and to advance the development of new and improved clinical facilities. Notable examples include:

In May, we announced a transformational $150 million gift from Kinder Foundation to create Kinder Children’s Cancer Center, a joint venture of UT MD Anderson and Texas Children’s.

MD Anderson launched its Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery and Innovation in November 2024 to build upon longstanding expertise and to lead the world in advancing impactful cell therapies for patients in need.

Construction continues on our fifth research science building as well as multiple facilities in the Texas Medical Center and Greater Houston Area, and we continue planning for our future comprehensive cancer in Austin.

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