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State AGs urge Apple to protect consumers’ reproductive health data

Apps holding sensitive health data should be required to delete nonessential information and clearly inform consumers what information they share with parties such as law enforcement, the 10 state attorneys general said.

‘Not in la la land’: As digital health funding ebbs, VCs urge startups to be conservative

The explosion of funding during the pandemic was a good thing, but the ongoing market correction is a good thing too as only the best business models will survive, prominent investors argued at HLTH.

Intermountain ekes out slim profit, weighed down by supply, labor costs

The Salt Lake City-based system, which merged earlier this year with Colorado-based SCL Health, said labor expenses are up 45% from a year ago.

Providence closes 27 retail clinics in Southern California

The healthcare system said the clinics were losing money as they attracted fewer patients. Labor shortages, inflation and an increasingly competitive retail health industry are also to blame.

UnitedHealth-Change deal approval faces appeal from DOJ, states

Antitrust experts said it’s surprising regulators took this long to file an appeal, while UnitedHealth slammed the move as “entirely without merit.”

Morgan Health nabs Walmart executive to accelerate strategy around population health

Cheryl Pegus is leaving Walmart’s health division to work as a managing director for JPMorgan’s venture attempting to lower employer health costs.

Lifespan brings on Mass General Brigham executive as new CEO

John Fernandez will assume the role early next year, replacing Timothy Babineau, who held the position for more than a decade.

Mayo Clinic income slumps as expenses climb in Q3

Expenses outpaced revenue growth as the Minnesota-based health system became the latest provider to report a recent drop in operating income.

Epic ensnared in Texas probe of parental access to teen medical records

The state is at the forefront of an intensifying legal battle over the rights of transgender and non-binary children to gender-affirming healthcare.

15K Minnesota nurses could strike again

Nurses at 15 hospitals in Minnesota walked off the job for three days in September but later returned to work without new contracts. On Nov. 30, they’ll vote on whether to authorize another strike.

One Medical’s innovation chief on Amazon, Medicaid and more

Rushika Fernandopulle discussed how remote work trends are affecting the business, One Medical’s ongoing shift toward risk and its interest in Medicaid.

Advocate Aurora remains in the red with reduced investments, higher labor costs

The nonprofit health system’s results add to the chorus of hospital providers reporting continued labor challenges.

22 states petition CMS to repeal health worker vaccine mandate

The states argued in the petition, led by Montana’s attorney general, that the requirement has led to worsening staffing shortages in the sector, particularly in rural states.

HHS to look at MA risk adjustment as upcoding in spotlight

Regulators have considered changing how they calculate patient risk and provider reimbursement, work that the HHS head said is continuing.

Cleveland Clinic billing for certain messaging on MyChart

Patient messaging on the portal has doubled since 2019, prompting the system to start billing for those that require more time and expertise.

Oak Street has no interest in a takeover, bullish on Walmart partnership and more from CMO Ali Khan

In a wide-ranging discussion, Khan shared his thoughts on the Medicare direct contracting program, Oak Street's relationship with Walmart and its positioning in an increasingly competitive market.

Primary care physicians are burned out, though faring better in US than other countries

Physicians under the age of 55 were more likely to feel stress, emotional distress or burnout compared to older physicians in all countries, according to a report from the Commonwealth Fund.

Divided Congress after midterms will allow HHS to execute on policy priorities, Becerra says

The department will focus on implementing drug price negotiation in Medicare and surprise billing regulations, according to the secretary.

Intermountain promotes COO to top job after Harrison’s departure

Intermountain has tapped Rob Allen, a longtime executive of the Utah-based health system.

Preventable hospital patient safety events declined over past decade, Leapfrog Group says

Incidents of falls and trauma and of objects unintentionally left in a body after surgery decreased by about 25% since 2012, according to the group that assigns letter grades to hospitals.

CommonSpirit posts $400M loss due to higher labor costs, dip in volumes

The health system said its payer mix has softened, as revenue from commercial members dropped compared to the first quarter of last year.

Google hasn’t given up on personal health records

The tech giant, despite past setbacks, is continuing user testing around a consumer-facing health record. “It’s an ongoing curiosity,” Chief Health Officer Karen DeSalvo told Healthcare Dive at HLTH.

Sanford Health inks merger deal after failed Intermountain bid

The deal, which is expected to close next year, will create a system with annual revenue of about $14 billion.

Maven raises $90M, fueling push into Medicaid, CMO says

Roadblocks for the startup include shifting requirements state-by-state and historically low margins in Medicaid.

Medical group asks Congress to offset Medicare payment cuts

The Medical Group Management Association wants Congress to take action to help physician practices by the end of the year.