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Former FDA official Abernethy joins Google health spinoff

The agency's former acting CIO pushed development of real world evidence as well as improved data sharing. At Verily, she'll head up the unit's clinical research business.

ACLA appeals dismissal of PAMA lawsuit, pushes legislative fixes

The lab trade group for Quest, LabCorp and others argues the Protecting Access to Medicare Act is a case of "harmful regulatory overreach" that forces an "unsustainable reimbursement model" on its members.

Privately insured face worse access, higher costs than those in public plans: JAMA report

The new research comes roughly a week after Democrats revived efforts to draft legislation enacting a Medicare-like public option, a bid to reduce the nation's uninsured rate and lower healthcare costs.

EQRx readies a lower-cost alternative to pricey cancer immunotherapies

The biotech and its partner CStone disclosed Phase 3 results in lung cancer that support approval plans for a drug similar to treatments like Merck's Keytruda, but would be priced at a fraction of the cost.

Nurse shortages spur systems to dangle steep sign-on bonuses

Tenet-owned Baptist Health system in Texas is offering up to $20,000 for new nurses and other workers. Nurses who treated COVID-19 patients are in demand, Iman Abuzeid, CEO of nurse staffing platform Incredible Health, said.

Cleveland Clinic's latest acquisition boosts quarterly performance

Cleveland Clinic noted emergency room visits are down nearly 10% compared to the prior-year period. At the same time, surgical cases increased 6.5%, aided by the Mercy acquisition.

Opinion

CVS Caremark CMO on addressing disparities through data

Data and analytics will play a key role in reducing health disparities and supporting chronic disease management post-pandemic, CVS Caremark's chief medical officer argues.

In first, FDA approves KRAS-blocking cancer drug from Amgen

Lumakras is the first drug proven effective in targeting the KRAS gene, which is often mutated in lung, colon and pancreatic cancers. Amgen will charge $17,900 per month for Lumakras at list price, which doesn't account for rebates or discounts that may be offered to insurers.

Family healthcare costs decreased last year for first time in Milliman report's 16-year history

However, the trend is not expected to continue into 2021. Costs are predicted to jump nearly 9% to $28,256 next year for a family of four.

Physician compensation grew modestly during pandemic, MGMA says

While compensation for primary care physicians grew in 2020, most specialists either experienced small bumps or decreases in their income, a new survey by the Medical Group Management Association found.

Rising hospital ransomware attacks could endanger patients, hit bottom lines hard, Moody's says

Systems have become more vulnerable due to COVID-19 as non-clinical employees working from home led to use of "less secure networks, increasing the number of access points vulnerable to a breach," a new report said.

Investments drive Ascension to income of $957M, despite dampened patient volumes

The nonprofit, which operates a venture capital fund and an investment advisory firm, brought in $1.1 million in investments in the quarter, contributing to a significant rise in the system's liquidity.

Lawmakers revive push for public option with call for feedback

The latest move signals Democrats are serious about an effort to pass legislation enacting the policy, seen as a more moderate alternative to "Medicare for All."

HCA pens pact with Google Cloud to create new clinical decision-making platform

The deal is the latest among provider networks partnering with cloud computing giants to help automate functions and drive new clinical insights.

Doctor On Demand, Grand Rounds purchase LGBTQ care navigator Included Health

The newly merged telehealth giant's buy comes as more startups look to tackle healthcare for the community, including Queerly, Violet, Plume and Folx.

Ransomware, other cyber threats mount as medtech industry tries to adapt

"Everything is hackable," said Kevin Fu, the FDA's medical device cybersecurity chief, who noted that ransomware in particular can render a device useless.

Senate confirms Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as head of CMS

Industry groups cheered her confirmation, saying Brooks-LaSure's policy know-how and experience managing insurance programs should help increase equitable access to affordable care in the U.S.

ICER, vocal critic of drug company pricing, turns scrutiny to insurers

The watchdog group plans to examine how cost sharing can hurt access to care, but it won't assess some of the most controversial insurer practices.

HHS commits $4.8B to COVID-19 testing for the uninsured

The American Clinical Laboratory Association, whose members include LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, had urged the Biden administration in February to make more money available.

Anthem wrongly received $3.4M in MA overpayments, OIG says

The insurer is the latest to face allegations of receiving Medicare Advantage overpayments tied to patients who were inaccurately identified as part of a high-risk group.

Moderna, with new results, set to seek vaccine clearance for young teens

The biotech's shot was strongly protective against COVID-19 in a study of 12- to 17-year-olds, a finding that could soon make it the second vaccine available for adolescents in the U.S.

Physicians, patients lost trust in US healthcare system amid pandemic, survey finds

Patients said they generally trust doctors and nurses more than they trust health systems, the report from NORC at the University of Chicago found.

Mayo Clinic bounces back from pandemic, but expenses rise dramatically

The nonprofit also reported that in the first quarter most patient volumes returned to pre-coronavirus levels. Outpatient visits matched 2019 numbers, while surgical volumes exceeded those of two years ago.

Eli Lilly fires back against HHS order to repay providers for violating 340B

As California's Attorney General, HHS chief Xavier Becerra led a group of states pushing the agency to force drugmakers to comply with the controversial drug discount program late last year.

UPDATED: May 21, 2021 at 9:09 a.m.

April hospital margin gains contrast steep losses from start of COVID-19, not improved performance

Hospitals' operating margins, revenue and volumes continue to tick up compared to 2020 lows, but month-to-month fluctuations underscore ongoing uncertainty in the sector, consultancy Kaufman Hall found in a new report.