BREAKING NEWS: Health (2)

Mitochondrial metabolite glutathione plays key role in breast cancer metastasis

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:44:17 +0000

The mitochondria may be the powerhouse of the cell, but mounting evidence suggests this organelle is also a driving force behind cancer.

Prenatal exposure to common insecticide linked to brain changes and poor motor skills in children

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 17:01:23 +0000

A new study reports evidence of a link between prenatal exposure to the widely used insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and structural abnormalities in the brain and poorer motor function in New York City children and adolescents.

Self-powered microneedle patch offers blood-free biomarker monitoring

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:56:00 +0000

Researchers have developed a self-powered microneedle patch to monitor a range of health biomarkers without drawing blood or relying on batteries or external devices.

Over-the-counter oral birth control pill improves access to contraception

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:46:53 +0000

Two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of an over-the-counter birth control pill for the first time in the United States without a prescription.

Vaccines trigger immediate changes in lymph node tissue landscape

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:32:00 +0000

Vaccines trigger a notably rapid response in the stromal cells of draining lymph nodes within the first hours after administration.

Polβ enzyme found to protect developing brain from harmful DNA mutations

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:24:32 +0000

A research group led by The University of Osaka has discovered that the DNA repair enzyme Polβ plays a crucial role in protecting the developing brain from harmful mutations.

RNA quality control protein PELOTA found to slow aging and extend lifespan

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:19:30 +0000

As aging progresses, the quality of DNA and proteins inside cells declines, known to be the cause of various degenerative diseases.

Inactivation of stress pathway allows ER+ breast cancer cells to evade treatment

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:07:03 +0000

A team of scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research has discovered that inactivation of a stress pathway makes ER+ breast cancer cells ignore stress signals, allowing them to evade treatment.

Endoplasmic reticulum controls cell movement to repair tissue gaps

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:56:46 +0000

The body's cells change their shape to close gaps such as wounds – with part of the cell flexing depending on the curve of the gap and the organization of cell-internal structures, a new study reveals.

Forget LASIK: Safer, cheaper vision correction could be coming soon

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:22:42 +0000

Scientists are developing a surgery-free alternative to LASIK that reshapes the cornea using electricity instead of lasers. In rabbit tests, the method corrected vision in minutes without incisions.

New Study Links COVID-19 to Accelerated Blood Vessel Aging, Particularly in Women

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:03:05 +0000

The latest research showed that coronavirus infection may accelerate the aging of blood vessels, potentially increasing cardiovascular risk by roughly the equivalent of five years

New molecule shows promise in treating acetaminophen-induced liver injury

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:17:24 +0000

Acetaminophen is one of the most common painkillers and is found in hundreds of different medications. While safe at recommended doses, acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of acute liver injury in the U.S.

Health Care Groups Aim To Counter Growing ‘National Scandal’ of Elder Homelessness

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

BRISTOL, R.I. — At age 82, Roberta Rabinovitz realized she had no place to go. A widow, she had lost both her daughters to cancer, after living with one and then the other, nursing them until their deaths. Then she moved in with her brother in Florida, until he also died.

And so last fall, while recovering from lung cancer, Rabinovitz ended up at her grandson’s home in Burrillville, Rhode Island, where she slept on the couch and struggled to navigate the steep staircase to the shower. That wasn’t sustainable, and with apartment rents out of reach, Rabinovitz joined the growing population of older Americans unsure of where to lay their heads at night.

But Rabinovitz was fortunate. She found a place to live, through what might seem an unlikely source — a health care nonprofit, the PACE Organization of Rhode Island. Around the country, arranging for housing is a relatively new and growing challenge for such PACE groups, which are funded through Medicaid and Medicare. PACE stands for a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and the organizations aim to keep frail, older people in their homes. But a patient can’t stay at home if they don’t have one.

As housing costs rise, organizations responsible for people’s medical care are realizing that to ensure their clients have a place to live, they must venture outside their lanes. Even hospitals — in Denver, New Orleans, New York City, and elsewhere — have started investing in housing, recognizing that health isn’t possible without it.

And among older adults, the need is especially growing. In the U.S., 1 in 5 people who were homeless in 2024 were 55 or older, with the total older homeless population up 6% from the previous year. Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor who specializes in homelessness and housing policy, calculated that the number of men older than 60 living in shelters roughly tripled from 2000 to 2020.

“It’s a national scandal, really, that the richest country in the world would have destitute elderly and disabled people,” Culhane said.

Over decades of research, Culhane has documented the plight of people born between 1955 and 1965 who came of age during recessions and never got an economic foothold. Many in this group endured intermittent homelessness throughout their lives, and now their troubles are compounded by aging.

