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Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:19:35 GMT WSJ.com: Health http://www.wsj.com/img/wsj_sm_logo.gif https://www.wsj.com/health WP-WSJ-0003976420 Seniors could get hit with surprise bills or learn too late that their primary-care doctor is out of network if they’re not careful in choosing their Medicare plan Seniors need to pay attention to who is in network and what added charges they may face. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/buyer-beware-new-medicare-plans-have-fewer-benefits-higher-costs-fc013cff?mod=rss_socialhealth Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:10:00 GMT Anna Wilde Mathews Daisy Korpics/WSJ, Getty, iStock WP-WSJ-0003973044 Companies are developing new drugs that attack formerly undruggable targets, which could lead to advances in stubborn cancers and even Parkinson’s New medications are showing promise in going after a certain kind of hard-to-target protein in diseased cells. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/big-pharma-is-pouring-billions-into-a-new-class-of-protein-degrader-drugs-9de1078e?mod=rss_socialhealth Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT Lizzy Lawrence Getty Images/Science Photo Library WP-WSJ-0003973135 Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer, following surgery that removed part of his right lung The 71-year-old pontiff underwent an operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. https://www.wsj.com/world/pope-leo-xiv-lung-cancer-a465cbe8?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:18:00 GMT Margherita Stancati Victoria Albert Ciro De Luca/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003972364 Federal and state regulators asked a judge to hold “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli in contempt, alleging he traded drug stocks despite a lifetime ban from the pharmaceutical industry Regulators allege the ex-drug executive held more than 60 pharmaceutical stocks despite a court order barring him from the industry. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/ftc-states-ask-court-to-hold-pharma-bro-shkreli-in-contempt-for-trading-drug-stocks-152dbc30?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 13 Oct 2026 21:06:00 GMT Xavier Martinez Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003972759 CVS Health Unit to Pay $315 Million to Resolve Illegal Opioid Prescription Claims The U.S. government alleged that CVS knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, weren’t valid or weren’t issued in the usual course of professional practice. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/cvs-health-unit-to-pay-315-million-to-resolve-illegal-opioid-prescription-claims-47b83b92?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:42:00 GMT Katherine Hamilton Mario Tama/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003972336 Health Care Roundup: Market Talk Gain insight on Johnson & Johnson in the latest Market Talks covering the health care sector. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/health-care-roundup-market-talk-86542959?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:32:00 GMT Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003971244 UnitedHealth Charts Continued Turnaround UnitedHealth Group reported third-quarter net income of $4.11 billion, or $4.56 a share. That compared with net income of $2.35 billion, or $2.59 a share, a year earlier. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/unitedhealth-charts-continued-turnaround-346c1b6b?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT Anna Wilde Mathews mike blake/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003963309 Humana Says 95% of Medicare Advantage Members in 4-Star Plans for 2027 Humana said 95% of its Medicare Advantage members are enrolled in plans rated at least four stars for 2027, an improvement that could make more of its membership eligible for quality-related bonus payments. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/humana-says-95-of-medicare-advantage-members-in-4-star-plans-for-2027-b81a29de?mod=rss_socialhealth Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:09:00 GMT Connor Hart ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS WP-WSJ-0003960440 Michigan’s attorney general filed an antitrust suit against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, alleging the insurer used its dominant position to drive up health costs for patients The state attorney general alleges the insurer used its dominant position to drive up health costs for patients. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/michigan-files-antitrust-suit-against-blue-cross-blue-shield-over-rising-costs-b250ed15?mod=rss_socialhealth Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:51:00 GMT Anna Wilde Mathews Eric Seals/USA TODAY NETWORK/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003954487 Don’t like that hospital bill? Don’t pay it, a new genre of social-media influencers say As costs to patients explode, so do social-media posts suggesting people think twice about paying high bills. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/these-influencers-are-on-a-mission-to-stop-people-from-paying-medical-bills-4843da3d?mod=rss_socialhealth Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 GMT Peter Loftus Uncredited WP-WSJ-0003949611 Texas AG Paxton Launches Investigation Into UnitedHealth Group Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sent civil investigative demands to the company to collect evidence around potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, according to his office. