Hospitals, sheriffs and prosecutors, and their different approaches to gun violence
(Augusta Free Press – June 8, 2026)

Prosecutors and sheriffs in several Virginia counties are pledging not to enforce a new assault weapon ban set to go into effect on July 1. On the other side of the gun violence spectrum, we have the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association highlighting the work in the healthcare sector to provide trauma-informed care and an array of personalized support services to individuals who have been impacted by violence through a vehicle called Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs.

Inova Schar Cancer President John Deeken, MD, named to Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives List
(Inova – June 8, 2026)

John Deeken, MD, President of Inova Schar Cancer and co-director of the Inova Schar Head and Neck Cancer Program, has been named to Modern Healthcare’s 2026 list of the “50 Most Influential Clinical Executive.” This national recognition honors physician and clinical leaders whose impact extends beyond their own organizations to help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, operational excellence, clinical leadership and community impact.

New study reveals turbocharged GLP-1 drug helps shed body weight and fat in the liver
(VCU Health – June 8, 2026)

An experimental weight loss drug helped people lose significant weight and shed large amounts of fat from their livers, according to newly published research by a team of international experts, including a Virginia Commonwealth University hepatologist. Study participants taking weekly injections of the GLP-1 drug survodutide over 48 weeks also saw improvements in markers for cardiovascular risk and liver injury, which are key drivers of liver scarring.

No Symptoms, No Smoking History: Susan’s Lung Cancer Story
(UVA Health – June 7, 2026)

Susan Radlinski, 69, was healthy, active, and enjoying retirement in Crozet, Virginia. “I’ve been a runner since I was in my 20s,” Susan shares. “I’ve run a couple half marathons. My husband, Jim, and I are scuba divers. I’d had no health issues except for pneumonia when I was a kid.” That changed one night when, after seeing a World War I exhibit, Susan had a nightmare. “Someone was throwing a bomb at me,” she explains. “The dream was so vivid, I jumped off the bed, hit the floor, and broke my rib.” In addition to the broken rib, an X-ray showed a spot on Susan’s lung. More scans and tests led to news she never saw coming: she had lung cancer. In this video, Susan shares her story of learning she had lung cancer, getting through treatment, and returning to the life she loves.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: How to Spot the Signs and Get Treatment
(Bon Secours – June 5, 2026)

If you’re dealing with bladder leaks, pelvic pain, constipation or discomfort during intimacy, you’re not alone – and you’re not imagining it. Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common but often under-discussed condition that affects people of all ages and genders. While these symptoms can feel isolating, the field of urogynecology specializes in diagnosing and treating these exact issues, helping patients transition from quiet discomfort to long term relief.

Report: Roughly 1 in 5 rural Virginia hospitals at risk of closure
(VPM – June 9, 2026)

Seven of Virginia’s 36 rural hospitals either face an immediate closure risk or are at high risk of experiencing financial distress, according to a presentation given last week to the state’s Joint Commission on Health Care. After hearing this, Del. Rodney Willett (D–Henrico) asked about the rural hospitals that didn’t quite make the list. “About 18 additional hospitals are kind of right there in that next tier of risk,” replied Mayesha Alam, a health policy analyst for the commission, “which brings our total to around 25 hospitals across the commonwealth that are facing fairly critical risk.”

Riverside Regional Medical Center Helping More Victims of Intentional Violence
(Riverside Health – June 4, 2026)

Over the past two years, the Hand-in-Hand Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) at Riverside Regional Medical Center has grown significantly to reach more patients at higher risk of reinjury. Hand in Hand, launched in July 2019, and has added seven HVIP team members to an original three-member team since receiving an annual $1.4 million grant commitment from the City of Newport News in July 2024. With four new Clinical Intervention Specialists, a Trauma Therapist, a Trauma Liaison Educator and a part-time Peer Support Specialist, the program is now operating during high-volume overnight and weekend hours as well as weekdays.

Sheltering Arms Institute Deploys Next-Generation EvoWalk Mobility Solution Across Multiple Locations
(Sheltering Arms Institute – June 8, 2026)

Sheltering Arms Institute, a nationally recognized leader in physical rehabilitation, today announced a multi-location clinical deployment of EvoWalk, a next-generation neurotechnology solution developed by Evolution Devices. This partnership introduces an innovative tool to the Institute’s outpatient settings, designed to improve gait, restore functional walking, and enhance real-world independence for individuals with neurological impairments.

Sovah Health Announces its June 2026 Core Values Champion of the Month: Dr. Philip Zapanta
(Sovah Health – June 5, 2026)

The Sovah Health Core Values recognition program is centered around how we make moments matter, representing the fundamental beliefs that unify our team and set clear expectations for how we treat one another and those we serve. Each honoree is thoughtfully nominated by both staff and their peers, reflecting the genuine appreciation and respect of those who work alongside them every day. It is with great pride that we recognize Dr. Philip Zapanta as our inaugural Core Values Champion of the Month.