But other homeless older adults are new to the experience. Many teeter on the edge of poverty, said Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, a national association representing what are known as area agencies on aging. A single incident can tip them into homelessness — the death of a spouse, job loss, a rent increase, an injury or illness. If cognitive decline starts, an older person may forget to pay their mortgage. Even those with paid-off houses often can’t afford rising property taxes and upkeep.

“No one imagines anybody living on the street at 75 or 80,” Markwood said. “But they are.”

President Donald Trump’s recent budget law, which makes substantial federal cuts to Medicaid, the public insurance program for those with low incomes or disabilities, will make matters worse for older people with limited incomes, said Yolanda Stevens, program and policy analyst with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. If people lose their health coverage or their local hospital closes, it will be harder for them to maintain their health and pay the rent.

“It’s a perfect storm,” Stevens said. “It’s an unfortunate, devastating storm for our older Americans.”

Adding to the challenges, the Labor Department recently halted a job training program intended to keep low-income older people in the workforce.

Those circumstances have sent PACE health plans throughout the country into uncharted waters, prompting them to set up shop within senior housing projects, partner with housing providers, or even join forces with nonprofit developers to build their own.

A 1997 federal law recognized PACE organizations as a provider type for Medicare and Medicaid. Today, some 185 operate in the U.S., each serving a defined geographic area, with a total of more than 83,000 participants.

They enroll people 55 and older who are sick enough for nursing home care, and then provide everything their patients need to stay home despite their frailty. They also run centers that function as medical clinics and adult day centers and provide transportation.

These organizations primarily serve impoverished people with complex medical conditions who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. They pool money from both programs and operate within a set budget for each participant.

PACE officials worry that, as federal funding for Medicaid programs shrinks, states will curtail support. But the PACE concept has always had bipartisan support, said Robert Greenwood, a senior vice president at the National PACE Association, because its services are significantly less expensive than nursing home care.

The financing structure gives PACE the flexibility to do what it takes to keep participants living on their own, even if it means buying an air conditioner or taking a patient’s dog to the vet. Taking on the housing crisis is another step toward the same goal.

In the Detroit area, PACE Southeast Michigan, which serves 2,200 participants, partners with the owners of senior housing. The landlords agree to keep the rent affordable, and PACE provides services to their tenants who are members. Housing providers “like to be full, they like their seniors cared for, and we do all of that,” said Mary Naber, president and CEO of PACE Southeast Michigan.

For participants who become too infirm to live on their own, the Michigan organization has leased a wing in an independent living center, where it provides round-the-clock supportive care. The organization also is partnering with a nonprofit developer to create a cluster of 21 shipping containers converted into little houses in Eastpointe, just outside Detroit. Still in the planning stages, Naber said, the refurbished containers will probably rent for about $1,000 to $1,100 a month.

In San Diego, the PACE program at St. Paul’s Senior Services cares for chronically homeless people as they move into housing, offering not just health services but the backup needed to keep tenants in their homes, such as guidance on paying bills on time and keeping their apartments clean. St. Paul’s also helps those already in housing but clinging to precarious living arrangements, said Carol Castillon, vice president of its PACE operations, by connecting them with community resources, helping fill out forms for housing assistance, and providing meals and household items to lower expenses.

At PACE Rhode Island, which serves nearly 500 people, about 10 to 15 participants each month become homeless or at risk of homelessness, a rare situation five or six years ago, CEO Joan Kwiatkowski said.

The organization contracts with assisted living facilities, but its participants are sometimes rejected because of prior criminal records, substance use, or health care needs that the facilities feel they can’t handle. And public housing providers often have no openings.

So PACE Rhode Island is planning to buy its own housing, Kwiatkowski said. PACE also has reserved four apartments at an assisted living facility in Bristol for its participants, paying rent when they’re unoccupied. Rabinovitz moved into one recently.

Rabinovitz had worked as a senior credit analyst for a health care company, but now her only income is her Social Security check. She keeps $120 from that check for personal supplies, and the rest goes to rent, which includes meals.

Once a week or so, Rabinovitz rides a PACE van to the organization’s center, where she gets medical care, including dental work, physical therapy, and medication — always, she said, from “incredibly loving people.” When she’s not feeling well enough to make the trek, PACE sends someone to her. Recently, a technician with a portable X-ray machine scanned her sore hip as she lay in her own bed in her new studio apartment.

