The Latest
-
Courtesy of Stop Medical Distancing
Providence, Humana back ad campaign urging patients to stop 'medical distancing'
Since the pandemic's onset in the United States, health officials have been concerned about the consequences of routine and preventive care being delayed or put off entirely. Providers also fear continued revenue loss.
-
"White House Press Briefing". Retrieved from The White House.
As lab giants 'push the frontiers' of capacity, Trump admin pegs hopes on POC tests
Brett Giroir, the administration's lead for coronavirus diagnostics, said the goal is for rapid point-of-care tests from Abbott, BD and Quidel, performed outside of lab settings, to alleviate commercial testing capacity constraints.
-
Democrats urge Trump administration to force full payer COVID-19 test coverage
The insurance lobby did not refute claims that not all testing is funded in full, particularly for return-to-work programs. Lawmakers said CMS guidance conflicts with legislation meant to spur widespread access to testing.
-
Array Architects
New hospital rankings show 'elite' facilities struggle with health equity, inclusivity
A Massachusetts-based think tank compared 3,300 U.S. hospitals on measures including commitment to equity and inclusion. It discovered smaller, lesser-known hospitals get better grades than their well-known, well-funded peers.
-
Fotolia
Digital health funding defies expected pandemic-era slowdown
As COVID-19 roiled economies in the first half of 2020, investors poured $5.4 billion into digital health startups, the largest investment in the sector for the period over the past decade, according to Rock Health.
-
CMS proposes add-on provider payment for at-home dialysis treatment
The agency said Monday the need for more at-home care has never been more urgent, as the ESRD population has the highest rate of hospitalization due to COVID-19 among Medicare beneficiaries.
-
Getty Images
Hospital traffic stalls as COVID-19 cases surge, analysts say
Some major chains saw volume dropping in the week ended June 28. HCA and Tenet saw 5.9% and 5.4% declines week over week when zeroing in on Texas, according to cell tower data tracked by Jefferies.
-
Hazel Health
Telehealth claim lines increased more than 8,335% in April: Fair Health
The newest analysis of insurance trends by the nonprofit found mental health diagnoses continue to drive the visits, followed by joint and soft tissue conditions and hypertension.
-
CDC gets FDA nod for coronavirus-flu combination diagnostic
The emergency use authorization comes months after BioFire and Qiagen got backing for similar tests and as the coming flu season adds a new complexity to diagnosis.
-
Healthcare sector added 358K jobs, hospitals had first gains in 2 months
The unemployment rate dropped to 11.1%, but the report doesn't cover the last two weeks of June, when western and southern states reported some of their highest daily COVID-19 case numbers since the outbreak began.
-
Illinois nurses on strike after stalled contract negotiations
Nurses went on strike Saturday after contract negotiations stalled between the hospital and union. Both sides have been working on a new contract since the last one expired this May.
-
"200323-Z-NI803-0587" by New Jersey National Guard is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Ransomware versus healthcare: How the pandemic added to a cyber crisis
Ransomware hit at least 26 U.S. healthcare providers between January and May, according to Recorded Future, and many attacks were initiated through COVID-19-themed phishing.
-
Coronavirus didn't dramatically dampen healthcare M&A in Q2, Kaufman Hall says
Fourteen transactions were announced during the second quarter. Kaufman recorded some of the highest figures it has ever seen for average seller size at more than $800 million.
-
Novartis
Novartis to pay $678M to settle claims over 'sham' doctor events
The Swiss drugmaker admitted to hosting lavish dinners and events that were intended to convince doctors to prescribe Novartis heart and diabetes drugs.
-
Molina buys small New York Medicaid plan, executing on its strategy
The deal represents the payer's quest to use smaller acquisitions to propel its revenue and footprint.
-
CVS reportedly creating group purchasing organization for PBM business
The goal of the GPO in the near term may be to shift discounts to less transparent fee structures that are harder for PBM customers to audit, allowing CVS to retain a greater share of rebate profits, according to a research report.
-
Teladoc closes InTouch acquisition to round out provider offerings
Virtual care player Teladoc closed its acquisition of provider telehealth business InTouch Health for $150 million in cash and 4.6 million shares of common stock on Wednesday.
-
Oklahoma votes to expand Medicaid as COVID-19 surges in state
The vote was close, passing by less than one percentage point. The results throw a wrench into Republican hopes to cap Medicaid funding and follow ballot measures in other deep red states approving expansion.
-
Alex Hickey
With new funding, FCC rural healthcare program set to provide most money in its history
Nearly $200 million in unused funds from prior years are being carried over. The total amount now available to applicants is about $800 million.
-
Hospitals see fuzzy future for patient volume, predict an additional $120B in losses this year
American Hospital Association members said they don't think they will see typical volumes this year, while 30% said the timeframe was unknown or that they never expect to return to baselines.
-
Fotolia
Quorum completes bankruptcy process, taps new CEO
The health system also announced a new board of managers, including Joey Jacobs, former head of Acadia Healthcare, as the new CEO. He will succeed Bob Fish.
UPDATED: July 8, 2020 at 8:26 a.m. -
HHS 'expects to renew' COVID-19 emergency, spokesman says
The department did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday morning. The public health emergency is currently set to expire at the end of July.
-
DOJ charges execs, others with elaborate $1.4B billing scheme using rural hospitals
Ten defendants allegedly took over struggling rural hospitals and used them as a front to send fraudulent, pricey testing claims to commercial payers over more than two years, reaping $400 million in profits.
-
Getty Images
Trinity Health expects $2B revenue plunge as it cuts, furloughs more staff
The Livonia, Michigan-based hospital operator also said it's burning through federal funds provided to prop up systems, alleging they're not enough to cover operating losses.
-
Shannon Muchmore/Healthcare Dive
Hospitals in South, West gird for COVID-19 surges as states hold back limits
After Texas revived a halt in elective surgeries, other hot spots like Arizona have yet to follow suit. Still, hospital giant CommonSpirit said it will limit non-essential surgeries at its two Phoenix facilities.
