We went inside the labs where DNA-testing startup Helix has been running coronavirus tests

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and today in healthcare news:

• We went inside Helix's San Diego labs to see how the consumer genetics company confronted the pandemic;
• Primary care upstarts aren't rushing to provide care to people on Medicaid, and it's not just because of the money;
• Transplant patients are getting illicit third vaccine doses.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at [email protected] or tweet @lydiaramsey125. Let's get to it…

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How DNA-testing startup Helix became one of the nation's leading coronavirus tracking labs

• Helix, a population-genomics company in the Bay Area, is deep in the viral variant tracking business.
• With the CDC, Helix identified the spread of variant Alpha – now the most dominant strain in the US.
• Insider went to San Diego to tour Helix's COVID-19 testing lab.

Here's what we saw>>

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Why the hottest primary care startups aren't chasing Medicaid

• Primary care groups like One Medical are expanding senior care, but say Medicaid isn't a key target.
• Experts say lower payment rates and fewer chronic conditions discourage them from chasing Medicaid.
• Equity advocates warn that this could deepen health disparities that grew during the pandemic.

Get the full story>>

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Transplant patients 'desperate' for COVID vaccine protection are getting illicit 3rd doses - and it might be working for some

• It can be hard for people with transplant organs to derive the same benefits from vaccines as other people.
• A new study suggests giving them 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, instead of 2, can help.

Here's what you need to know>>

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More stories we're reading:

• Humana is buying Onehome as it beefs up its home care strategy (Healthcare Dive)
• Even if the coronavirus did leak from a Wuhan lab, that wouldn't necessarily mean it was engineered (Insider)
• HCA Healthcare uses "trauma activation fees" that can be as high as $50,ooo when patients come to its trauma centers (Kaiser Health News)
• This CEO was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia when it was menopause. Now her startup hopes to create a $600 billion menopause market, backed by female VCs. (Insider)

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- Lydia