The Matrix Consulting, LLC

Insurance CEO hearings: Takeaways from a long day on Capitol Hill Top executives from UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Elevance Health, Cigna and Ascendiun got an earful from Congress on Thursday.

Insurance CEO hearings: Takeaways from a long day on Capitol Hill
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-congress-unitedhealth-cvs-cigna-ceo-pbm/?utm_content=article1-headline&utm_source=modern-healthcare-am&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260123

Check out my latest article over at @adapadvocacy.bsky.social:

“Of greater concern is the possibility that these lower prices are merely stopgap measures that will remain in place only as long as the Trump Administration remains in office.”

Read more:

New analysis finds 340B hospitals push patients toward costly care to boost profits

No one should be shocked by these findings...

👇

"New analysis finds 340B hospitals push patients toward costly care to boost profits" phrma.org/blog/new-ana...

The number of new drug shortages in U.S. hits lowest level in 20 years, but myriad problems remain The number of ongoing prescription drug shortages rose slightly in the last quarter of 2025, but remained significantly lower than the all-time high reached in the beginning of 2024.

The number of new drug shortages in U.S. hits lowest level in 20 years, but myriad problems remain www.statnews.com/pharmalot/20... via @statnews.com

When Insurance Companies Profit From Denying Your Care But hey, they claim they're not practicing medicine!

But hey, they claim they're not practicing medicine! https://archo-advocate-brief.beehiiv.com/p/when-insurance-companies-profit-from-denying-your-care via Archo Advocacy

PlusInc honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr!

#MLKDay2026

RFK Jr. is moving to remake a little-known vaccine panel. It could have big consequences Firing the advisory panel's members could be a first step toward revamping the vaccine injury compensation system.

RFK Jr. is moving to remake a little-known vaccine panel. It could have big consequences https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/kennedy-fires-vaccine-injury-compensation-advisers-vicp-accv/ via STAT

In case you missed our latest blog, "Trump Administration Pushes Two New Rebate Models, But Will They Help Patients?"
https://adapadvocacyassociation.blogspot.com/2026/01/trump-administration-pushes-two-new.html #GUARD #GLOBE #Rebates #DrugPricing

Trump’s Drug Pricing Proposals Draw Legal Questions From Pharma The Trump administration’s plan to lower US drug costs through two new pricing models is prompting legal concerns from the pharmaceutical industry over the government’s authority to implement programs...

Trump’s Drug Pricing Proposals Draw Legal Questions From Pharma
news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-a...

Florida proposes cutting eligibility for an AIDS drug program, causing panic In a surprise move, Florida officials have proposed drastically reducing eligibility for the state AIDS drug assistance program.

Florida proposes cutting eligibility for an AIDS drug program, causing panic www.statnews.com/pharmalot/20... via @statnews

Trump Administration Pushes Two New Rebate Models, But Will They Help Patients?
https://adapadvocacyassociation.blogspot.com/2026/01/trump-administration-pushes-two-new.html #GUARD #GLOBE #Rebates #DrugPricing

Map of Alabama showing the prevalence of asthma in different counties in 2024. The map is color-coded to represent the percentage of adults with asthma in each county, ranging from 9.5% to 12.1%. Macon and Hale counties are highlighted as having the highest prevalence of asthma in Appalachian Alabama at 12.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The overall prevalence of asthma in Appalachian Alabama is 10.6%, meaning more than 1 out of every 10 adults living in these counties has been diagnosed with asthma

#DidYouKnow

#AdultLiteracy and arthritis are strongly correlated in Alabama, with a #PearsonCoefficient of 0.7 out of 1.0.

Check out our website for more info:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Map of Alabama showing the prevalence of asthma in different counties in 2024. The map is color-coded to represent the percentage of adults with asthma in each county, ranging from 9.5% to 12.1%. Macon and Hale counties are highlighted as having the highest prevalence of asthma in Appalachian Alabama at 12.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The overall prevalence of asthma in Appalachian Alabama is 10.6%, meaning more than 1 out of every 10 adults living in these counties has been diagnosed with asthma

#DidYouKnow

Macon and Hale Counties have the highest prevalence of arthritis in #Appalachian #AL, at 12.1%% & 11.5%, respectively, compared to the state rate of 9.6% and the national rate of 10.4%

Check out our website for more info:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Map of Alabama showing the prevalence of asthma in different counties in 2024. The map is color-coded to represent the percentage of adults with asthma in each county, ranging from 9.5% to 12.1%. Macon and Hale counties are highlighted as having the highest prevalence of asthma in Appalachian Alabama at 12.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The overall prevalence of asthma in Appalachian Alabama is 10.6%, meaning more than 1 out of every 10 adults living in these counties has been diagnosed with asthma

#DidYouKnow

More than 1 out of every 10 adults (10.6%) living in #Alabama are living with #Asthma.

Check out our website for more info:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Infographic "Adult Obesity in Alabama" reporting that 39.5% of adults in the region struggle with obesity. Macon (46.0%) and Chambers (45.6%) counties have the highest rates. A color-coded map ranges from 32% (yellow) to 46% (green). A visual ratio shows nearly 4 out of 10 adults (illustrated as 2 of 5 icons) are affected. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024. Includes Appalachian Learning Initiative branding.

#DidYouKnow

#AdultLiteracy and Obesity are strongly correlated in Alabama, with a #PearsonCoefficient of 0.7 out of 1.0.

