Chief Healthcare Executive

10/02/2025

The federal government shutdown is disrupting telehealth programs and hospital-at-home programs. Waivers for those programs lapsed as federal spending legislation expired. Kyle Zebley of the American Telemedicine Association says providers are frustrated with the interruption of programs and the recurring worries over whether short-term telehealth extensions will be approved. "It’s devastating. It's unacceptable," he says. "We shouldn't be in this situation."

The government’s spending legislation expired, along with extensions for waivers for telehealth programs. The congressional stalemate affects hundreds of hospitals offering acute care at home.

09/19/2025

With growing vaccine confusion, doctors and healthcare leaders are worried about a bad flu and Covid season. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, and Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, are among those who are worried about difficult months ahead.

Amid changing federal guidance and vaccine skepticism, healthcare leaders, including those with the AMA and the American Nurses Association, worry about a spike in the coming months.

09/18/2025

Former CDC director Susan Monarez told the Senate health committee that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired her because she wouldn't give "blanket approval" to changes in vaccine guidance, and she refused to fire top scientists without cause.

Susan Monarez tells Congress she refused to sign off on orders from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to back changes in vaccine guidance or fire top scientists without cause.

09/16/2025

The American Medical Association recently released its 2025 honorees in the Joy in Medicine program, which recognizes hospitals that are taking care of their doctors. We talked with Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, the AMA's president, about the program and what hospitals can do to protect the well-being of their physicians and staff. As he says, "It's definitely going in the right direction for hospitals to say, ‘You know what? We know physicians are frustrated. What can we do to decrease that level of frustration?’" https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/ama-president-talks-about-hospitals-and-the-well-being-of-doctors

09/15/2025

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the president of the American Nurses Association, says she's troubled by the turmoil at the CDC. She urges HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to listen to nurses, and would welcome the chance to talk with him.

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy warns the exodus of top CDC leaders makes Americans less safe. She talks about tracking new threats, the need for stability at the CDC, and hopes for a conversation with the health secretary.

09/05/2025

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions from senators today about the firing of the CDC director and changes to vaccine policies. Some of the most heated moments in today's hearing came from Democrats, with Sen. Ron Wyden saying Kennedy shouldn't be "within a million miles" of his post. But a few Republican senators also raised concerns about Americans having reduced access to vaccines.

He faced scathing criticism in a Senate committee hearing. Kennedy said he ousted CDC director Susan Monarez because she wasn’t trustworthy. She said she woudn't approve unscientific directives.

08/29/2025

The firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the resignation of other top agency officials has alarmed medical groups. Sen. Bernie Sanders and others are calling for an investigation into the CDC turmoil, with more calling for the ouster of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, says, "The American people deserve a high functioning agency guided by science, and not having such an agency is costly."

Medical groups protested the removal of Susan Monarez, and warn the agency’s credibility is being threatened. Lawmakers say they want answers.

08/28/2025

The Department of Health & Human Services said tonight that Susan Monarez is no longer leading the CDC. Her attorneys say she refuses to resign amid pressure to enact unscientific directives.

The Department of Health & Human Services says Susan Monarez is no longer leading the CDC. Her attorneys say she wouldn’t sign off on ‘unscientific’ directives and sought to protect the public.

08/12/2025

GLP-1 drugs certainly have gained popularity, and a new RAND Corporation report sheds new light on those who are trying the medications. One in five women between the ages of 50 and 64 have tried them, according to RAND's survey.

More Americans are turning to these drugs to lose weight, and a new RAND report sheds light on the patients using the medication.

08/07/2025

Even as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Benedict Nwachukwu, MD MBA of the Hospital for Special Surgery says it's important to recognize that surgery isn't always the best option. In this essay, he makes the case that conservative care, especially physical therapy, remains underutilized despite strong evidence supporting its effectiveness.

Many patients hope that surgery is the fastest way to healing. But the truth is that for most, surgery is not the best solution.

08/05/2025

He's run marathons and even longer distances, but Lucio Fragoso, president and CEO of Manning Family Children's, is tackling his biggest challenge yet. He's running the Leadville 100 Trail Run, and he's aiming to raise funds for pediatric patients with his "100 Kids, 100 Miles" campaign. "I will run every mile, all 200,000 steps for our kids, and share their story of strength, of resilience, of overcoming, of battling their own mountains and the inspiration that they give us," he says. https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/children-s-hospital-ceo-gears-up-to-run-100-mile-race

07/29/2025

Today, U.S. News and World Report released its annual ranking of America's best hospitals. The list includes the top regional hospitals in America's largest metro areas, the best in certain conditions, and 20 hospitals earning spots on the U.S. News honor roll.

The news outlet has produced the highly anticipated list for more than three decades. Chelsey Wen of U.S. News talks with us about this year’s honorees.