Chief Healthcare Executive

12/09/2025

Healthcare leaders have denounced the shifting federal guidance on the hepatitis B vaccine, and there may be more changes coming to the childhood vaccine schedule, with President Trump calling for a look at what other countries are doing.

A key advisory panel drops the recommendation for all babies to get the hepatitis B vaccine, and President Trump has ordered a review of the childhood schedule.

11/25/2025

Next week, City of Hope will open its new cancer hospital in Orange County, California. Annette Walker, the president of City of Hope Orange County, is relishing the moment. "It has been an amazing experience, and we’d had such an amazing team that has helped make this happen," she says.

The new facility in Orange County will open its doors Dec. 1. Annette Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, talks about the new hospital and the services it will provide.

10/20/2025

Mark Cuban certainly didn't hold back in his appearance at HLTH USA. Speaking before thousands of healthcare leaders Sunday, he railed against the forces that put prescription drugs and health care out of the reach of too many Americans. And he urged the leaders in the audience to be part of the solution, because, "We are complicit."

The famed entrepreneur headlined the first day of the health tech conference and said nothing would make him happier than disrupting the industry.

10/17/2025

The HLTH USA conference kicks off in Las Vegas Sunday. We talked with Rich Scarfo, HLTH's president, about some of the big themes of the event. FYI: We will be in Vegas reporting from the conference, so look for our coverage.

The HLTH conference kicks off this Sunday in Las Vegas, and it’ll spotlight important conversations during a turbulent time.

10/14/2025

More than 40,000 Kaiser Permanente employees have launched a strike today. Union leaders say the five-day strike comes after unsuccessful talks on a new contract. The health system says its facilities are open, but some non-urgent appointments may be postponed.

The health system says its facilities will remain open during the planned five-day strike. Those walking out include registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists.

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.