SUMMARY: President-elect Donald Trump nominated celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Oz, known for his investments in healthcare, tech, and food companies, holds significant stakes in UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Amazon, and other companies involved in health insurance and pharmaceuticals, raising potential conflicts of interest. His financial ties include hospital stocks and pharmaceutical investments. Oz has expressed support for Medicare Advantage and criticized the food and healthcare industries. Critics question whether Oz can separate his financial interests from his role, particularly with companies doing business with the federal government.

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SUMMARY: Florida’s plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, approved by the FDA nearly a year ago, has yet to launch. Governor Ron DeSantis praised the program, anticipated to save state agencies up to $180 million, but officials lack a start date. Despite bipartisan support for drug importation, complications persist, including operational challenges and safety concerns from the pharmaceutical industry. DeSantis has filed lawsuits against the FDA for delays and Florida has already spent $50 million on the initiative with no drugs imported. Other states, like Colorado, face similar hurdles in establishing importation programs.

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SUMMARY: California’s Office of Health Care Affordability has set a goal for insurers to allocate 15% of their spending to primary care by 2034, aiming to address the state’s shortage of primary care providers and improve preventive care. The current spending rate is 7%. This ambitious target seeks to reduce long-term healthcare costs by emphasizing early diagnosis and disease prevention. However, the state’s plan faces challenges, as it conflicts with a 3.5% cap on overall healthcare spending growth. The state will monitor progress, offering financial incentives to insurers who meet primary care spending goals, with the hope of expanding access and improving health outcomes.

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