Senate passes bill extending ACA subsidies, adding Medicare price negotiations

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  Tracking state abortion bans in the US

  On Friday, Indiana lawmakers passed and the governor signed a near-absolute abortion ban, making it the first state to compose and pass an abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June.

  Updated 12 hours ago

  Government

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  Monkeypox declared federal public health emergency

  “We're prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this virus,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.

  Hospitals

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  Hospitals have low level of accountability for connected device breaches

  Of the 43% of organizations that reported a data breach in the past two years, 88% said at least one connected device was a contributing factor to the breach, according to a new report.

  Hospitals

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  Biden’s executive order seeks to ease access to abortion across state lines

  The order follows the DOJ’s decision to sue Idaho over its near-total abortion ban as the end of Roe has left states to decide whether to outlaw the procedure.

  Government

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  CVS could look to regional buys as it plans primary care acquisitions

  “We can’t be in ... primary care without M&A. We’ve been very clear about that,” CEO Karen Lynch said during an earnings call Wednesday.

  Payer

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  6 questions for the medtech industry if Congress doesn’t reauthorize FDA user fees on time

  If Congress doesn’t pass the legislation before Sept. 30, furloughs and delays lie ahead for the agency.

  Health IT

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  Cigna’s Q2 profit climbs to $1.6B as fewer patients seek care

  The payer raised its revenue and operating income targets for the year as a result of the quarterly performance.

  Payer

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  DOJ sues Idaho over near-total abortion ban in first post-Roe challenge

  In a suit filed in Idaho’s southern district, the Department of Justice claimed that Idaho’s “near-absolute” abortion ban blocks clinicians from providing necessary care in medical emergencies as required by federal law. 

  Government

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  Fitch downgrades CHS from stable to negative after discouraging earnings report

  The move reflects “significant increases in labor costs and weakness in volumes and acuity mix driving a downturn in the company's revenue and margin levels,” according to a release.

  Hospitals

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  CVS beats Q2 expectations, Aetna revenue rises nearly 11%

  The company raised its full-year guidance despite a $77 million decrease in adjusted operating income, primarily due to declines in its retail segment.

  Payer

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  Number of uninsured Americans falls to all-time low

  Policy experts are worried, however, that progress on coverage expansion will be threatened when a moratorium on Medicaid disenrollment ends.

  Payer

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  Volumes, net income down at for-profit hospitals in Q2

  COVID-19 patient volumes fell rapidly from the first to second quarter across hospital chains as case counts waned, executives said on calls with investors.

  Hospitals

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  Biden selects monkeypox response team

  The president tapped two leaders with emergency management and public health backgrounds to lead the nation’s response to the disease as cases continue to climb.

  Government

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  Thousands of Kaiser mental health clinicians to strike in Northern California

  Psychologists, therapists, chemical dependency counselors and social workers plan to strike. They say they’re stretched too thin and unable to provide adequate care to patients.

  Hospitals

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  Overturning of Roe v. Wade

  Abortion clinics go mobile, seeking flexibility amid patchwork state restrictions

  Advocates are hoping the mobile clinic model will accelerate access to abortions, especially for those in states where the procedure is outlawed.

  Medical Groups

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  Providers say inpatient pay adjustment for inflation not sufficient

  Groups like the American Hospital Association had asked for more adjustments, but the CMS declined to set aside its regulatory payment formula.

  Hospitals

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  Ochsner finalizes merger with Rush Health, adding 7 hospitals

  Louisiana-based Ochsner Health has a strong foothold in the Gulf South. The deal adds to its existing 40 hospitals in the region.

  Hospitals

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  Hospitals face sixth straight month of negative margins, report finds

  Month-to-month increases in patient volumes were not enough to offset the growing cost of care, according to a Monday report from Kaufman Hall.

  Hospitals

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  CMS calls for public input to improve Medicare Advantage

  The agency wants feedback from a variety of voices on how it can strengthen the popular but increasingly controversial program.

  Payer

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  Medicare Advantage plans make inflated dialysis payments, study says

  Research published in Health Affairs found large chains in the consolidated dialysis sector have the market power to negotiate higher MA reimbursement.

  Payer

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  Geisinger appoints first chief wellness officer

  As the Pennsylvania regional health system’s first chief wellness officer, Susan Parisi will oversee the system’s mental health, professional fulfillment and well-being strategies.

  Hospitals

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  CMS proposed payment rule includes major updates for ACOs

  Changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program would give some accountable care organizations more time to ramp up to performance-based risk and updated quality reporting.

  Hospitals

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  Physician resident salaries stagnate through pandemic

  Nearly 30% of residents surveyed by Medscape said they feel fairly compensated for their work in 2022, compared with 62% in 2015.

  Hospitals

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  New York sues CVS Health, alleging it deprived some hospitals of millions in 340B savings

  CVS said in a statement that the “allegations are without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously.”

  Hospitals

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  Senate Dems reach draft deal to extend ACA premiums, lower drug costs

  The bill, part of a more than $300 billion package, extends enhanced ACA premiums and allows Medicare to negotiate select prescription drug prices starting in 2026.

  Payer

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