This week on "Podnosis," you'll hear from Christina Brezing, a research scientist at New York State Psychiatric Institute. She sat down with Fierce's Anastassia Gliadkovskaya to discuss the rise of prescription digital therapeutics.

Also under discussion is pharmacy benefit managers. A.J. Loiacono cofounded Capital Rx, a startup health tech PBM. He talks to Fierce's Frank Diamond about ways to fix the PBM industry and how his little company can compete with the giants.

To learn more about topics in this episode: 
Big Health hauls in $75M to ramp up commercialization, launch new digital mental health therapeutics
Sidekick Health nets $55M to bolster digital therapeutics programs
Click Therapeutics inches closer to first FDA OK with breakthrough nod for migraine app
Why startup PBM Capital Rx wants to break the industry's 'roulette wheel of pricing'
Capital Rx CEO: PBM industry needs to be repaired, not ditched
Capital Rx rakes in $106M funding round as it continues to build out JUDI platform
'The Top Line': Part 2 of a series on Narcan, the lifesaving nasal spray

Podnosis is produced by senior multimedia producer Teresa Carey. The stories are by all our “Fierce” journalists. Like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

This week on "Podnosis," you'll hear from Christina Brezing, a research scientist at New York State Psychiatric Institute. She sat down with Fierce's Anastassia Gliadkovskaya to discuss the rise of prescription digital therapeutics.
Also under discussion is pharmacy benefit managers. A.J. Loiacono cofounded Capital Rx, a startup health tech PBM. He talks to Fierce's Frank Diamond about ways to fix the PBM industry and how his little company can compete with the giants.
To learn more about topics in this episode: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/digital-health/big-health-hauls-75m-to-ramp-up-its-digital-mental-health-therapeutics-business">Big Health hauls in $75M to ramp up commercialization, launch new digital mental health therapeutics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/sidekick-health-nets-55m-step-digital-therapeutics-spotlight">Sidekick Health nets $55M to bolster digital therapeutics programs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/click-therapeutics-inches-closer-1st-fda-ok-breakthrough-nod-migraine-treatment-app">Click Therapeutics inches closer to first FDA OK with breakthrough nod for migraine app</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/why-startup-pbm-capital-rx-wants-to-breaking-industry-s-roulette-wheel-pricing">Why startup PBM Capital Rx wants to break the industry's 'roulette wheel of pricing'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/head-capital-rx-argues-pbm-industry-needs-be-repaired-not-ditched">Capital Rx CEO: PBM industry needs to be repaired, not ditched</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/capital-rx-rakes-106m-funding-round-it-continues-build-out-judi-platform">Capital Rx rakes in $106M funding round as it continues to build out JUDI platform</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/top-line-part-2-series-narcan-life-saving-nasal-spray">'The Top Line': Part 2 of a series on Narcan, the lifesaving nasal spray</a></li>
</ul>
Podnosis is produced by senior multimedia producer Teresa Carey. The stories are by all our “Fierce” journalists. Like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Digital therapeutics, and how to fix PBMs

Elevated medical costs and policy turmoil continued to affect the financial performance of payers and providers in the second quarter. Providers are still feeling the sting of fluctuations in ACA plan enrollment, while payers pointed to the No Surprises Act’s arbitration process as a major challenge.

Fierce Healthcare editor Dave Muoio and senior writer Paige Minemyer sit down for another deep dive into the biggest trends emerging from second-quarter earnings calls.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Insurers see positive results in managing health costs in Q2
Ardent Health offsets Q2 volume stumble by tightening costs, renegotiating contracts
CVS enhances supports for patients taking GLP-1s
Universal Health Services tops Q2 expectations, but dials back full-year earnings
Tenet Healthcare shrugs off ACA headwinds with sweeping Q2 outperformance, boosts 2026 guidance
HCA Healthcare's H1 ACA volume dropoffs 'almost one for one' shifted to uninsurance
UnitedHealthcare exec says 'ineffective' No Surprises Act IDR process demands reform

Elevated medical costs and policy turmoil continued to affect the financial performance of payers and providers in the second quarter. Providers are still feeling the sting of fluctuations in ACA plan enrollment, while payers pointed to the No Surprises Act&rsquo;s arbitration process as a major challenge.
Fierce Healthcare editor Dave Muoio and senior writer Paige Minemyer sit down for another deep dive into the biggest trends emerging from second-quarter earnings calls.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/payer-2026-q2-earnings-unitedhealth-cvs-cigna-elevance-health" data-processed-url="true">Insurers see positive results in managing health costs in Q2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/ardent-health-offsets-q2-volume-stumble-tightening-costs-renegotiating-contracts" data-processed-url="true">Ardent Health offsets Q2 volume stumble by tightening costs, renegotiating contracts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cvs-raises-guidance-it-posts-3b-profit-106b-revenue-q2" data-processed-url="true">CVS enhances supports for patients taking GLP-1s</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/universal-health-services-tops-q2-expectations-dials-back-full-year-earnings" data-processed-url="true">Universal Health Services tops Q2 expectations, but dials back full-year earnings</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/tenet-healthcare-shrugs-aca-headwinds-sweeping-q2-outperformance-boosts-2026-guidance" data-processed-url="true">Tenet Healthcare shrugs off ACA headwinds with sweeping Q2 outperformance, boosts 2026 guidance</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/hca-healthcare-reports-203b-q2-revenue-amid-aca-coverage-disruptions" data-processed-url="true">HCA Healthcare's H1 ACA volume dropoffs 'almost one for one' shifted to uninsurance</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/unitedhealthcare-exec-says-ineffective-no-surprises-act-idr-process-demands-reform" data-processed-url="true">UnitedHealthcare exec says 'ineffective' No Surprises Act IDR process demands reform</a></li>
</ul>