“It’s tiny, but I love it,” she said of the apartment, which she’s decorated in purple, her favorite color.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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Trojan horse bacteria sneak cancer-killing viruses into tumors

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 14:28:53 +0000

Scientists have engineered a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses bacteria to smuggle viruses directly into tumors, bypassing the immune system and delivering a powerful one-two punch against cancer cells. The bacteria act like Trojan horses, carrying viral payloads to cancer’s core, where the virus can spread and destroy malignant cells. Built-in safety features ensure the virus can’t multiply outside the tumor, offering a promising pathway for safe, targeted therapy.

One small walking adjustment could delay knee surgery for years

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 09:45:52 +0000

A groundbreaking study has found that a simple change in walking style can ease osteoarthritis pain as effectively as medication—without the side effects. By adjusting foot angle, participants reduced knee stress, slowed cartilage damage, and maintained the change for over a year.

A $2 gold nanotech test that detects deadly diseases in minutes

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 03:54:52 +0000

Arizona State University scientists have unveiled NasRED, a revolutionary one-drop blood test that can detect diseases like COVID-19, Ebola, HIV, and Lyme with incredible speed and precision. Using gold nanoparticles to spot microscopic disease markers, the device delivers results in just 15 minutes—outperforming traditional lab tests in sensitivity, speed, and affordability. Portable and costing only $2 per test, it could be deployed from remote clinics to urban hospitals, offering a lifeline for early detection and outbreak control worldwide.

Scientists may have found the tiny DNA switch that made us human

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:43:57 +0000

Scientists at UC San Diego have discovered a small but powerful section of DNA, called HAR123, that could help explain what makes the human brain so unique. Instead of being a gene, HAR123 acts like a “volume control” for brain development, guiding how brain cells form and in what proportions. The human version of HAR123 behaves differently from the chimpanzee version, possibly giving us greater flexibility in how we think and learn. This finding could also help researchers understand the roots of certain brain-related conditions, including autism.

How cats with dementia could help crack the Alzheimer’s puzzle

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:23:20 +0000

Cats can naturally develop dementia with brain changes strikingly similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, including toxic amyloid-beta buildup and loss of synapses. A new study shows these similarities could make cats valuable natural models for research, potentially leading to treatments that benefit both species. The research also revealed that brain support cells may contribute to synapse loss, and findings could help owners recognize and manage dementia symptoms in aging pets.

Injectable “skin in a syringe” could heal burns without scars

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:08:29 +0000

Scientists in Sweden have developed a groundbreaking “skin in a syringe” — a gel packed with live cells that can be applied directly to wounds or even 3D-printed into skin grafts. Designed to help the body build functional dermis rather than scar tissue, the innovation combines fibroblast cells on gelatin beads with a hyaluronic acid gel, held together using click chemistry. In a parallel advance, the team also created elastic hydrogel threads that can form tiny, fluid-carrying channels, paving the way for artificial tissues and organoid development.

The surprising brain chemistry behind instant friendships

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 03:01:14 +0000

UC Berkeley scientists found oxytocin is key for quickly forming strong friendships, but less critical for mate bonds. In prairie voles, a lack of oxytocin receptors delayed bonding and reduced partner selectivity, changing how the brain releases oxytocin and affecting social behavior.

The 30-minute workout that could slash cancer cell growth by 30%

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:28:12 +0000

A vigorous workout can spark anti-cancer proteins, cut cancer cell growth, and help survivors fight recurrence by reducing inflammation and improving body composition.

Blood pressure cuff errors may be missing 30% of hypertension cases

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:41:40 +0000

Cambridge scientists have cracked the mystery of why cuff-based blood pressure monitors often give inaccurate readings, missing up to 30% of high blood pressure cases. By building a physical model that replicates real artery behavior, they discovered that low pressure below the cuff delays artery reopening, leading to underestimated systolic readings. Their work suggests that simple tweaks, like raising the arm before testing, could dramatically improve accuracy without the need for expensive new devices.

Global study reveals the surprising habit behind tough decisions

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:20:00 +0000

A sweeping international study has revealed that when faced with complex decisions, people across cultures—from bustling megacities to remote Amazon communities—tend to rely on their own judgment rather than seeking advice. The research, spanning over 3,500 participants in 12 countries, challenges the long-held belief that self-reliance is primarily a Western trait. While cultural values influence how strongly individuals lean on their inner voice, the preference for private reflection remains a shared human tendency.

The hidden mental health danger in today’s high-THC cannabis

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:07:56 +0000

THC levels in cannabis have soared in recent years, raising the risk of psychosis—especially in young, frequent users. Studies reveal a strong connection between cannabis-induced psychosis and schizophrenia, making early cessation and treatment essential.