Washington-Liberty Student Tyler Hong Leads Arlington Golf Tournament to Support Cancer Patients at VHC Health
(VHC Health – June 5, 2026)

Washington-Liberty High School student Tyler Hong, son of VHC Health physician Dr. Robert Hong, was featured as this week’s DC News Now DMV Doer for organizing an Arlington golf tournament benefiting cancer patients at VHC Health.

Legislative study commission formed to study hospital staffing levels in Rhode Island
(Rhode Island Current – June 8, 2026)

Are Rhode Island’s hospitals adequately and safely staffed? That’s one of the primary questions to be investigated by another special study commission coming to the Rhode Island legislature, thanks to a pair of companion resolutions passed unanimously by both chambers of the General Assembly. The commission will look at how staffing levels affect patient outcomes and safety, recruitment and retention practices, and financial implications for hospitals. The commission will also look at other states’ staffing models, plus how the Ocean State is implementing a recent slate of national standards created by an independent, nonprofit accrediting organization.

More Hoosiers go uninsured, resulting in higher emergency department usage
(News from the States – June 5, 2026)

Indiana hospitals are reporting a double-digit increase in the percentage of emergency department visits since the start of 2025 — a rate that is expected to climb as more Hoosiers go without health insurance or opt for high-deductible plans to offset surging premiums. Nearly 60,000 fewer Hoosiers signed up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges this year following the expiration of enhanced tax credits that once kept their monthly premiums low, researchers from health policy group KFF found in an analysis last month. Another 400,000 Hoosiers are no longer covered by Medicaid since the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration imposed additional eligibility checks, with still more Hoosiers expected to lose coverage when work requirements take effect in January.

New Mexico opens $76.2M rural health funding
(Becker’s Hospital Review – June 8, 2026)

The New Mexico Health Care Authority announced a $76.2 million federal funding opportunity through Healthy Horizons, a component of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program, to expand specialty, maternal, behavioral health and chronic disease care. The Santa Fe-based authority said June 3 it will select six organizations to manage hub regions and help communities plan and execute local healthcare projects. The hubs will convene providers, Tribal health programs, community organizations and public health groups to identify needs, build regional plans and direct funding to partners closing gaps in care, rather than delivering all services directly.

How sick is sick enough? New Medicaid work rule worries patient advocates, states.
(Politico – June 7, 2026)

The 40 plus states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act thought they knew what to expect when Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act outlined last year which low-income residents might be shielded from work requirements because they are too “medically frail.” Last week they were hit with a big surprise. The Trump administration released a final rule saying Medicaid recipients exempted from the employment requirements for medical frailty must prove every six months that they remain too ill to work. The federal work mandate goes into effect Jan. 1.

Over half of Medicaid enrollees say they’re unaware of upcoming work requirements
(Healthcare Dive – June 8, 2026)

Many Medicaid enrollees don’t know about an upcoming policy change that will require them to report work, education or volunteer hours to stay covered, creating risks to their health and care, according to a survey published last week by the Health Management Academy. About 55% of beneficiaries are completely unaware of Medicaid work requirements — a policy enacted under the “Big Beautiful Bill” and set to go into effect in January. An additional 27% said they had heard something about work requirements, but were unsure of the details, according to the survey by the health executive professional group.

3 CFO takes on AI: From experimentation to execution
(HealthLeaders Media – June 8, 2026)

CFOs are no longer asking whether AI has a role in their organizations—they’re determining where it can create the greatest operational and financial impact. Conversations among finance leaders reveal a common focus: aligning AI investments with strategy, solving workforce challenges, and building governance frameworks that support scale.

CNOs, it’s time to think about rural healthcare differently
(HealthLeaders Media – June 8, 2026)

Rural healthcare organizations are facing many challenges in 2026. According to a recent report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, 756 rural hospitals are currently at risk of closing, and 323 of those are at immediate risk. These closures would be catastrophic on rural communities, for patients, and for the workforce. Hospitals are often the largest employers in small communities, and if doors begin to close, jobs will be lost along with access to healthcare for patients. At Bingham Healthcare in rural Idaho, CNO Holly Davis explained that one of the biggest challenges they face is pressure from payers and reimbursement for services.

Enterprise transformation starts at the top
(HealthLeaders Media – June 8, 2026)

Here’s the reality facing hospitals: If you aren’t evolving, you risk being left behind. Between workforce shortages and shifting patient expectations, to digital innovation, there’s no shortage of areas demanding organizational change. The challenge for hospital leaders is figuring out how to make change work at scale. Success hinges on executive leadership. Without a clear vision and coordinated decision-making, even the most promising transformation efforts can stall before they deliver meaningful results. Conversely, organizations that establish accountability and align priorities are better positioned to turn strategy into measurable impact.

