Breaking the cycle: reimagining care coordination for communities too often left behind
(Sentara Health – March 16, 2026)

Designing healthcare programs for vulnerable individuals has never been just a professional responsibility for me—it’s personal. As a mother to a daughter who is also a parent and who has struggled with substance use, I have seen how quickly stigma can compound suffering. I’ve watched how complicated systems, rigid rules, and fragmented care can push people further away from the help they need, even when support technically exists. That experience shaped how I think about healthcare—and it ultimately shaped how we approach care coordination at Sentara Health Plans.

Inside the expressive arts class at Sentara Brock Cancer Center
(Sentara Health – March 16, 2026)

On the first and third Wednesday of each month, a quiet room at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center fills with the soft scratch of pens, the rustle of paper, and sometimes, even tears and laughter. For many cancer patients and survivors, The Mindful Journaling class, led by instructor Lisa Cooper, becomes a lifeline. “A lot of the people come here and say, “I just can’t go on another day. This cancer and chemo is too much,’” said Cooper, an instructor with The Muse Writing Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

Riverside Health and UVA Health Continue to Advance Strategic Alliance with New Cardiac Surgeon
(Riverside Health – March 16, 2026)

Riverside Health and UVA Health are expanding their strategic alliance to improve access to advanced, lifesaving care in Eastern Virginia by adding a new cardiac surgeon to Riverside’s established heart and lung surgery team. As part of the ongoing collaboration, Dr. Dimitrios Pousios has joined Riverside Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, in affiliation with UVA Health, working alongside long-standing Riverside surgeons Dr. Paul Evans and Dr. Robert Strange. The expanded team enhances access to highly specialized heart and lung care for patients served at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

Shopping Cart Safety Tips for Families
(Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters – March 16, 2026)

We’ve all been there, navigating grocery aisles with a wiggly toddler while checking items off a never-ending shopping list. Shopping carts are a major convenience, but did you know they are also among the leading causes of head injuries in young children? Thousands of children are treated in emergency departments every year for falls from shopping carts. These accidents often happen in the blink of an eye, usually when a child stands up in the seat or tries to climb out.

Sovah Health – Martinsville Announces Bee Award Winner
(Sovah Health – March 16, 2026)

Sara Belle, a Clinical Associate on the fourth floor at Sovah Health – Martinsville, was recently honored with The BEE Award for her exceptional attentiveness and dedication to patient care. The BEE Award recognizes support staff members who go above and beyond to create a positive and compassionate experience for patients, families and colleagues. Sara was nominated for the award after demonstrating keen observation while assisting with routine patient care. While giving a patient a bath, Sara noticed the patient’s right breast appeared larger and firmer than the other and had an orange peel consistency. Recognizing the change as unusual, she immediately brought it to the attention of the care team so the patient could be further assessed. The patient also shared that she had a family history of early breast cancer in her mother and she has been experiencing other abnormal symptoms.

UVA Health CIO flags tech debt, IT restructuring as early priorities
(Becker’s Hospital Review – March 16, 2026)

Six weeks into his new role, UVA Health CIO Sonney Sapra says the Charlottesville, Va.-based academic health system must address foundational technology challenges, including technical debt, before accelerating more advanced digital innovation. “From a technology perspective, we’re an aspiring organization with some technical debt. We have ambitious goals, including becoming more innovative, advancing smart room capabilities and improving the patient experience,” Mr. Sapra told Becker’s. “At the same time, we still have foundational needs to address, such as ensuring nurses have the right devices in their hands.”

Virginia Beach firefighter reunites with first responders who saved his life after stroke
(13 News Now – March 15, 2026)

A Virginia Beach firefighter and EMT is sharing his story of survival, and reminding others how recognizing the signs of a stroke can save lives. On Sunday, 35-year-old Biersan Gomez reunited with the first responders and medical teams who helped save his life after he suffered a stroke while teaching a welding class at Corporate Landing Middle School in November 2025. The emotional reunion took place at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, where Gomez was able to thank the dozens of people who played a role in his care. “I’m forever grateful for every person who played a part in saving him that day,” said Gomez’s partner, Cynthia Curyel.