Scientists detect virus traces in blood that may unlock long COVID’s mystery

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:30:50 +0000

Scientists have found protein fragments from the COVID-19 virus hidden inside tiny cellular packages in the blood of long COVID patients, offering the first potential measurable biomarker for the condition. The discovery suggests the virus may persist in body tissues long after infection, possibly explaining ongoing symptoms. While promising, the signals were subtle and inconsistent, leaving unanswered questions about whether these fragments come from lingering viral reservoirs or active replication.

Scientists discover the pancake secret that makes vegan eggs irresistible

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:31:24 +0000

A study finds that people are more open to plant-based eggs when they’re part of familiar foods, like pancakes, rather than served plain. While taste and appearance still favor regular eggs, vegan eggs score higher on environmental and ethical benefits. Familiarity is the key to getting people to try them.

Cutting sugar won’t curb your sweet tooth, scientists say

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:02:20 +0000

A six-month randomized trial challenges the idea that eating more sweet foods increases a person’s preference for sweetness. Participants on diets with high, low, or mixed sweetness levels showed no changes in their sweet taste preferences, energy intake, body weight, or health markers. The study’s rigorous design suggests sweetness alone isn’t to blame for overeating, and even after the intervention, participants naturally returned to their baseline sweet intake.

Scientists discover brain layers that get stronger with age

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:01:30 +0000

Researchers have discovered that parts of the human brain age more slowly than previously thought—particularly in the region that processes touch. By using ultra-high-resolution brain scans, they found that while some layers of the cerebral cortex thin with age, others remain stable or even grow thicker, suggesting remarkable adaptability. This layered resilience could explain why certain skills endure into old age, while others fade, and even reveals built-in compensatory mechanisms that help preserve function.

Scientists reversed memory loss by powering the brain’s tiny engines

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 08:02:29 +0000

Scientists have discovered a direct cause-and-effect link between faulty mitochondria and the memory loss seen in neurodegenerative diseases. By creating a novel tool to boost mitochondrial activity in mouse models, researchers restored memory performance, suggesting mitochondria could be a powerful new target for treatments. The findings not only shed light on the early drivers of brain cell degeneration but also open possibilities for slowing or even preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s.

The parasite that turns off your body’s pain alarm and sneaks in

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:45:18 +0000

Scientists have discovered a parasite that can sneak into your skin without you feeling a thing. The worm, Schistosoma mansoni, has evolved a way to switch off the body’s pain and itch signals, letting it invade undetected. By blocking certain nerve pathways, it avoids triggering the immune system’s alarms. This stealth tactic not only helps the worm survive, but could inspire new kinds of pain treatments and even preventative creams to protect people from infection.

Trapped in guilt and shame? Science explains why you can’t let go

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:52:41 +0000

Flinders University researchers found that forgiving yourself isn’t just about letting go. People stuck in guilt and shame often feel trapped in the past, and true healing comes from addressing deeper moral injuries and restoring a sense of control.

What scientists discovered about french fries and diabetes

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:15:24 +0000

French fries may be more than just a guilty pleasure—they could raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by 20% if eaten three times a week, while the same amount of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes doesn’t appear to have the same effect.

How NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer was lost before reaching the Moon

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:57:49 +0000

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, a mission designed to create high-resolution maps of water on the Moon, ended after losing contact with the spacecraft just one day after its February 26 launch. Despite extensive global efforts to reestablish communication, the small satellite’s misaligned solar arrays prevented its batteries from charging, leaving it powerless and drifting in a slow spin into deep space.

Probe reliably records activity of large neuron populations in brains of non-human primates

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:00:05 +0000

To map the mammalian brain and its various functions with increasing precision, neuroscientists rely on high-resolution imaging techniques and other advanced experimental tools. These include high-density silicon probes, needle-like devices integrating several electrodes that can be inserted into brain tissue to pick up voltage changes associated with the firing of neurons.

Cosmetic Surgery Costs Are Soaring, but Here's How Patients Are Paying for It

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 02:27:43 +0000

With most cosmetic procedures not covered by insurance, patients are left to foot the whole bill, often thousands of dollars out of pocket. The result? A growing number of people are seeking creative ways to afford their aesthetic goals.

More than a simple relay station: Thalamus may guide timing of brain development and plasticity

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 11:10:01 +0000

The brain is known to develop gradually throughout the human lifespan, following a hierarchical pattern. First, it adapts to support basic functions, such as movement and sensory perception, then it moves onto more advanced human abilities, such as decision-making.

How much damage are ultraprocessed foods really doing to your health?

