Eli Lilly overtakes UnitedHealth Group as world's largest healthcare company

Plus: Just how many calories did Joey Chestnut consume in the hotdog eating contest?

Jul 07, 2023

Good morning and happy Friday! Due to the holiday this week, we are operating on an abbreviated schedule and thus have a lite newsletter for you today.

First, I have a quick note about the podcast. It was our intention to release the Pulse Check on the Candidates profile on Perry Johnson this week but due to a technical issue, it was not published on Wednesday. It will be out next Wednesday, so be sure to subscribe to the FLATLINING Podcast right now so you don’t miss it.

Subscribe to the FLATLINING Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the iHeartRadio app, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, TuneIn, and Audible.

In the news:

First Alzheimer’s drug to slow disease progression expected to get full FDA approval

From CNN: The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide on Thursday whether to grant traditional approval to the Alzheimer’s drug, the first medicine proven to slow the course of the memory-robbing disease. An approval decision would also be expected to trigger a change in how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services covers the drug, broadening access for up to an estimated million people with early forms of the disease. Read more from CNN. (BIIB 0.00%↑)

How Health Care May Be Affected by the High Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling

From KFF Health News: Doctors are concerned that a Supreme Court ruling issued June 29 will have far-reaching effects not only on the diversity of doctors and other care providers in training but ultimately also on patient care. The decision found it is unconstitutional for colleges and universities to use race as a factor in student admissions, which will affect enrollment decisions at public and private educational institutions, including medical schools. Read more from KFF Health News.

Budget battle could delay North Carolina's Medicaid expansion

From the Winston-Salem Journal: Gov. Roy Cooper urged state Republican legislative leaders on Monday to separate funding for Medicaid expansion from the 2023-24 state budget, even though that funding is those leaders' primary leverage against a budget bill veto. Read more in the Winston-Salem Journal.