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Bob Herman

@bobjherman.bsky.social

5K followers 580 following 120 posts

Health care business reporter for @statnews.com and its Health Care Inc. newsletter. Contact: [email protected] or bobjherman.09 on Signal. Sign up: https://www.statnews.com/signup/health-care-inc/

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · 21d

No words www.statnews.com/2025/09/17/m...

Reposted by Bob Herman

STAT @statnews.com · 29d

STAT is 10!

Join us in reflecting on a decade of reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine.

We’re proud that since 2015 we’ve delivered urgent, authoritative, and impactful journalism.

Celebrate with us: www.statnews.com/stat-10th-an...
#STAT10 🧵

STAT 10 Year Anniversary

When we named ourselves “STAT’’ 10 years ago, we conceded, “It takes a bit of chutzpah to name a digital-age life-sciences publication after a buzzword

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Reposted by Bob Herman

Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Aug 25

MAHA turned 1 over the weekend, and it's hard to believe it's only been one year since Kennedy endorsed Trump and kickstarted this movement.

I talked with nearly two dozen people to try and make sense of all that has happened — or not. Lots to unpack!
www.statnews.com/2025/08/25/r...

As MAHA turns 1, a fired-up movement is still figuring out how to fulfill its promises

"That is so brilliant. Why didn’t we think of this before?" As MAHA turns 1, STAT examines the growth of the movement and takes stock of its challenges.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bob Herman

Brittany Trang @brittanytrang.com · Aug 20

We think of AI as something that decreases costs and increases revenue. But _for whom_ does it make more $?

AI scribe companies promise that doctors will now get paid for everything they did in a visit. But where is that money coming from?

All of us.

More from me @statnews.com:
🖥️🩺

AI scribe companies promise to help doctors bill more. Who will pay the extra cost?

Like any conscientious health policy Ph.D. student, Paige Nong went to the doctor for her free annual well visit. But as she checked in, the person at the

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Reposted by Bob Herman

Jason Ukman @jasonukman.bsky.social · Aug 20

New: GLP-1s and cancer care are driving higher employer health care costs in 2026.

Via @tarabannow.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/08/20/h...

GLP-1s, cancer care are driving higher employer health care costs in 2026

Health care costs are set to jump again next year, creating a challenge for employers.

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Aug 19

NEW: Federal judge rules against Elevance in lawsuit over Medicare Advantage star ratings. The Trump-appointed judge torched Elevance's arguments, saying the company ignored basic math. Another L for MA insurers. www.statnews.com/2025/08/19/e...

Elevance loses lawsuit over Medicare Advantage quality ratings

A federal judge rejected Elevance's argument that the government unfair lowered its ratings.

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Reposted by Bob Herman

Lizzy Lawrence @lizzylawrence.bsky.social · Aug 18

Don't miss STAT's analysis of health care CEO's compensation in 2024, led by @bobjherman.bsky.social and @jaspar.bsky.social. 91 health care CEOs earned at least $10 million in 2024. BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin took home more than $300 million.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/18/h...

Health care CEOs harvest billions even as industry lags broader stock market

STAT dug into the compensation of 275 CEOs across health care.

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Aug 18

The health care industry broadly failed its investors in 2024. That didn't stop those leading blue-chip companies from amassing generational wealth. Read and search through our latest CEO pay analysis, where there's no shortage of huge numbers. www.statnews.com/2025/08/18/h...

Health care CEOs harvest billions even as industry lags broader stock market

STAT dug into the compensation of 275 CEOs across health care.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bob Herman

Jason Ukman @jasonukman.bsky.social · Aug 15

Very important work here by @statnews.com reporters on how political oversight is gumming up the process of funding for scientific research.

www.statnews.com/2025/08/15/i...

Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Aug 14

www.statnews.com/2025/08/14/e...

Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Aug 11

Medicare Advantage is costing taxpayers $550 billion this year. UnitedHealth Group and a web of business partners have built a research apparatus — replete with flawed studies and papers — to push back against critics and ward off attempts at MA reform. www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/u...

Inside the research machine that helps UnitedHealth protect its Medicare profits

A STAT Investigation: Inside the research machine that helps UnitedHealth protect its Medicare profits.

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Reposted by Bob Herman

Jonathan Wosen @jonathanwosen.bsky.social · Aug 8

A sweeping new executive order seeks to transform how the federal government awards billions of dollars in research grants. Story via @mmolteni.bsky.social, @aniloza.bsky.social, @angusrohan.bsky.social and me for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/08/08/t...

Trump executive order seeks to centralize control of grantmaking under political appointees

A sweeping new executive order seeks to transform how the federal government awards billions of dollars in research grants

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Aug 7

It's official: DOJ is allowing UnitedHealth Group to acquire Amedisys, as long as it sells more home health and hospice assets than previously announced. UnitedHealth's care footprint will get a lot bigger. More from @tarabannow.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/08/07/d...

