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Telehealth claims drop to lowest level since before pandemic, Fair Health finds

The percentage of virtual care claims associated with mental health conditions — the No. 1 telehealth diagnosis — continues to rise, however, according to a tracker maintained by the nonprofit.

Pandemic relief funds were unevenly distributed, didn't account for community burden: Health Affairs

Researchers analyzed HHS data on the Provider Relief Fund and found hospitals serving fewer patients with employer-sponsored insurance received less funding.

Biden admin shells out $452M to boost state reinsurance programs

The funding is aimed at getting more individuals to enroll in insurance at a lower cost, swelling coverage as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.

Humana reports uptick in MA hospitalizations, dip in non-COVID-19 admissions

An anticipated decline in non-COVID-19 care is expected to offset any increases incurred by COVID-19 testing and treatment costs, the insurer said Tuesday.

Moderna expands mRNA vaccine supply in deal with new biotech producer

The company had previously said it could make up to 3 billion vaccine doses in 2022, depending on how booster shots are authorized.

Hospital telehealth leveling off at one-fifth of medical appointments, research finds

And of the facilities reporting higher virtual volumes, many said they expected telehealth use to decline over the long term, according to the survey from KLAS Research and the Center for Connected Medicine.

Opinion

The village doctor paradox

Teladoc CIO Claus Jensen argues that new models of care should break down silos and rebuild using virtual and physical platforms to connect patients' care over time.

Hospitals lose focus on patients' digital health preferences amid growing competition, Kaufman Hall says

The failure to meet consumer demands comes as competition from health insurance, retail and telehealth companies are a growing concern, according to a new survey.

Feds sue UPMC, heart surgeon for billing multiple surgeries at same time

The False Claims Act litigation also accuses the health system of ignoring or minimizing complaints by employees and staff.

Beaumont, Spectrum move ahead with merger

The two Michigan health systems have signed a formal integration agreement, marking the next step in the merger process that was first announced in June.

Pandemic keeps exacerbating burnout among nurses, including travelers

Animosity is also growing between core nursing staff and traveling nurses who are often contracted to do the same work for much higher pay, staffing firm Aya Healthcare said.

Q&A

ECRI CEO calls on FDA, industry to revisit COVID-19 medical device EUAs as shortages ebb

Marcus Schabacker spoke about patient safety, cyberattacks in healthcare and risks from the rise of at-home care.

AHA presents Congress with laundry list of requests for budget reconciliation bill

The hospital lobby asked that some of the funding be used to address the ongoing labor shortage, shore up mental health services and address ongoing coverage gaps.

Actuaries suggest individual insurance premiums won't see large swings in 2022

There is more information available now about how COVID-19 continues to affect healthcare spending and utilization, unlike the 2021 rate-setting season, and "those impacts are not expected to be material," according to a report.

Pandemic spurs rise of infections contracted at healthcare facilities

Bloodstream infections associated with central line catheters were responsible for the largest rise in hospital-acquired infections from 2019 to 2020, according to the CDC.

UPDATED: Sept. 2, 2021 at 1 p.m.

Baxter to buy Hillrom for $10.5B in bid to expand connected care portfolio

Wall Street analysts and investors had thrown cold water on earlier reports of a deal, questioning the price and strategic fit.

Hospital lobby urges Congress to extend Medicare cut relief

The cuts, if they go through, will result in an estimated loss of $36 billion in funding in 2022 alone, the Federation of American Hospitals said.

Pandemic safety protections, wage increases key for nursing unions in new contracts

The nation's largest nursing union has reached agreements on more than 50 contracts covering around 27,000 nurses across the country at major hospital chains like HCA and Tenet since February.

Hospitals lose legal challenge over changes to DSH payments

A federal judge sided with HHS, pointing to a portion of the Medicare law that prohibits any administrative and judicial review of how the department arrived at its calculations.

Pfizer, Merck launch large new trials of oral COVID-19 drugs

Both companies are racing to prove their oral antivirals are effective as treatments for COVID-19. Key clinical results could come later this year.

Medicare insolvency still expected by 2026, unchanged by COVID-19, trustees say

The forecast is a bit of a bright spot for the otherwise grim financial prospects of the program, as experts worried COVID-19 would result in the fund that finances Medicare Part A running out of money faster than previously expected.

Sutter to pay $90M in largest False Claims Act settlement against a health system for alleged MA fraud

The record payment comes on the heels of another massive settlement for the nonprofit, adding to the hit on its already stressed bottom line.

Hospitals boost hiring efforts, sweeten employee benefits, survey finds

The findings from employment services firm Aon contrast sharply with this time last year, when widespread shutdowns of nonemergency care led systems to institute furloughs and other cost-cutting measures.

New Jersey hospitals appeal FTC merger challenge

Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest health system in New Jersey, wants to to acquire a close competitor. The Federal Trade Commission won an injunction to stop the deal, which is now headed to an appeals court.

FDA restarts distribution of Lilly's COVID-19 drug in 22 states

Use of the treatment had been halted due to weakened efficacy versus an early coronavirus variant. Now, with delta widely prevalent and demand for antibody treatments surging, Lilly's therapy will be available again.