Health systems unlock hospital-at-home ROI with add-on programs
(Modern Healthcare – June 8, 2026) SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED

Health systems are getting a bigger bang for their buck by using hospital-at-home platforms for other services. Virtua Health, Wellstar Health System, Mass General Brigham and other providers are finding success using remote patient monitoring equipment and staff to track patients released early from the hospital or those at high risk for readmission. Finding opportunities to spread the cost of hospital-at-home infrastructure across other services could convince more health systems to launch the programs.

Measles cases pass 2,000, approach 2025 total: 4 notes
(Becker’s Hospital Review – June 8, 2026)

The U.S. has now confirmed more than 2,000 measles cases in 2026 — a milestone that arrives with roughly half the year still ahead and no clear sign of the outbreak slowing. Here are five notes from the CDC’s June 5 report: As of June 4, 2,030 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the U.S. in 2026. Cases have been reported across 40 jurisdictions, with 10 additional cases among international visitors. Ninety-three percent of confirmed cases — 1,890 of 2,030 — are outbreak-associated, spanning 30 new outbreaks reported in 2026. Of those, 558 stem from outbreaks that started this year and 1,332 from outbreaks originating in 2025.

The critical relationship of the CEO and CFO | HFMA 2026
(Chief Healthcare Executive – June 8, 2026)

With health systems facing considerable financial pressures and a rapidly changing industry, the relationship between the chief executive officer and chief financial officer matters more than ever. During the first day of the Healthcare Financial Management Association conference, Tina Freese Decker, the CEO of Corewell Health, and Matt Cox, the system’s CFO, talked about their partnership and how they tackle tough decisions in a discussion on stage. Corewell Health operates 21 hospitals in Michigan. Joe Fifer, the HFMA’s past president and CEO, led a discussion Sunday exploring the nuances of the relationship between chief executive officers and chief financial officers. Fifer is also a member of Corewell Health’s board of directors.

The Exec: How to boost care quality and patient safety at psychiatric hospitals
(HealthLeaders Media – June 8, 2026)

At psychiatric hospitals, care quality and patient safety are closely associated with each other, this new CMO says. A primary element of delivering quality care at a psychiatric hospital is ensuring that patients feel safe. The main elements of patient safety at a psychiatric hospital include physical safety and psychological safety. To help promote the financial sustainability of a psychiatric hospital, a CMO should focus on length of stay.

Cities sue to block ACA rule for increasing uninsured rate
(Healthcare Dive – June 8, 2026)

Several Democrat-led cities and a county have sued the HHS seeking to roll back recent regulation concerning Affordable Care Act plans that’s anticipated to restrict enrollment on the exchanges. The cities of Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore; Chicago and Pima County, Arizona — alongside organizations Doctors for America and Main Street Alliance — said the regulation is unlawful and that the HHS failed to adequately consider public comments submitted on the rule. Although the Trump administration said its sweeping regulation was intended to strengthen oversight in the exchanges, the rule “creates numerous barriers to affordable insurance coverage” and will cause as many as 2 million enrollees to drop coverage in 2027 alone, plaintiffs said in the lawsuit.

Rapid changes in federal health policy result in uninsured Americans, Baker Institute report shows
(Rice University – June 8, 2026)

A new health policy research brief from the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University is drawing attention to the sweeping pace of health care policy changes implemented during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second administration. The brief examines how executive actions, federal spending priorities and legislative reforms are reshaping health care access, insurance coverage and public health programming across the United States. The administration moved with “considerable speed and volume” following Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, 2025, introducing major policy shifts within days and continuing to expand reforms throughout the year, according to the report.

Trump admin’s $100K H-1B visa fee policy tossed by federal judge
(Fierce Healthcare – June 8, 2026)

A federal judge on Monday vacated a Trump administration requirement that employers pay a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, ruling that the policy was unlawful. The challenge had been brought by 20 blue state attorneys general back in December against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which had issued the rule implementing the elevated fee, arguing that the executive branch was attempting to “rewrite immigration law.” In line with an executive order from the president, DHS implemented the policy in September with a goal of disincentivizing foreign hiring and boosting employers’ consideration of domestic workers.

TrumpRx to expand coverage to more than 800 drugs
(Becker’s Hospital Review – June 8, 2026)

TrumpRx.gov is adding 160 prescription drugs to the platform, bringing its total to more than 800  according to a June 5 Truth Social post from President Donald Trump. The president said the expansion would allow TrumpRx.gov to offer discounted pricing for medications that account for roughly four out of every five prescriptions filled in the U.S. The administration also claims the platform has saved American patients more than $400 million since its February launch. The announcement came just weeks after billionaire investor Mark Cuban joined President Trump at the White House for the rollout of 600 generic medications on the platform — including atorvastatin, clopidogrel, lisinopril and metformin — with many generics priced under $5. A new tool connecting patients with the lowest-priced pharmacy in their area through partnerships with Cost Plus Drugs, Amazon Pharmacy and GoodRx was also announced at that time.