UV Safety Month: Spreading Awareness

Aphasia affects millions of Americans, yet it often goes unrecognized in healthcare settings. This article explores the causes and emotional impact of aphasia, highlights compassionate communication strategies, and outlines therapeutic interventions to support recovery and improve patient outcomes.

Voluntary Prior Authorization Reform Initiative

In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new industry-wide initiative to streamline prior authorization processes. Led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, the roundtable brought together executives from major payers to formalize a set of voluntary commitments aimed at improving access to care and reducing administrative burden.

The effort is intended to advance value-based care goals by promoting interoperability, increasing process transparency, and reducing avoidable delays that contribute to inefficiencies and unnecessary costs across the healthcare continuum.

Executive Order on Price Transparency Act

On February 25, 2025, the Trump administration announced an Executive Order focused on enhancing price transparency in healthcare, a critical step toward empowering patients with clear and actionable pricing information. This initiative is expected to foster competition among providers and payers, ultimately aiming to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient access to care.