• Maryland: FDA has issued a recall for cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers after they were linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak. According to FDA, Fresh Start Produce Sales distributed the cucumbers to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors across the country. So far, 26 people across 15 states have fallen ill, with nine requiring hospitalization. Some symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Symptoms typically start between 12 and 72 hours after eating contaminated food and can last four to seven days. Currently, FDA and CDC are investigating the outbreak with local and state authorities. They have also warned that people should err on the side of caution if they already have cucumbers in the fridge and cannot tell where they were sourced from. "If you cannot tell if your cucumber was grown by Bedner Growers, throw it away," the FDA said. "When eating out over the next week, ask if cucumbers were from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc." (Treisman, NPR, 5/21)
• New York: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals recently announced plans to purchase 23andMe for $256 million through a bankruptcy auction. Earlier this year, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy due to significant financial difficulties, having lost over 95% of its share price since it first went public in 2021. Under the deal, Regeneron will acquire almost all of 23andMe's assets, including its Personal Genome Service, Total Health, and Research Services business lines. Lemonaid Health, 23andMe's telehealth subsidiary, will shut down, but Regeneron has offered to employ all workers of the acquired business units. "We believe we can help 23andMe deliver and build upon its mission to help people learn about their own DNA and how to improve their personal health, while furthering Regeneron's efforts to improve the health and wellness of many," said Regeneron president George Yancopoulos. The deal, which is still subject to approval by the bankruptcy court, is expected to close in the third quarter of the year. (Capoot, CNBC, 5/19; Winkler/Seal, Wall Street Journal, 5/19)
• Washington: Earlier this month, Bill Gates announced plans to accelerate the funding provided by the Gates Foundation, his philanthropic organization. Gates aims to spend $200 billion to support various causes over the next 20 years before shutting down the organization in 2045. Since its founding in 2000, the Gates Foundation has given away more than $100 billion, including to help develop new vaccines, diagnostic tools, and treatment delivery mechanisms. Over the next 20 years, the Gates Foundation plans to focus on combating maternal and infant mortality, treating infectious diseases, and helping millions of people get out of poverty. "People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'he died rich' will not be one of them," Gates said. "There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people." (NPR, 5/12; Duffy, CNN, 5/8)

Operating margins at many health systems have improved in the past couple of years. But not only is there still a long way to go, today's political and economic climate is further destabilizing health system finances. In this session, experts from Optum Advisory will discuss strategies for improving financial outcomes; unlocking new sources of revenue growth; and decreasing operational, clinical, and administrative costs.