Weekly Update: 2026 Medicare reimbursement rates | Wegovy covered by Medicaid | $3B dementia institute | Telehealth ketamine

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a 3.26% reimbursement increase for all providers, with those enrolled in alternative payment models seeing a higher rise.

The findings are from research conducted by the Commonwealth Fund that looked at nationwide provider reimbursement data. While the sample size is small, it shows the insurer tends to favor its own doctors.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have agreed to sell their popular Wegovy and Zepbound injectables through TrumpRx.gov for a discounted rate, as the White House promises that Medicaid and Medicare plans will begin covering the costs. 

The company will analyze claims data from over 2 million people enrolled in Medi-Cal. The data will be used for compliance reporting and to improve patient care coordination.

Proposition 14 passed by an overwhelming 69% of the vote, with residents approving an amendment to the state constitution that makes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) official. The new group will fund research into Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and more.

Lori Robertson, a registered nurse, faces one count of tampering with a consumer product. She was arrested by federal authorities, accused of endangering her hospice patient with dementia.

Mindbloom, a telemedicine company that provides ketamine for depression and anxiety as part of a treatment program, is accused of negligence in the death of Philip Ward. But the facts leading up to his overdose are in dispute. 

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sought an injunction against abortion medications being shipped to women in his state.

The initial condolences were mailed out as a result of a computer error, a hospital spokesperson said. The recipients were never marked as deceased on any official records. 

President Donald Trump’s administration wants states to check to see if hundreds of thousands of residents are enrolled in Medicaid illegally. CMS provided a specific list of people it suspects are undocumented.