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/texas-ag-paxton-launches-investigation-into-unitedhealth-group-bc6ce142?mod=rss_socialhealth Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:24:00 GMT Elias Schisgall Michael Nagle/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003960126 Viatris to Buy Pacira BioSciences for $1.65 Billion Viatris has agreed to buy pain-drug maker Pacira BioSciences for $1.65 billion in a deal that expands the healthcare company’s medicines portfolio. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/viatris-to-buy-pacira-biosciences-for-1-65-billion-0ba22d4d?mod=rss_socialhealth Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:48:00 GMT Colin Kellaher Dado Ruvic/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003959588 Argenx Shares Plunge After Autoimmune-Disease Trial Halt The stock was down 18%, wiping out year-to-date gains after the biotech stopped a late-stage clinical trial of its Vyvgart drug due to lack of efficacy. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/argenx-shares-plunge-after-autoimmune-disease-trial-halt-2b547546?mod=rss_socialhealth Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:13:00 GMT Adrià Calatayud Agence France-Presse/Getty Image WP-WSJ-0003919526 Chinese factories that make the ingredients that go into fentanyl have pivoted to making peptides that are unregulated and sold online in the U.S. Black-market manufacturers are selling substances that promise to tan skin, repair tissue and help with weight loss. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/chinese-makers-of-fentanyl-ingredients-now-sell-bootleg-peptides-to-americans-c383160b?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:49:00 GMT Patricia Kowsmann Sara Ashley O’Brien Alexandra Citrin-Safadi/WSJ WP-WSJ-0003951853 Genmab Shares Climb After Positive Study Results for Blood-Cancer Drug The Danish company and AbbVie said their Epkinly drug helped extend the time patients with a common type of lymphoma lived. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/genmab-shares-climb-after-positive-study-results-for-blood-cancer-drug-c444693f?mod=rss_socialhealth Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:35:00 GMT Adrià Calatayud Joost Melis WP-WSJ-0003946026 Tennessee’s failed execution of Christa Pike this week has resulted in fresh scrutiny of the shaky and secretive supply chain for lethal injection drugs U.S. states’ methods for obtaining the drugs used in carrying out executions are shrouded in secrecy. https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/botched-tennessee-execution-draws-scrutiny-of-lethal-injection-drugs-55cb4bc6?mod=rss_socialhealth Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT Alex Janin Lizzy Lawrence Jae S. Lee/USA TODAY NETWORK/REUTERS WP-WSJ-0003961372 You might be less lactose tolerant than you know, explains Your Health columnist Sumathi Reddy Most of us have difficulty digesting lactose to different degrees, but there are ways to minimize discomfort. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/even-if-dairy-bothers-you-ice-cream-might-not-be-off-the-table-ca80ae1a?mod=rss_socialhealth Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Sumathi Reddy Jimin Kim/SOPA Images/ZUMA Press WP-WSJ-0003964636 Can fitness wearables really track your blood pressure without the panic-inducing arm squeeze? @nicnguyen tested out five options and consulted with cardiologists. Here’s what she found. Health trackers can now alert you to shifts you can’t feel. Doctors warn the data might give you anxiety—or a false sense of security. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/blood-pressure-monitoring-rings-watches-98949dde?mod=rss_socialhealth Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:00 GMT Nicole Nguyen WP-WSJ-0003963711 Doctors weigh in on the interest in experimental peptides to boost women’s fertility. Read more in this week’s WSJ Wellness newsletter. More women are trying experimental peptides to get pregnant. Plus, people who refuse to pay their medical bills and weather-related bug problems. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/doctors-weigh-in-on-peptides-and-fertility-a8d33871?mod=rss_socialhealth Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:55:00 GMT Sara Ashley O’Brien Victoria Rosselli/WSJ, iStock WP-WSJ-0003960927 Can aging well be gamed? Our columnist took part in a longevity fitness challenge to find out. Our columnist took part in a longevity fitness challenge to find out how well he’s aging and learn how people are turning back the clock. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/superagers-longevity-72b64c63?mod=rss_socialhealth Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:26:00 GMT Jamie Waters Evan Angelastro for WSJ WP-WSJ-0003944479 Brands and influencers are aligning their nicotine products with performance and health. Here’s what medical experts say. Read more in this week’s WSJ Wellness newsletter. A look at the recent positive spin on the highly addictive drug. Plus, the rise of adults cutting off their parents and shock waves from the Cornell sexual-assault case. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/can-the-wellness-world-rebrand-nicotine-1503c245?mod=rss_socialhealth Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:03:00 GMT Sara Ashley O’Brien Getty Images