Check out our website for more #PublicHealth information:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Infographic "Adult Obesity in Alabama" reporting that 39.5% of adults in the region struggle with obesity. Macon (46.0%) and Chambers (45.6%) counties have the highest rates. A color-coded map ranges from 32% (yellow) to 46% (green). A visual ratio shows nearly 4 out of 10 adults (illustrated as 2 of 5 icons) are affected. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024. Includes Appalachian Learning Initiative branding.

#DidYouKnow

Macon and Chambers Counties have the highest prevalence of #AdultObesity in #Appalachian #AL, at 46.0% & 45.6%, respectively, compared to the state rate of 39% and the national rate of 31.9%

Check out our website for more #PublicHealth information:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Infographic "Adult Obesity in Alabama" reporting that 39.5% of adults in the region struggle with obesity. Macon (46.0%) and Chambers (45.6%) counties have the highest rates. A color-coded map ranges from 32% (yellow) to 46% (green). A visual ratio shows nearly 4 out of 10 adults (illustrated as 2 of 5 icons) are affected. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024. Includes Appalachian Learning Initiative branding.

#DidYouKnow

Nearly 2 out of every 5 adults (39.5%) living in #Alabama are living with #Obesity.

Check out our website for more #PublicHealth information:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

A promotional image with a dramatic forest silhouette against an orange-yellow sunset. The Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) asks: "Do you provide adult education services in Appalachia? Take our Appalachian Adult Education Provider Survey!" The image provides the survey link: https://cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-Ed-Survey, a QR code, and APPLI's social media handles.

#DidYouKnow

Nearly 2 out of 3 adults (65.1%) living in the Appalachian Region read at or below an 8th grade level, including nearly 1 out of 4 (23.9%) who read below a 3rd grade level.

If you provide #AdultEducation services in Appalachia, please complete our survey:

cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-Ed-Survey

A serene, stylized illustration of layered Appalachian mountains fading into the distance in shades of blue and purple. The text promotes reading, stating: "This winter, let a book spark in you a fire," from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI).

APPLI's #BookRecommendations are back, and this #Winter, we want to spark the fires of curiosity, learning, and action in our readers.

This season, #APPLIOrg is examining how populations can be controlled and manipulated by both corporations and governments:

www.appli.org/appli-reading-lists

Check out my latest article over at @adapadvocacy.bsky.social:

“…the wider health care system may benefit from a rebate, but the patient may see no reduction in their costs.”

‘Absolutely no detail’: experts alarmed as Trump unveils healthcare plan Months after Trump spoke of ‘concepts of a plan’, framework offers few specifics – and could stall in Congress

Absolutely no detail’: experts alarmed as Trump unveils healthcare plan
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Infographic for Hale County, Alabama (Population: 14,888). Key statistics: 90% of adults struggle with basic math, 23.9% live in extreme poverty, 26.4% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance, and 14.1% spend over 50% of income on housing. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. (403 characters)

#DidYouKnow

Many in Hale County face significant barriers:

🥫 More than 1 out of 4 residents relies on #SNAP

💰 Nearly 1 out of 4 residents lives in extreme #Poverty

🏡 Nearly 1 out of 7 residents spends more than 50% of their income on #Housing

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Infographic for Hale County, Alabama (Population: 14,888). Key statistics: 90% of adults struggle with basic math, 23.9% live in extreme poverty, 26.4% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance, and 14.1% spend over 50% of income on housing. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. (403 characters)

#DidYouKnow

#APPLIOrg has been unable to identify adult education providers serving Hale County.

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

Infographic for Hale County, Alabama (Population: 14,888). Key statistics: 90% of adults struggle with basic math, 23.9% live in extreme poverty, 26.4% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance, and 14.1% spend over 50% of income on housing. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. (403 characters)

#DidYouKnow

Hale County, #Alabama, has the lowest #AdultNumeracy rate among the state's #Appalachian counties.

➗ 9 out of every 10 adults (90%) struggle with basic #Math.

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama

A simple donation request graphic from APPLI on a deep teal background. The text asks for support for research, reporting, and advocacy in Appalachia, listing the donation link: https://www.appli.org/donate. The bottom features stylized horizontal bars in warm, earthy colors.

#APPLIOrg operates entirely off of private #Donations. That makes your support more critical than ever, and any dollar amount helps.

Please consider supporting our continued #Research, #Reporting, & #Advocacy efforts in #Appalachia by making a #TaxDeductible donation:

https://www.appli.org/donate

Rural health’s $50B moment – or missed opportunity? Rural health $50B moment brings new CMS funding but uncertainty remains over distribution and impact on rural hospitals.

Rural health’s $50B moment – or missed opportunity?
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/rural-healths-50b-moment-or-missed-opportunity/

Opinion | HPV Vaccine Uptake Is Too Low for Herd Immunity Physicians must approach these conversations thoughtfully

Opinion | HPV Vaccine Uptake Is Too Low for Herd Immunity https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/119387

Changes to America’s childhood vaccine schedule fail to protect our nation's kids

Changes to America’s childhood vaccine schedule fail to protect our nation's kids https://phrma.org/blog/changes-to-america-s-childhood-vaccine-schedule-fail-to-protect-our-nations-kids

States Race To Launch Rural Health Transformation Plans - KFF Health News Every state will receive at least $100 million annually from the federal Rural Health Transformation fund, but some scored millions more based on how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services judged the “quality” of their plans and willingness to pass policies embracing "Make America Healthy Again" initiatives.

States Race To Launch Rural Health Transformation Plans https://kffhealthnews.org/MjE0MTk0Mg via KFF Health News

Native Americans Are Dying From Pregnancy. They Want a Voice To Stop the Trend. https://kffhealthnews.org/MjEzNzI4MA via KFF Health News