• Kentucky/Washington: Humana and Providence have partnered on a new data-sharing ecosystem that aims to automate member attribution between the insurer and provider. According to the companies, the initial rollout will help Providence's providers understand which patients Humana considers under their care. In the future, the companies plan to add additional capabilities that reduce administrative burden and bolster clinical decision-making. The companies also noted that the framework will be "easily replicable" and could be scaled across the healthcare industry. "The healthcare industry is overwhelmed by fragmented, inconsistent data formats that make care coordination costly and slow," said Michael Westover, VP of population health informatics at Providence. "Because we want to be successful in value-based care contracts, Humana and Providence are building a shared foundation of administrative, financial and clinical data using national standards and modern technology." (Muoio, Fierce Healthcare, 10/20)
• Illinois: According to a new study published in Pediatrics, food allergy rates in children under the age of three dropped to 0.93% between 2017 and 2020 from 1.46% between 2012 and 2015. This was a 36% reduction in all allergies, which was largely driven by a 42% decrease in peanut allergies. According to the New York Times, health experts historically recommended parents avoid exposing their infants to common allergens, but a landmark study in 2015 found that feeding peanuts to infants could reduce their chances of developing an allergy by more than 80%. In 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases formally recommended parents introduce their infants to allergens early on to reduce the risk of allergies. The latest national guidelines, which were established in 2021, recommend introducing common food allergens to infants between the ages of four and six months. In the study, researchers followed 125,000 children across almost 50 pediatric practices and found that the rate of allergy reduction corresponded to around 57,000 fewer children with food allergies. "We're talking about the prevention of a potentially deadly, life-changing diagnosis," said Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who was not involved with the study. "This is real world data of how a public health recommendation can change children's health." (Bajaj, New York Times, 10/23)
• Massachusetts: Private equity firms Blackstone and TPG will acquire the women's health specialist Hologic for over $13 billion, taking the company private. Hologic makes mammography systems, breast imaging technology, and biopsy equipment, among other products. Under the terms of the deal, Blackstone and TPG will acquire Hologic shares for up to $79, which includes $76 in cash plus extra payments when the deal closes and if the company's breast health business meets certain revenue goals. Overall, the deal could be worth up to $18.3 billion if Hologic's $2.2 billion in cash and short-term investments, as well as the company's $2.5 billion in debt, are included. According to Hologic CEO Stephen MacMillan, the deal will help accelerate the company's growth and enhance its ability to deliver medical technologies to customers and patients worldwide. Hologic's board has unanimously approved the deal, but regulators and Hologic shareholders still need to grant approval. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026 pending all necessary approvals. (Associated Press, 10/21; Hart, Wall Street Journal, 10/21)

Women's health providers are reevaluating their strategies in response to shifting market trends. Learn about the top trends affecting women's health, ways providers are responding, and approaches digital health vendors can take to forge stronger customer relationships.