Virginia sees ‘high’ level of influenza-like illnesses: CDC
(WAVY – March 16, 2026)

Virginia is recording high activity levels of influenza-like illnesses, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Per CDC data, the number of emergency visits for respiratory illnesses during the week of March 7 was at 11,126. This makes up about 11.1% of all emergency visits in Virginia. Among all emergency department visits in Virginia last week, 2.5% or 1,984 patients were diagnosed with the flu.

CT hospitals are struggling under financial strain. ‘We cannot continue to do more with less’
(Hartford Courant – March 16, 2026)

Facing rising costs for labor, supplies and prescription drugs and a $3 billion gap between the cost of care and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, advocates and lawmakers say that some Connecticut hospitals are in a fragile state. Further, The Connecticut Hospital Association, medical doctors Sen. Saud Anwar, the co-chair of the Public Health Committee and Sen. Jeff Gordon, also a member of the committee, have voiced concerns about Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget proposal, which would impose $100 million more in taxes on hospitals if implemented, according to the CHA.

Kansas prepares to update Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility stuck in 2008
(News from the States – March 14, 2026)

Kansas is the only state where eligibility for the Children’s Health Insurance Program is tied to 2008. The government-funded program that provides low-cost insurance for children who don’t quite meet Medicaid income requirements is determined by whether a family makes under 250% the federal poverty level from 2008. Yes, 2008 — 18 years ago. Back then, the federal poverty level for a family of four was $21,200 annually. In 2026, it is $33,000. Band-Aid fixes over the past few years have addressed the problem, but a bill that secured unanimous 40-0 Senate approval officially ditches the 2008 provision. The House passed an amended version 119-0. The bill changes eligibility to anyone making under 250% the current federal poverty level. Eligibility will therefore expand from a family of four making under $53,000 to under $82,500.

Montana: Medicaid eligibility rule changes will take effect July 1, state health officials say
(Montana Public Radio – March 13, 2026)

Last year, Congress passed President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. That legislation increased eligibility checks and added work requirements for people on Medicaid. Montana is overhauling its Medicaid system so it can verify whether people are working or meet a myriad of exemptions. States have until next year to implement the new rules. Jessie Counts with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services told lawmakers this week that Montana will start July 1. “We will be one of the few states in the nation that are able to go forward as an early adopter,” she said.

Nearly $200M federal rural health grant in limbo in Idaho Legislature
(News from the States – March 16, 2026)

Idaho was awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding this summer to improve rural health care, but exactly how the state will use that money remains a debate among state lawmakers. Meanwhile, leaders at Idaho’s rural hospitals are increasingly concerned the state may lose out on the money as those hospitals face critical needs for new equipment or other infrastructure upgrades.

Vermonters adjust to a health care landscape without Medicare Advantage
(News from the States – March 16, 2026)

After decades of self-employment and buying her own health insurance, Ruth Miller of Chittenden County felt “relief” at turning 65 and transitioning into Medicare. With a Medicare Advantage plan through BlueCross BlueShield, she was finally able to get the “much-needed” cataract surgery that she’d long delayed. She got a bone density scan, a minor surgery and her cheap generic prescription covered. She paid modest co-pays and no additional premium for the Advantage plan. Then, at the end of 2025, BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont stopped offering any of its Medicare Advantage plans in the state. UnitedHealth care did the same, leaving only a smattering of Humana plans in select counties as practically the only remaining Advantage plans Vermonters could opt into.

In Switching to Original Medicare, Beware of Medigap Plan Refusals
(KFF Health News – March 16, 2026)

It’s open enrollment season for Medicare Advantage, when people currently enrolled in private managed-care plans can either sign up for a new one or switch to original Medicare through March 31. But there’s a catch: If people want to move to original Medicare and buy a supplemental Medigap insurance plan to cover some out-of-pocket costs, they may not be able to. Medigap insurers can generally refuse coverage to applicants whose medical history or current health problems might make them expensive to cover, a process called medical underwriting. “We really want people to factor that in,” said Kata Kertesz, managing policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “If someone is in a Medicare Advantage plan for several years and then wants to switch to original Medicare, they may find they can’t switch and also get a Medigap plan.”

The feds will overpay Medicare Advantage plans by $76B this year, MedPAC estimates
(Fierce Healthcare – March 13, 2026)

The federal government will pay $76 billion more for individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage than it would have for enrollees in the traditional program, according to a new report. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its March report (PDF) to Congress this week, where it also weighed in on annual payment changes for providers. The advisory group said that favorable selection and coding intensity are the largest factors driving up payments in Medicare Advantage. In the former case, individuals with risk scores that overpredict what they’ll spend on care enroll in an MA plan, and they generally cost less to cover than an individual in traditional Medicare.

