Read today’s Kaiser Health News
In other news:
Trump administration violated impoundment law by canceling NIH grants, slowing new awards, GAO finds: In a scathing report issued Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office found that the Trump administration, by abruptly canceling National Institutes of Health grants, had violated a 1974 law blocking presidents from withholding funding Congress has approved.
The independent congressional watchdog said that in terminating over 1,800 NIH grants in response to President Trump’s executive orders directing agencies to cut off federal funding for equity-related activities, the administration illegally withheld funds. In addition, the GAO found that the NIH’s $8 billion shortfall in new and continuing awards between February and July amounted to an illegal withholding of obligated funds.
About health insurance/insurers
44 health system-owned health plans FYI
Benefits provider Alight drops on revenue decline, nearly $1B impairment: Shares in Alight, the Chicago-based human resource services provider, dropped as much as 20% this morning following the release of second quarter results showing a decrease in revenue and a nearly $1 billion impairment charge.
CMS drops 3 final payment rules for 2026: 15 things to know FYI
About healthcare IT
Change Healthcare data breach toll reaches 192.7 million: The UnitedHealth Group claims processing subsidiary revealed the number, a few million more than its last estimate, in a letter to the New Hampshire Office of the Attorney General. The company was writing to say it could not find addresses for all patients impacted in the state.
About healthcare personnel
Physician costs, revenue climb 11% in lockstep: The average revenue and expenses per full time physician increased 11.4% year over year, according to Strata’s “Monthly Healthcare Industry Financial Benchmarks.” Average physician productivity also increased in the second quarter.
The physician specialties with the highest, lowest starting salaries FYI
About health technology
FDA formally kicks off medical device user fee negotiations: The FDA formally kicked off its quinquennial process to reauthorize the federal user fee legislation that helps fund its medical device reviews by hosting discussions with the medtech industry and patient advocates—and framing the task as an opportunity to further modernize the agency.