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 07:12:28 +0000

Many foods we consume today are ultraprocessed, packed with unhealthy ingredients, and linked to major health risks. As consumption of these foods rises, so do chronic health issues, especially among lower-income groups. Experts are calling for clearer guidelines, better research, and systemic changes to reduce the impact of ultraprocessed foods on public health.

Losing weight but gaining weakness? What Ozempic might be doing to your muscles

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 06:15:51 +0000

Ozempic’s weight loss benefits might come at the cost of muscle strength, even if muscle size remains relatively stable. This raises significant concerns for older adults, who are already at risk for muscle loss and reduced mobility. Researchers stress the urgent need for human clinical trials to understand these effects fully.

Can a diet really ease lipoedema? Sunniva’s journey to pain relief and weight loss

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 05:57:45 +0000

Sunniva Kwapeng struggled with lipoedema, a painful condition causing disproportionate fat accumulation, until finally being diagnosed in her 40s. An NTNU study found that a low-carb diet helped alleviate pain and resulted in more weight loss than a low-fat diet. Though compression garments provided relief, the overall treatment options for this poorly understood condition remain scarce.

Scientists just found a tiny molecule that could change how we lose weight

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 04:29:53 +0000

Researchers at the Salk Institute have used CRISPR to uncover hidden microproteins that control fat cell growth and lipid storage, identifying one confirmed target, Adipocyte-smORF-1183. This breakthrough could lead to more effective obesity treatments, surpassing the limitations of current drugs like GLP-1.

Scientists uncover hidden brain shortcut to weight loss without the nausea

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:10:09 +0000

Scientists have uncovered a way to promote weight loss and improve blood sugar control without the unpleasant side effects of current GLP-1 drugs. By shifting focus from neurons to brain support cells that produce appetite-suppressing molecules, they developed a modified compound, TDN, that worked in animal tests without causing nausea or vomiting.

Amedisys, UnitedHealth Merger Would ‘Raise Stakes,’ Create Opportunities For Home Health Providers

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:47:56 +0000

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a proposed settlement that would allow UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) to acquire Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED). For the home-based care industry, the merger would create an additional level of competition while verifying the value of its services, according to experts.

“For smaller providers, this raises the stakes,” Benjamin Bogan, partner and managing director at health care M&A advisory firm Stoneridge Partners, told Home Health Care News in an email. “Competing with an integrated payer-provider network like Optum can be increasingly difficult, especially in overlapping markets. On the flip side, it opens up strategic opportunities for nimble, high-quality operators to position themselves as local high-quality options or potential acquisition targets for other consolidators who want to remain competitive.”

As part of the DOJ’s proposed settlement, UnitedHealth and Amedisys must divest at least 164 home health and hospice facilities, worth approximately $528 million in annual revenue.

Pennant Group (Nasdaq: PTNG) announced on Thursday that it planned to acquire between 38 and 50 agencies from Amedisys and UnitedHealth, which would cost between $113 million and $147 million. Amedisys announced in May that it had agreed to divest home health and hospice centers to Pennant and BrightSpring Health Services (Nasdaq: BTSG).

Smaller, mid-market regional players are most likely to benefit from the divestitures, according to Widmar.

“I could see some meaningful discounts happening, because I do think the market has a little bit of leverage over United with these locations,” Joe Widmar, director at West Monroe, a Chicago-based business and technology consulting firm, told HHCN. “But I could also see it normalizing a little bit, given what I expect to be a pretty hefty number of buyers looking at these locations.”

The home health industry overall will also enjoy added evidence that its industry is attractive.

“UnitedHealth, despite their troubles in recent days, is still committed to that strategy. I think that’s good for the industry,” Tao Qiu, equity research analyst at financial services group Macquarie Group, told HHCN.

While some home health players stand to benefit from the purchasing of potentially discounted agencies and the broader proof of home health’s value, the deal could also cause problems for some providers.

Providers in overlapping markets would not just compete for patients. They would struggle to attract clinicians, an already taxing problem.

“There’s a concern, both from a labor standpoint and maintaining fair, competitive wages for clinicians who are within the home health industry and are seeking careers in the home health industry,” Widmar said. “There’s a whole lot of purchasing power there with that size of an enterprise. It’ll just be that much harder to attract talent away from those home health businesses in the future.”

The proposed settlement was not surprising, experts told HHCN, and indicates the Trump administration’s approach to dealmaking activity.

“Investors and company management view the current administration as business-friendly, and there is no indication that that’s not the case,” Qiu said. “From a holistic perspective, the current administration will be more willing for some of these deals to go through because it’s just a natural process of consolidation through tough times.”

