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The Strategist in Brief: September 25, 2025 · The Strategy Catalyst Dispatch

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  This is the strategist in brief for September 25th, 2025.
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  Billionaire entrepreneur.
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  Mark Cuban recently hinted at plans to launch a transparent cash pay provider network called Cost Plus Wellness, possibly by the end of the month.
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  Cuban says he's setting up direct contracts with 8,000 providers with an emphasis on cash payments for care.
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  The product appears to be aimed at employers, and Cuban is building the business on top of contracts He negotiated for his own company.
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  While details are scarce, the new business could redirect commercial volumes to the lowest cost providers and shift employer and consumer expectations around price transparency.
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  Moving on to our next market scan.
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  FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent letters to several large healthcare employers, warning them that the agency will crack down on non-compete agreements that harm competition under the Trump administration.
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  The agency has abandoned Biden era efforts to ban non-competes altogether.
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  But it appears to be leaving the door open to case by case enforcement.
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  The FTC lacks jurisdiction over nonprofit entities, but the crackdown could apply to for-profit actors like Optum.
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  These companies could be forced to abandon lengthy and broad agreements, bolstering nonprofit health systems recruitment efforts.
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  In other news, private equity firm, patient Square Capital is acquiring Premier Inc.
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  In a$2.6 billion deal to take the company private.
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  It Premier is the second largest U-S-G-P-O with$84 billion in group purchasing power and more than two thirds of all healthcare providers.
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  As customers, the company's new PE owner could push Premier to negotiate its contracts with health systems more aggressively.
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  On the other hand, an influx of private dollars could help the company invest in its consulting and data analytics services improving its competitive position over rivals like Vizient.
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  And now our final piece of news.
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  At a recent house subcommittee, hearing Republican lawmakers questioned nonprofit hospital's tax exempt status.
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  One of the panel's witnesses criticized Health system DEI efforts arguing that spending should be more directly tied to patient care.
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  House Democrats defended nonprofit hospital safety net role, but there was bipartisan support for greater oversight and reporting.
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  That concludes this week's strategist and brief.
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  Be sure to check out the full version on the web@hmacademy.com.
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  Thanks for listening.