Buzz Newsletter 11/6/2025
Medicare Cuts Pay for Specialty Docs
On Friday, CMS released the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule, cutting pay for some specialty physicians in an "efficiency adjustment." Those specialties include outpatient surgeries and pain management, among others.
CMS says the adjustments will support primary care physicians and normalize the reimbursement between specialists and primary care docs.
Still No Action on Subsidies
Millions of Americans on the healthcare exchange got their open enrollment information this week, and for many of those patients it came with considerable sticker shock. Without federal tax subsidies in place, the average cost of a typical plan went up as much as 26%. Some plans doubled in cost. Technically, Congress has until the end of the year to enact the subsidies, but the longer they take the bigger mess for insurers and patients.
Some outlets have interviewed patients who have seen their premiums increase as much as 300%, including this article from ABC News.
The New York Times is among many publications with a guide to choosing the right coverage in the current climate. Here in Georgia, patients access insurance plans through the Georgia Access network website, which has a calculator to estimate your premiums for 2026 if you're new to the exchange networks.
Blood Test Delivers Accurate Diagnosis for CFS
We knew someone with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome almost two decades ago, before most people knew what it was. She was also a pharmacist but that's (probably) unrelated. It's been difficult to diagnose and patients presenting with symptoms are often dismissed.
A team from the University of East Anglia* has developed a blood test that accurately diagnosis CFS by comparing specific genomic patterns in patients with CFS. They also believe it will be beneficial in diagnosing Long Covid.
*it's two hours northeast of London by train, in Norwich, not far from the coast.
Roche Buys Access to AI for Brain Drugs
Roche spent $55 million to access AI technology from Manifold Bio in the hopes of finding specific pathways in the brain that will lead to more targeted treatment of some diseases. These pathways can cross the brain-blood barrier and the hope is they will transport medication across the barrier so that the brain can benefit from these treatments. The barrier is a protective measure that keeps out harmful substances, but can also keep medication and treatment from reaching parts of the brain that need it.
The AI technology evaluates these shuttles in a living organism, rather than just in the old fashioned petri dish, which could speed up the research and lead to better medications faster.
Some Meds Disrupt the Gut for Years
We're hearing a lot about the gut biome, the conglomeration of beneficial bacteria, fungus, and yeast that live and work in our digestive system. We've also known for years that some medications disrupt that ecosystem, including antibiotics.
A new study shows antibiotics are not alone in that arena, and the list of disruptive medications can include antidepressants, beta-blockers, stomach acid-reducers and anti-anxiety drugs. Moreso, the disruption can last for years after the discontinuation of the medications.
Treatment Improvements for Myasthenia Gravis in Teens
New studies show two MG drugs approved for adults -- efgartigimod (Vyvgart) and nipocalimab (Imaavy) -- can treat teens with MG. The studies are important in bringing proper dosages to pediatricians treating adolescents with MG, a disease that interrupts the communication between nerves and muscles, causing muscle weakness, often in the face, throat, arms and legs.
While generalized MG is rare in teenagers, it hasn't had much in the way of treatment options until now.
Docs Won't Recommend Use in Children with Autism
The American Academy of Pediatrics says it is not recommending the use of leucovorin in the treatment of children with autism, even though the Department of Health and Human Services touted it as treatment for cerebral folate deficiency.
Per the AAP's press release, "the current evidence base remains too limited to support specific clinical recommendations. Key questions about who may benefit, what dosing and monitoring are appropriate, and what the long-term safety profile looks like have not yet been adequately answered. Larger, well-controlled clinical trials are needed to determine whether leucovorin is a safe and effective option for the broader autistic pediatric population."
Mark Cuban Testifies on Drug Pricing
Billionaire and Cost Plus Drugs founder Mark Cuban testified before a special Senate Committee on Aging hearing, meant to explore how "shoppable" health care services benefit patients. Topics included the impact of PBMs on patient care and independent pharmacy. You can watch the entire hearing here, but this is our favorite highlight from Cuban:
"Let me tell you something a lot of people don't appreciate: That last five feet between the patients and the pharmacist is some of the most important time any patient will ever spend, because if they're getting medication that conflicts with each other, then some really bad things can happen. So we underappreciate pharmacists, and the big PBMs are literally — purposefully as far as I can tell — putting them out of business."
A Treatment for TB?
Researchers at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, developed a compound that attacks tuberculosis bacteria. The compound is called CMX410 and targets a weak point in the bacteria that could lead to more effective treatment of tuberculosis.
While we think of TB as an old-fashioned disease*, cases of tuberculosis are increasing, with 10.8 million new cases reported in 2023 around the world. In the U.S., the CDC reported 10,347 cases in 2024.
*Famous TB patients include Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gaugin, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Louis Stevenson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Gandhi.
Sunflowers Could Power Next Vegan Meat
While not personally a fan of vegan anything, we understand there are folks out there who prefer a diet free of animal products. The holy grail of vegan food seems to be meat, and scientists are working hard to develop nutritionally viable meat substitutes. Researchers in Brazil have created a new meat substitute made from sunflower flour.
It had a mild flavor and strong nutritional profile, with high levels of minerals and health fats. It's also sustainable and non-GMO.
Fall Meetings In Full Swing
If you haven't registered for your upcoming Fall Region meeting, do it now. You can see the full list here as well as register for your local event. Here are the upcoming dates (in chronological order):
Region 5 - Tuesday, November 11, Alpharetta
Region 11 - Thursday, November 13, Augusta
Region 10 - Wednesday, December 3, Athens
Our Region Presidents have lined up some great programming, sponsors, and locations, so make sure you reserve your spot today!