The settlement may also signal that the DOJ is willing to “forego more standard operating procedure in favor of compromise,” according to Widmar, and signal that the current DOJ is willing to come to mutually beneficial outcomes quicker than others.

For UnitedHealth, which has experienced a be v y of well-publicized challenges, wrapping up the Amedisys deal is a bit of positive news that could help the company’s trajectory for the rest of 2025, Widmar said.

“At this point, I see a struggling United trying to make the best of this transaction,” he said. “It will probably take a while for the fruits of their investment here to really play out in their favor. … They’re probably looking to put this behind them at this point, and pursue the investment thesis they had from the get-go with Amedisys.”

The deal makes UnitedHealth an even more powerful player in the home health industry, Widmar said. It also hastens the growing trend of consolidation in the home-based care industry.

“If the merger is finalized, it will further accelerate the trend of consolidation and vertical integration in home-based care, which CMS has pushed with PDGM and other industry consolidation decisions in reimbursement and regulation,” Bogan said. “UnitedHealth/Optum has a large share of primary care, post-acute care, insurance and supporting services. Adding Amedisys deepens that integration, giving Optum an even bigger footprint in patient pathways from hospital to home.”

The post Amedisys, UnitedHealth Merger Would ‘Raise Stakes,’ Create Opportunities For Home Health Providers appeared first on Home Health Care News.

How 3 Top Trends Have Shaped Home-Based Care This Year

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:43:25 +0000

This article is a part of your HHCN+ Membership

At the start of every year, Home Health Care News predicts the trends that will shape the home-based care industry in the year to come.

Some of the trends we’ve predicted have progressed even further than HHCN suggested in January. Some are still on track. Others face new challenges that could slow their adoption.

While I have not yet been reporting on home-based care for long, it’s clear that 2025 is a year that stands apart. During my tenure as HHCN’s associate editor, I have felt some of the uncertainty that racked the industry as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) was being revised, revised again, and finally passed. I have heard the reactions to a proposed home health rate cut steeper than any the industry has faced before. And I have seen concerns regarding workforce shortages rise as immigration legislation cracks down on American workers.

All of this means that what was true in January may not be exactly true now, and makes it worthwhile to check in on the feasibility and progress of trends that seemed clear only eight months ago.

In this week’s exclusive, members-only HHCN+ Update, I’ll share the progress that has been made on three of HHCN’s five predictions for 2025, narrowing in on the ones that are currently in flux. I will offer analysis and key takeaways, including:

– The future of the 80-20 rule and the Trump administration deregulation

– Evolving Medicaid state-by-state differences

– The rising importance of technology innovation – and why it is at risk

The 80-20 rule

HHCN predicted in January that the second Trump administration would likely axe some regulations, including the 80-20 rule. Although no demonstrable progress has been made, the stars are still aligned for this prediction to come true.

In May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division asked federal agencies to identify anticompetitive regulations, including those in the health care sector. Adam Herbst, partner at Sheppard Mullin law firm, told me this could implicate the 80-20 rule.

Industry experts have expressed confidence that the rule would be rolled back.

“Although it’s not been put forward in rulemaking yet, some of the overregulation within the Medicaid access rule, in the 80-20 provision, we think something like that is likely to be be taken out by this administration that is trying to root out examples of overregulation,” Dr. Steven Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home, said at the Alliance’s Financial Summit last week.

Since HHCN made its January prediction, it seems deregulation efforts may go even further.

“There are some OSHA topics that we’re weighing in on as well,” Landers continued, discussing other regulations that the Trump administration could roll back.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed reinstating the companionship exemption in early July, which covers certain home care workers under specific parts of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Jason Lee, CEO of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), said rolling back minimum wage and overtime protections for certain home care workers would be “amazing news for the home care industry.”

Additionally, yesterday, the DOJ proposed a settlement for UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) acquisition of Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED). While the settlement includes requirements for the divestiture of 164 home health and hospice facilities worth about $528 million in annual revenue, and a $1.1 million civil penalty on Amedisys for false certification, it is an overall sign of a deal-friendly attitude rather than one determined to impose a slew of red tape.

Greater state-by-state regulation variety

In January, HHCN predicted that state-level variations would create a less balanced playing field for providers to navigate.

I would double down on this, but add that changes since January mean that at least one regulation will likely be cohesive across the board.

“The joke is, if you’ve seen one Medicaid state, you’ve seen one Medicaid state,” Mike Trigilio, the CEO of Houseworks, recently said on an HHCN webinar.

