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The booking feature is now live for all Blue Shield employer-sponsored plans, Individual and Family Plans and Medicare members. The tool provides access to more than 1 million bookable appointment hours across a 90-day window.

The United States has twice the postpartum hemorrhage mortality rate of other developed countries, which is why it’s essential to create and maintain safety protocols during obstetric emergencies, according to Abigail Wooldridge, assistant professor of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering at The University of Illinois.

Although some HIV programs will remain, the proposed cuts in the fiscal year 2026 budget are too severe and will hinder HIV care and research in the United States, according to Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

Gen Z was the age group most likely to spend the money on GLP-1 agonists; still, only 27% would.

Bonnie Hui-Callahan, Pharm.D., says her career took off after not matching for a pharmacy residency—a setback that taught her resilience and led her to a better fit the second time around.

Here’s what you missed this week on Managed Healthcare Executive.

In a new Wolters Kluwer report, it was revealed that 80% of respondents cited “optimizing workflows” as a top organizational goal, but only 63% felt prepared to use GenAI to achieve that.

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country, a crisis perpetuated by the lack of federal funding of pregnancy research, according to a review published in JAMA Health Forum.

Matthew Helbling says the turning point in his pharmacy career came when he took on a pilot program for medication therapy management—and discovered the power of connecting more deeply with patients.

The Teal Wand was recently approved by the FDA as the first self-collection device to screen for cervical cancer, a major step forward for accessible women’s health, according to Rahma S. Mkuu, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Although 52% of healthcare leaders believe a fatal cyber-related patient incident will happen within the next five years, cybersecurity was not ranked as a top business challenge, according to the results of Omega Systems’ 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report.

Esteban Gallardo, Pharm.D., said his career path changed after early mentorship showed him how managed care pharmacists could make a broader impact on a larger scale.

How pharmaceutical tariffs could reshape drug pricing, supply chains and domestic production in the United States, according to Eric Tichy, Pharm.D., M.B.A., vice chair of pharmacy formulary at the Mayo Clinic Health System.

Lack of insurance, financial instability and even fear are potential reasons women may forego their cervical cancer screening appointments, according to Rahma S. Mkuu, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Approximately 57% of Americans are lonely, with younger generations, Gen Z and Millennials, reporting higher levels than older Americans, a recent Cigna survey shows.

Here’s what you missed this week on Managed Healthcare Executive.

In a recent conversation with Managed Healthcare Executive, Hunter shared reflections on his tenure, the challenges of expanding impact through partnerships and what he believes sets CareOregon apart from typical insurance organizations.

Alcon, a global eye care company known for products such as Systane and GenTeal Tears, plans to launch Tryptyr in the U.S. market in the third quarter of 2025. International rollouts are expected to follow.

This number can be attributed to claim denials, high deductibles and the underutilization of digital tools available within plans, according to the 2025 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study from J.D. Power.

Pharmacy costs and outpatient facility care generate 69% of the cost increase for 2025, according to Milliman’s recent Medical Index.

In a conversation with Managed Healthcare Executive, Hunter expressed that work requirements are an effective way to manage Medicaid eligibility, but what is proposed will cause more harm to those who can't afford commercial healthcare.

A growing trend towards pharmaceutical outpatient treatment spending is driven by accessibility, according to Eric Tichy, Pharm.D., M.B.A., vice chair of pharmacy formulary at the Mayo Clinic Health System.

Jason R. Smith, Pharm.D., appointed as chief pharmacy officer in February 2025 for the University of Rochester Medical Center, talks about building a stronger workforce, managing drug shortages and keeping up with changes in regulations because of the new administration.

Almost half (48%) of HIV patients sometimes feel unheard by their healthcare providers, which highlights a need for increased disease awareness, according to the early results of a new ViiV Healthcare survey.

In this second part of a video series, Managed Healthcare Executive caught up with CareOregon CEO Eric C. Hunter, who voiced concern about the consequences of rising anti-DEI views and potential federal funding cuts.

Eric C. Hunter, president and CEO of CareOregon, spoke with Managed Healthcare Executive about the state’s innovative programs and the risks posed by uncertain federal funding.

In this final interview of a three-part video series, Jeffrey Casberg, M.S., vice president of clinical pharmacy at IPD Analytics, told MHE, in response to our recent annual Pharmacy Survey results, that FDA drug approval delays due to government cuts are happening but not widespread yet. He added that early signs and staffing challenges suggest the situation could worsen over time.