When Changing Your Address Leads to Losing Your Medicare Coverage
(The New York Times – March 14, 2026)

Using a post office box shouldn’t cost you your health insurance. But in one woman’s case, it sure seemed to. To help manage her mother’s care, Ms. Antoine set up a grueling routine of drives between St. Louis, where she lived, and Texas, where her mother was. She made the 12-hour trip every week, either down or back, staying in Texas for a week at a time.

1 in 3 say they cut back elsewhere to pay for health care: Survey
(The Hill – March 12, 2026)

Roughly one-third of Americans cut back on at least one daily expense to afford health care last year, according to a new West Health/Gallup survey. The poll, released Wednesday, found that about 33 percent of the 19,535 respondents surveyed cut back on an expense to pay for health care. That is the equivalent of more than 82 million Americans. The poll was conducted from June 9 through Aug. 25. It has a margin of error of 1.3 percent. Among those who do not have health insurance, 62 percent said they made such trade-offs. Nearly 3 in 10 with insurance said they made at least one sacrifice.

As US measles cases top 1,300, report details last year’s outbreak in New Mexico
(CIDRAP – March 13, 2026)

The US measles total grew by 81 cases this week, to 1,362 confirmed infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update. In addition, yesterday local and federal officials detailed New Mexico’s response to its 99-case measles outbreak last year, including a 55% increase in uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to a paper in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Can a groundbreaking cancer therapy help people with multiple sclerosis?
(Yahoo News – March 15, 2026)

Grace Miller was a 24-year-old law school student when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For years prior, she’d had severe fatigue, which a neurologist initially suspected was caused by narcolepsy. When she was struck with bouts of vertigo and eventually temporary vision loss, the doctor determined the correct diagnosis. Miller, now 46, of Fishers, Indiana, spent 15 years on two different medications that made her feel sick every time she got a new dose. Her vision has faded in and out over the years, and in 2021, the mother of two started walking with a cane.

Hack on U.S. Medical Company Shows Reach of Iran’s Cyber Capabilities
(The Wall Street Journal – March 15, 2026)

Iran pulled off likely the most significant wartime cyberattack against the U.S. in history, leveraging its hacking powers to cause major disruptions at a global medical-equipment firm that struggled to bring itself back online in recent days. The attack brought a conflict that until now had been largely confined to the Gulf region to the American homeland and offered a preview of the potential for how Iran may broaden its response to the U.S. and Israeli military campaign. Stryker, the Michigan-based firm hit in the hack, said it experienced “global disruption” and quickly contained it. The company said it believed the incident had been limited to its internal Microsoft systems. The company added that some hospitals may be experiencing temporary pauses in transmissions of medical data, but that its connected products “are not impacted and are safe to use.” Microsoft hasn’t commented on the hack.

Healthcare’s night shift workers ‘systematically’ feel less safe, supported than peers: Press Ganey
(Fierce Healthcare – March 16, 2026)

Nearly half of the nation’s healthcare employees have low perceptions of safety culture at their organization, and that opinion varies substantially between workers on different shift schedules, according to a new report from Press Ganey. The group’s findings, part of a broader analysis extending to topics of workplace violence and preventable patient harm, emphasize the “pitfalls of three hospitals under one roof.” Across all areas of safety culture, day shift staff describe an experience “that is consistently the strongest” among their peers, according to the group’s “State of Healthcare Safety 2026” analysis. Weekend shift staff are roughly aligned with day shift workers when grading their perception of “resources and teamwork” but fell behind somewhat on reporting measures tied to “prevention and reporting” and “pride and reputation.”

HIMSS26: The Risks and Rewards of Agentic Artificial Intelligence
(Health Tech Magazine – March 16, 2026)

From prior authorizations to patient outreach, agentic artificial intelligence has the potential to automate tasks — giving clinicians and administrators time back in their days. However, the nature of agentic AI means it acts independently, which can create risk in healthcare workflows. To take advantage of the benefits created by agentic AI, healthcare organizations need to implement tools with proper governance in place that centers human verification.