We predicted that this type of variance would lead providers to prioritize density and make strategic plays regarding geography (see Addus HomeCare Corporation’s New York flight). The density trend is poised only to continue, based on a recent conversation I had with Joe Widmar, director at West Monroe.

Still, a KFF piece from Tuesday colors my current interpretation of this trend. KFF reported that President Donald Trump’s work requirements create a “floor and a ceiling” for states, meaning that they have less latitude to make their own decisions regarding work requirements. While work requirements do not directly impact reimbursement rates, they will limit the number of people who are eligible for the Medicaid benefit and, therefore, reduce the number of people who receive home-based care services in these states.

This change creates at least one across-the-board similarity for all states’ Medicaid programs – though this type of cohesion may not be what the home-based care industry would have chosen.

Technology transforming personal home care

HHCN predicted that advanced technology adoption would become an imperative for providers of personal home care in 2025.

With rising cost pressures – especially the proposed 2026 Medicare home health payment cut – I now see technology integration as more crucial than ever for both home health and personal home care, from remote patient monitoring to new retention and recruitment tools.

One promising new technological innovation is from Bayada Home Health Care. The organization is currently developing risk algorithms using electronic medical record (EMR) data that help to identify when patients are at risk of falling and allow workers to intervene. While the technology is still new, and Bayada is still working to determine exactly which interventions are most helpful, preliminary results show a 40% reduction in the rate of injurious falls, according to Mike Johnson, the company’s chief researcher of home care innovation.

Falls are a major concern for both home health and personal care providers – home care provider TheKey recently instituted a comprehensive mobility training program specifically to reduce client falls. This type of technology seems especially promising because it could enhance patient or client trust, increase efficiency, improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations – some of which could be critical drivers to help home health providers build value-based reimbursement arrangements.

While the promise of such technologies is great, one thing puts it at risk: margins. For home health providers currently staring down the barrel of the proposed 2026 Medicare payment cut, reduced revenue could be an innovation killer.

“What the policy makers need to understand is our operating surplus is part of our innovation fund,” Johnson recently said on an HHCN webinar. “How are we going to get better? We self-fund, we self-invest, we’re happy to do it. But we need to think about surplus as more than just money that’s going into the bank account of executives. We’re going to be spending a lot of time and energy fighting this particular cut, because it’s going to be really detrimental if we can’t get it removed.”

HHCN’s prediction that advanced technology will be essential for the personal home care industry stands. Given the events of the first seven months of 2025, I think it’s clear that these tools are essential for all home-based care providers. But without the cash to build out this type of technology, cutting-edge innovation could fall by the wayside.

The post How 3 Top Trends Have Shaped Home-Based Care This Year appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Pennant To Acquire Divested Amedisys, UnitedHealth Agencies

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 18:54:15 +0000

Pennant Group (Nasdaq: PTNG) plans to create a “center of strength” in the Southeast by acquiring home health and hospice agencies divested by Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED) and UnitedHealth Group (UHG) (NYSE: UNH).

The acquisition, which will include between 38 and 50 agencies, will cost between $113 million and $147 million, according to the company’s second-quarter earnings call on Thursday. Amedisys announced in May that it would divest home health and hospice care centers to Pennant and BrightSpring Health Services (Nasdaq: BTSG), with the divestiture contingent on the successful merger of Amedisys and Optum, UnitedHealth’s services arm.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) proposed settlement has now cleared a path for the merger to be completed.

Guerisoli said the company views this as a “compelling transaction” that will take the company into “attractive markets.”

“We are well prepared to execute on this expansion as we have continued to deepen our leadership bench through our CEO-in-training and clinical leadership training programs, build momentum across our business lines and have a healthy balance sheet with ample capacity,” Gochnour said.

He also confirmed that Pennant has a service agreement in place to ensure a smooth transition and that it has been preparing for several months while awaiting the conclusion of the antitrust process. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

Pennant is the holding company for a broad cluster of independent home health, hospice and senior living providers located across 13 states, a footprint that is set to expand through the Amedisys-UHG deal.

The company’s new presence in Tennessee will likely serve as a hub for future expansion into the Southeast.

“We believe the Tennessee market is unique, that there’s an immense amount of talent in our industries in that particular state and in the region, and we’re excited about the Alabama and Georgia assets as well and having a foothold in those regions,” Gochnour said. “But we’re really excited about the scale that we will have in Tennessee and the opportunities it will give us to impact that care continuum, interact with payers and become a resource to the communities in that state … We’re excited about how it positions us with a center of strength from which we can grow in the Southeast.”

Speaking on the acquisition of divested assets from Amedisys and UHG, Brent Guerisoli, Pennant’s CEO, said it demonstrates the company’s ongoing potential in home health.

