
The expiration of ACA tax credits threatens $32 billion in healthcare revenue, risking coverage for millions and increasing uncompensated care costs.

Briana Contreras is an editor at Managed Healthcare Executive, where she covers the clinical, business and policy developments that matter to payers and health plan leaders, with an additional focus in multiple clinical spaces. Her reporting spans from new cancer therapies and clinical trial data to drug affordability and biosimilars, pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and health plan operations, giving healthcare executives clear context on how new evidence can affect coverage and care decisions.
Experience:
Before joining MHE in 2019, Briana was a reporter at The Morning Journal in Lorain, Ohio, west of Cleveland, where she covered local government, community news and the issues affecting residents across Lorain and Erie counties. She reported on city council, downtown redevelopment, library and school projects, local business, nonprofits and breaking news in Elyria, Lorain and nearby communities.
Education:
Briana graduated from Cleveland State University with a B.A. in Journalism and Promotional Communication.

The expiration of ACA tax credits threatens $32 billion in healthcare revenue, risking coverage for millions and increasing uncompensated care costs.

MedImpact launches a performance-driven PMPM pricing model, enhancing cost predictability and accountability for health plans amid rising pharmacy expenses.

FDA rejects Rexulti's approval for PTSD treatment, citing insufficient evidence of effectiveness in combination with sertraline. Otsuka and Lundbeck announced they are planning next steps.

Judi Health redefines health benefit management with a $400 million funding boost, enhancing transparency and efficiency for employers and health plans.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE) surge in the U.S., with New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) becoming a major public health threat.

Employers adapt healthcare strategies amid rising costs, focusing on specialty drugs and chronic conditions to enhance employee wellbeing and control expenses.

Merck's Keytruda Qlex offers a groundbreaking subcutaneous cancer treatment, enhancing patient convenience with faster administration and broader access to immunotherapy.

Opzelura gains FDA approval as the first topical JAK inhibitor for children with atopic dermatitis, offering a steroid-free treatment option.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices pulled back its recommendation concerning a shot that combines the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine with one for varicella. A vote on the hepatitis B vaccine at birth was postponed until tomorrow.

ACIP's upcoming meeting addresses vital vaccine updates, including COVID-19 and MMRV, while introducing new members to enhance public health transparency.

Povorcitinib shows promising results for hidradenitis suppurativa, offering significant lesion reduction and pain relief in recent phase 3 trials.

Parents express mixed feelings about COVID-19 vaccines, revealing a significant divide in trust and safety perceptions, according to a KFF survey analysis.

A recent study revealed that hidradenitis suppurativa affects 1% of the global population, highlighting significant gender disparities and the need for further research.

Jennifer Walsh of George Washington University’s School of Nursing warned that limiting COVID-19 vaccine approvals to older adults and high-risk groups could heighten disparities, reduce access and leave vulnerable populations at greater risk of infection and severe outcomes.

Discover groundbreaking research on hard-to-treat skin conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa and vitiligo at the EADV 2025 Congress in Paris.

The FDA's groundbreaking decision to waive clinical efficacy studies for a monoclonal antibody biosimilar revolutionizes drug approval, reducing costs and enhancing patient access.

Parents are facing mixed messages on back-to-school vaccines, with David Dodd of GeoVax urging families to prioritize required school shots first, then flu and RSV, while weighing COVID-19 decisions with their pediatrician amid conflicting federal and pediatric guidance.

Provider-sponsored health plans thrive in the evolving ACA market, offering trusted, community-based coverage and efficient care coordination as major insurers exit.

Early immune aging signals emerge in individuals at risk for rheumatoid arthritis, highlighting potential pathways for early intervention and disease prevention.

Joe Boyle shared proactive compliance strategies for PBMs at PBMI 2025, highlighting the need to adapt to evolving regulations for sustainable growth.

PBMs navigate increasing regulatory demands for transparency, as Joe Boyle stressed the need for robust data management and strategic compliance at PBMI 2025.

At the PBMI 2025 Conference, ClearFile president Joe Boyle encouraged PBMs to attend NAIC meetings, stressing that showing up and maintaining relationships with regulators is critical for long-term success.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces bipartisan scrutiny over vaccine policies, Medicare costs and rural healthcare during a Senate hearing.

Employers face rising healthcare costs and specialty drug challenges, prompting a shift towards strategic partnerships with PBMs for better solutions, according to Karen van Caulil, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value, who chatted with MHE in the final installment of a two-part video interview.

Employers are demanding more transparency and partnership from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), according to Karen van Caulil, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value, who spoke with MHE ahead of her remarks at the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute’s annual meeting in Orlando.

Healthcare organizations face ongoing challenges like burnout and inefficiency, but a shift towards integrated technology and collaboration offers hope for improvement.

COVID-19 reveals significant political polarization in public health, impacting vaccine attitudes and infection concerns among Democrats and Republicans.

Proposed premium increases in the ACA Marketplace for 2026 surge due to rising healthcare costs, specialty drug prices and subsidy uncertainties, according to a recent KFF analysis.

A new study shows Medicare can pay plans more fairly for caring for people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds without breaking the system.

Experts criticize the FDA's narrow COVID-19 vaccine approval, warning it limits access and undermines public health amid rising hospitalization rates.