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In this episode of The Heart of Healthcare Podcast, our Managing Director Joe Mercer sits down with Steve Kraus to unpack the details of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It’s the most significant healthcare legislation since the ACA, with ripple effects across Medicaid, rural hospitals, and the ACA exchange. We cover: - What Medicaid work requirements could mean for coverage and churn - Why safety-net and rural hospitals are bracing for impact - How changes to provider taxes and state-directed payments shift funding dynamics - What happens when ACA subsidies start to expire - Where there may be operational opportunities for coverage tech and patient engagement solutions

Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) are becoming one of the government’s most aggressive tools to investigate healthcare fraud. With the DOJ issuing a record number of CIDs and leveraging AI to flag outliers, healthcare organizations must be ready to respond with speed, accuracy, and insight. The tight deadlines and high stakes can create significant disruption for healthcare companies. Marwood combines regulatory expertise, proprietary analytics, and proven support to help clients respond to the government while minimizing disruption, and implement any required billing, coding, and compliance program changes.

The NHS 10-Year Health Plan, launched in July 2025, sets out a sweeping reform agenda in response to mounting pressures on the UK’s healthcare system. Triggered by Lord Darzi’s independent review, which warned that the NHS is in "critical condition", the Plan addresses deep-rooted challenges including long waiting times, workforce strain, and poor clinical outcomes. Framed around three core shifts - from hospital to community care, from analogue to digital systems, and from sickness to prevention - the Plan aims to modernise healthcare delivery, expand access, and improve long-term health outcomes. Key initiatives include a greater focus on primary and outpatient care, the rollout of a Single Patient Record, and new public health policies targeting chronic disease, obesity, and tobacco use. These reforms present significant opportunities for private sector providers across digital health, medtech, pharmaceuticals, outpatient services, and preventative care. However, success will require investors to navigate evolving market dynamics, regional implementation variations, and regulatory risks with careful, multi-level analysis.

Marwood Group, a leading healthcare advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ritu Nalubola as Director. Dr. Nalubola brings 25 years of experience at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she served in various senior leadership roles, most recently as the Associate Commissioner for Policy and the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs, where she also served as Deputy Director. She also held a diplomatic posting in the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels as the Director of FDA Regional Office in Europe. Dr. Nalubola’s work at the FDA spanned a wide variety of areas within life sciences and public health. She spearheaded and advised on key policy priorities across biotech, digital healthtech, nanotech, artificial intelligence, and global regulatory cooperation. She led and contributed extensively to numerous FDA regulations and guidances throughout her tenure. “Dr. Nalubola’s deep expertise in FDA regulatory policy and global public health will be an invaluable asset to our clients,” said Joe Mercer, Managing Director, Marwood Group. “Her insight into FDA priorities and policymaking will accelerate Marwood’s growing leadership in life sciences and healthtech.” Dr. Nalubola earned her doctorate from Michigan State University and conducted postdoctoral work at Johns Hopkins University with the U.S. Agency for International Development, prior to joining the FDA. “I’m excited to join Marwood and help clients navigate today’s evolving regulatory landscape,” said Dr. Nalubola. “It’s a great opportunity to apply my public sector experience to support innovation and strategic decision-making across the healthcare industry.” Dr. Nalubola’s addition further enhances Marwood’s growing bench of senior experts advising clients on healthcare policy, regulatory affairs, reimbursement, and commercial strategy.

The specialty care referral process represents a complex intersection of clinical decision-making, operational efficiency, and financial performance. In an era of rising cost, an increasingly complex and value-based healthcare landscape, the seamless transition of patients from primary care to specialty services is paramount. For multi-specialty physician practices, a well-structured referral management system is not merely an administrative function but a strategic asset. Breakdowns in the referral process are common and a significant impediment to revenue growth, with a significant percentage of referrals not resulting in a completed appointment. This "leakage" represents a missed opportunity for both the patient and the specialty practice. In this whitepaper we provide a roadmap for multi-specialty practices to build a robust referral management ecosystem that addresses these challenges head-on.