Prescribing improv to improve patient-doctor relationships
(Wisconsin Public Radio – March 10, 2026)

When you see your health professional, chances are you’re not looking for laughs. But in all seriousness, it’s possible that your doctor or nurse has taken an improv comedy class to get better at treating you. Amy Zelenski, associate professor and director of Education Innovation and Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, teaches an elective class in improvisational theater.

Scientists create a cancer flashlight that lights up tumors
(Science Daily – March 16, 2026)

Researchers have developed a tiny antibody that can find a common cancer protein and make tumors light up during PET scans. In tests with mice, tumors containing the protein EphA2 glowed clearly when the antibody was used. This could help doctors quickly identify patients who may benefit from new targeted cancer treatments. The method may also provide a faster and less invasive alternative to traditional testing.

The nursing exodus: Can hospitals survive the workforce cliff?
(HealthLeaders Media – March 16, 2026)

CNOs need to look beyond the scope of the hospital if they want the workforce to survive the modern healthcare landscape. The healthcare workforce crisis has been widely discussed, but few issues are as urgent or complex as the growing exodus of nurses from the profession. In our March 2026 HealthLeaders cover story, CNO editor G Hatfield explores this trend in depth, examining the forces pushing nurses away from bedside care and what nurse leaders must do to stabilize the workforce. Across the country, hospitals and health systems are grappling with persistent staffing shortages, high burnout, and growing dissatisfaction among frontline clinicians. Research suggests that more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022, and as many as 40% of nurses say they may leave the profession within the next five years—a trend driven largely by stress, heavy workloads, and systemic workplace challenges.

CMS opens grant applications for MAHA ELEVATE lifestyle medicine model
(Fierce Healthcare – March 16, 2026)

The Trump administration has opened grant applications for a new model that aims to offer Medicare coverage to functional and lifestyle medicine providers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled that Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence, or MAHA ELEVATE, in December. Interested participants seeking grants under the model must submit a Letter of Intent by April 10, with the final application deadline set for May 15. In a funding notice issued on March 13, the agency said it is planning to select 30 participants for the model to receive a collective $100 million of funding. CMS said that these participants will be split into two cohorts, one for the 2026 model year and one for 2027.

CMS’ New Approach to Federal Medicaid Spending in Cases of Potential Fraud
(KFF – March 16, 2026)

The current administration is placing a new emphasis on potential fraud in Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS’) current efforts are focused on Minnesota and three other states with Democratic governors (California, Maine, and New York). The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has also sent requests for information about potential Medicaid fraud to 11 states (the 4 CMS is focused on and 7 others, including 2 with Republican governors). CMS has historically partnered with states to identify and resolve issues of fraud, waste, and abuse, and denied the federal share of Medicaid spending when fraud has been identified by an audit, investigation, or reported by the state. However, CMS has recently announced a new approach to fraud that will rely more heavily on options to pause or withhold significant amounts of federal funding in cases of potential fraud, which could have broad implications for states and enrollees. This issue brief explains the new approach.

The Trump health care policy red and blue states are embracing
(Politico – March 15, 2026)

More states are encouraging businesses to help employees sign up for Obamacare. They’re using a policy backed by President Donald Trump — the same Donald Trump who spent much of the fall deriding Obamacare as the “Unaffordable Care Act” — to do it. Trump issued those broadsides to explain why he didn’t support an extension of government subsidies that made Obamacare plans more affordable for millions. Those subsidies have now expired, sending premiums soaring. But Trump has continued to support a 2019 rule issued in his first term that allowed states to offer tax credits to businesses that help employees enroll in Obamacare plans.

White House Puts RFK Jr.’s HHS on Tighter Leash After MAHA Setbacks
(The Wall Street Journal – March 13, 2026)

The White House is more tightly controlling the messaging and policies—including around vaccines—coming from the Department of Health and Human Services ahead of the midterm elections, according to people familiar with the matter. Aides close to President Trump decided to take a more active role in managing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s department in the face of polling that shows his vaccine moves are unpopular, the people said. Although Trump brought Kennedy into his administration with the promise that the vaccine skeptic and ultraprocessed-food critic could “go wild on health,” administration officials grew increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as foul-ups inside Kennedy’s department, according to people familiar with the matter. Aides close to Trump grew worried that perceived disorganization and a focus on vaccines could damage the president’s party in November, those people said.