DOJ and UnitedHealth reach settlement on $3.3 billion Amedisys deal

The Amedisys deal would add to UnitedHealth's home and hospice-care operations.

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Aug 1

MAGA influencers are attacking Republicans with tweets supporting Medicare Advantage — and some of the language is almost verbatim from a dark money group called the Medicare Advantage Majority. Lawmakers are pissed. @caseyross.bsky.social and John Wilkerson dig in: www.statnews.com/2025/08/01/m...

MAGA influencers take a sudden interest in Medicare Advantage reforms, echoing a dark money group

It's not clear why right wing influencers are suddenly pushing back against Medicare reforms.

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Jul 30

A must-read story into how the outspoken and extremely online Vinay Prasad lasted only 84 days as a top FDA official. Includes a feisty email, obtained by @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, that he sent to FDA staff just days before he left. www.statnews.com/2025/07/30/v...

Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA

Prasad's departure followed a campaign by a right-wing activist and a controversy over a rare disease drug.

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Reposted by Bob Herman

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · Jul 30

If you aren't checking out @statnews.com today, you're missing out. Our newsroom is on fire. So many important stories to read. www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bob Herman

Lizzy Lawrence @lizzylawrence.bsky.social · Jul 30

BREAKING: Vinay Prasad is out at FDA www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/v...

Vinay Prasad departs the FDA

A top FDA official is out after less than 3 months on the job.

www.statnews.com

Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Jul 28

Millions of older adults in America who are extremely destitute qualify for a public benefit called Medicare Savings Programs. Trump's tax law will make it more difficult for these people — again, the poorest of the poor — to get these subsidies. www.statnews.com/2025/07/28/m...

A cut to Medicare that could affect millions is buried in Trump’s tax law

Trump's tax law adds red tape to Medicare Savings Programs, risking coverage losses for low-income seniors.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bob Herman

Jonathan Wosen @jonathanwosen.bsky.social · Jul 25

FDA and NIH are moving away from animal testing. Scientists are split on whether that's a good idea, @marissa-russo.bsky.social and I report for @statnews.com after talking with 10+ researchers across academia and biotech.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/25/n...

NIH, FDA plan to reduce animal testing draws mixed reactions among scientists

As the Trump administration reshapes biomedicine, it wants to change how scientists test drug safety: animal research.

www.statnews.com

Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Jul 24

UnitedHealth Group confirms what has already been widely reported: The Department of Justice has initiated civil and criminal investigations into its "participation in the Medicare program." More from @tarabannow.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/07/24/u...

UnitedHealth confirms DOJ investigations into Medicare practices, says it’s cooperating

UnitedHealth is facing criminal and civil investigations into its Medicare practices

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bob Herman

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · Jul 23

Venus Williams after becoming the oldest WTA match winner since 2004:

“I had to come back for the insurance, because they informed me this year that I’m on cobra. So it’s like, I got to get my benefits on” 😭😭😭😭

Reposted by Bob Herman

Daniel Payne @danielpayne.bsky.social · Jul 21

10 million expected to lose health insurance under Trump’s tax cut law, CBO says

www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/c...

10 million expected to lose health insurance under Trump’s tax cut law, CBO says

Trump's law cuts federal health spending by more than $1 trillion over a decade to help pay for tax cuts.

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Jul 18

A federal judge just tossed out Humana's lawsuit over its downgraded Medicare Advantage star ratings. Humana "did not exhaust the appeal process." Another loss for MA plans that have aggressively sued the gov't over star ratings. But Humana could refile. www.statnews.com/2025/07/18/h...

Judge dismisses Humana’s case over downgraded Medicare Advantage ratings

A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit from Humana that attempted to reinstate higher quality ratings to its 2025 Medicare Advantage plans.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bob Herman

Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Jul 17

This week, MAHA celebrated ice cream without artificial dyes and Coca-Cola without corn syrup. Nutrition experts say...uhhh, it's still Coke and ice cream.

from @sarah-todd.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/07/17/c...

Why MAHA’s push on Coca-Cola and ice cream is 'nutritionally hilarious'

Getting Coca-Cola to use cane sugar rather and ice cream manufacturers to stop their use of synthetic dyes are the latest achievements trumpeted by the Make America Healthy Again movement.

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Bob Herman @bobjherman.bsky.social · Jul 17

The first Medicare physician payment rule under RFK Jr. proposes cuts to thousands of procedures, scans, and tests because doctors have gotten more "efficient" over time. Specialty physicians, and the AMA, are big mad. more w/ @tarabannow.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/07/16/m...

Medicare proposes ‘efficiency’ pay cuts that would hit highly paid specialists the most

Medicare is proposing cuts to how much it pays doctors for many medical procedures, scans, and tests.

www.statnews.com