“Home health services are a vital component of America’s health care strategy,” he said. “Their importance will only increase as more seniors age into these services, and governmental leaders look for solutions to reduce the nation’s overall health care spend. Patients want to receive care in the home. Lawmakers want to reduce deficits and improve health outcomes. Home health is a solution for both issues.” The company reported substantial revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth across all major segments in Q2.

Pennant cited strong clinical quality in its home health segment as a key reason for its Q2 performance, including outperforming national averages in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings and preventable hospitalization metrics.

Despite a challenging reimbursement environment and expense pressures, John Gochnour, Pennant’s president and chief operating officer, said the company’s home health revenue increased to $79.2 million, a rise of $17.6 million or nearly 29% compared to the same quarter last year. Total home health admissions grew 26.1%, Medicare admissions rose 21.6%, and revenue per episode increased 5.9%, all over the same quarter in 2024.

The proposed home health payment rule

Leaders also explained that the CMS proposed home health rule could impact managed care and commercial contracts linked to Medicare rates, but expects to use operational levers to control reimbursement risk.

Gochnour described CMS’s proposal to cut payments to home health agencies by 6.4% in 2026 as “seriously misguided, based on flawed methodology and data,” and argued that it conflicts with the administration’s stated goals of reducing deficits and maintaining access to care.

He observed that these cuts will significantly limit home health access for vulnerable patients, especially in rural areas where agencies already face financial difficulties. He stated that the cuts also decrease the competitiveness of home health agencies in recruiting and retaining staff and will lead to an overall rise in health care spending.

“Whatever the result of the 2026 final rule may be, our strong growth, diversified revenue streams and transparent operating model have helped us consistently thrive through disruption,” he said. “Our local teams have already begun preparing operation-by-operation plans for adjusting their businesses to the impacts of the proposed rule.”

The company reported an overall revenue of $219.5 million for the second quarter, an increase of $50.8 million or over 30% and adjusted EBITDA of $16.4 million. The company also raised annual guidance based on the momentum of the business and now anticipates 2025 full-year revenue in the range of $852.8 million to $887.6 million.

The post Pennant To Acquire Divested Amedisys, UnitedHealth Agencies appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Scientists find brain cell switch that could reverse obesity’s effects

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:43:20 +0000

High-fat diets and obesity reshape astrocytes—star-shaped brain cells in the striatum that help regulate pleasure from eating. French researchers discovered that tweaking these cells in mice not only impacts metabolism but can also restore cognitive abilities impaired by obesity, such as relearning tasks. This breakthrough highlights astrocytes as powerful players in brain function and energy control, opening fresh possibilities for targeted obesity treatments.

Scientists discover amino acid switch that turns fat into a calorie-burning furnace

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:46:33 +0000

Cutting calories doesn’t just slim you down—it also reduces cysteine, an amino acid that flips fat cells from storage mode to fat-burning mode. Researchers found that lowering cysteine sparks the conversion of white fat into heat-producing brown fat, boosting metabolism and promoting weight loss in both humans and animal models.

Scientists crack the mystery of brain cell clumps, and make them vanish

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:27:58 +0000

Scientists have discovered how harmful clumps inside brain cells—linked to diseases like ALS and Huntington’s—form, and found a way to break them apart. These sticky tangles of RNA develop inside tiny liquid-like droplets in cells and can linger long after their surroundings vanish. By introducing a special protein, the team could stop the clumps from forming, and with a custom-designed piece of RNA, they could even dissolve them.

The hidden ways light at night damages your brain, mood, and metabolism

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:02:03 +0000

Neuroscientist Dr. Randy J. Nelson explores how artificial light at night disrupts our bodies, from immune health to mood. His work bridges lab research, clinical trials, and everyday solutions while mentoring future scientists.

New insights into how the visual system synchronizes visual information

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:20:01 +0000

The human brain builds mental representations of the world based on the signals and information detected via the human senses. While we perceive simultaneously occurring sensory stimuli as being synchronized, the generation and transmission speeds of individual sensory signals can vary greatly.

New “evolution engine” creates super-proteins 100,000x faster

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:59:10 +0000

Researchers at Scripps have created T7-ORACLE, a powerful new tool that speeds up evolution, allowing scientists to design and improve proteins thousands of times faster than nature. Using engineered bacteria and a modified viral replication system, this method can create new protein versions in days instead of months. In tests, it quickly produced enzymes that could survive extreme doses of antibiotics, showing how it could help develop better medicines, cancer treatments, and other breakthroughs far more quickly than ever before.