The biggest payer and provider trends from Q2

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires proactive early intervention and treatment to achieve the best long-term outcomes. But recommendations for MS patients who are pregnant can be murky.

Driven by knowledge gaps and concerns about the effects of disease-modifying therapies on the fetus, providers have often advised MS patients not to become pregnant. However, emerging research shows that patients can safely continue certain MS medications during pregnancy.

Katrina Bawden, a family nurse practitioner and MS-certified nurse at Rocky Mountain MS Clinic, is working to fill the research gap by tracking pregnancies among women with MS. She discusses the outcomes she is seeing with Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
'We want to feel heard': Jamie-Lynn Sigler on how pharmas can better serve patients
As Roche eyes busy 2026, Vabysmo undershoots targets and Tecentriq fails early lung cancer study 
Fewer than 1% of clinical trials in the US include pregnant patients, study finds

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires proactive early intervention and treatment to achieve the best long-term outcomes. But recommendations for MS patients who are pregnant can be murky.
Driven by knowledge gaps and concerns about the effects of disease-modifying therapies on the fetus, providers have often advised MS patients not to become pregnant. However, <a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/evidence-shifts-perspective-multiple-sclerosis-drug-use-2025a1000fex?form=fpf">emerging research</a> shows that patients can safely continue certain MS medications during pregnancy.
Katrina Bawden, a family nurse practitioner and MS-certified nurse at Rocky Mountain MS Clinic, is working to fill the research gap by tracking pregnancies among women with MS. She discusses the outcomes she is seeing with Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/we-want-feel-heard-jamie-lynn-sigler-how-pharmas-can-better-serve-patients" data-processed-url="true">'We want to feel heard': Jamie-Lynn Sigler on how pharmas can better serve patients</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/roche-eyes-busy-2026-vabysmo-undershoots-targets-tecentriq-fails-early-lung-cancer-study" data-processed-url="true">As Roche eyes busy 2026, Vabysmo undershoots targets and Tecentriq fails early lung cancer study</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/cro/fewer-1-clinical-trials-us-include-pregnant-patients-study-finds" data-processed-url="true">Fewer than 1% of clinical trials in the US include pregnant patients, study finds</a></li>
</ul>

Closing the gaps in MS care during pregnancy

It’s no secret that healthcare is complicated. Patients face escalating costs and significant complexity as they try to navigate their own health journeys.

That’s why CVS Health is making significant investments to improve the consumer experience and simplify patients’ interactions with the healthcare system. Amy Compton-Phillips, M.D., the company’s chief medical officer, joins senior writer Paige Minemyer to unpack initiatives such as CVS Health 100 and discuss what the ideal patient experience might look like.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
CVS unveils Health 100, its new Google-powered consumer engagement platform
A look at how CVS is leaning on 'agentic twins' in developing consumer tech
Inside Aetna's investments to build provider trust
Consumers' satisfaction with health plan apps improves with familiarity: JD Power

It&rsquo;s no secret that healthcare is complicated. Patients face escalating costs and significant complexity as they try to navigate their own health journeys.
That&rsquo;s why CVS Health is making significant investments to improve the consumer experience and simplify patients&rsquo; interactions with the healthcare system. Amy Compton-Phillips, M.D., the company&rsquo;s chief medical officer, joins senior writer Paige Minemyer to unpack initiatives such as CVS Health 100 and discuss what the ideal patient experience might look like.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/cvs-unveils-health-100-its-new-google-powered-consumer-engagement-platform">CVS unveils Health 100, its new Google-powered consumer engagement platform</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/look-how-cvs-leaning-agentic-twins-developing-consumer-tech">A look at how CVS is leaning on 'agentic twins' in developing consumer tech</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/why-aetna-investing-improvements-build-provider-trust">Inside Aetna's investments to build provider trust</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/consumers-satisfaction-health-plan-apps-improves-familiarity-jd-power">Consumers' satisfaction with health plan apps improves with familiarity: JD Power</a></li>
</ul>

Digital therapeutics, and how to fix PBMs

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