Several hospital and health system executives have stepped down or announced plans to step down from their positions. 

Johnson & Johnson has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the cardiovascular medical device company Shockwave Medical, the drugmaker said April 5.  

Most health systems saw revenues grow in 2023 as patient volumes rebounded and provider productivity increased. However, expenses continued to grow at a rapid rate, outpacing revenue for many systems. 

Primary care providers who commit to practicing in shortage areas for two years may have as much as $75,000 in medical student debt forgiven through the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Health system operating margins improved in 2023 after a tumultuous 2022. Increased revenue from rebounding patient volumes helped offset the high costs of labor and supplies for many systems, but some continue to face challenges turning a financial corner. 

About 3.2 million registered nurses are employed in the U.S., and California is the state with the highest employment level in RNs, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released April 3 and reflecting information from May 2023.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists partly welcomed HHS' 18-page policy recommendations for drug shortage strategies, but the organization said it "proposes concerning penalties."

Oregon has become the first state in the U.S. to adopt legislation changing the "physician assistant" title to "physician associate." 

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals is withdrawing its FDA-approved therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Relyvrio, from the market after a phase 3 study failure, the company said April 4. 

In Flint, Mich., every pregnant and postpartum mother can receive $7,500 in aid over the first year of their baby's life through a new program called Rx Kids. 

Many health systems have been busy planning new hospitals and expansion projects.

In late 2022, Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health merged to form Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health. Since then, the 67-hospital system has had to shape its supply chain road map. 

Family Hospital at Papillion (Neb.) abruptly closed late March after its sister hospital, Family Hospital at Millard in Omaha, shut down at the end of January. Both hospitals were part of Texas-based Family Hospital Systems.

Denver-based HealthOne — part of HCA Healthcare — and Galen College of Nursing are planning to open a new campus in Aurora, Colo. 

Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami received a $15 million gift for its cancer and blood disorders institute from South Florida philanthropists Helen and Jacob Shaham.

Retail healthcare disruptors' fortunes have been heading in different directions lately.

Teladoc Health's CEO Jason Gorevic is leaving his role as head of the company effective immediately. 

Change Healthcare has asked a U.S. court panel to consolidate dozens of cyberattack-related lawsuits to a federal court in Tennessee.

Columbia, Md.-based MedStar Health is teaming up with Dispatch Health to provide acute care services in patients' homes. 

A federal appeals court sided with Microsoft's Nuance Communications over a lawsuit involving its medical imaging technology.