Digital health, health IT funding declined in Q2, PitchBook finds

Digital health venture capital funding reached a new low in the second quarter, while private equity and venture capital activity “remained muted” for IT firms, according to the report.

GoodRx, MedImpact partner on automatic drug discounts

The digital health company has notched its third partnership with a PBM in a bid to increase access to its drug discount coupons.

Majority of ground ambulance rides were out of network in 2022, report finds

Patients often have little choice of ambulance provider, and federal law doesn’t protect them from surprise bills from the rides.

Inflationary labor pressures for nonprofits show signs of easing

Job openings, employee departures and wage growth have declined as health systems continued to add workers to payroll, according to Fitch Ratings.

BCBSA finds wide variety in medical cost by site

Researchers said their data supports site-neutral proposals to make care cost the same regardless of where it’s provided. Momentum is building in Congress around the policies, but they face fierce opposition from hospitals.

PBM reforms in Congress would have modest effect at best and backfire at worst, Brookings says

Congress is inching closer to pharmacy benefit manager reform with new legislation released last week. But even eliminating all PBM profits would barely move the needle on U.S. drug spending, according to a new report.

CVS CEO ‘optimistic’ payer will improve MA star ratings

At Morgan Stanley’s healthcare conference on Tuesday, Karen Lynch also called into question the $500 million in savings Blue Shield of California expects from kicking CVS’ pharmacy benefit manager to the curb.

Providers are increasing spending on IT and software, survey finds

Nearly 6% of executives say they currently have a generative AI strategy, while about half are actively developing one or plan to do so soon.

Lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation addressing workplace violence in hospitals — again

Despite widespread support from healthcare workers and hospital associations, federal regulations protecting hospital workers have previously failed to advance in Congress.

Walgreens inks deal with startup Pearl Health on value-based care for doctors

The partnership, which Walgreens plans to launch in ACO REACH in 2024 and Medicare Advantage in 2025, is the retail giant’s first significant move in the healthcare space since CEO Roz Brewer departed earlier this month.

CDC endorses new COVID boosters as focus turns to rollout

Agency advisers voted 13-1 to recommend the updated shots for everyone over the age of 6 months, greenlighting the vaccines’ rollout one day after the FDA’s approval.

Oracle expects new Cerner contracts as cloud migration slows growth

Cerner is facing “near-term headwinds” as the health software vendor transitions customers to cloud subscriptions, executives said on a recent earnings call.

Best Buy, Geisinger to develop in-home chronic condition management program

Details are scant on what a final package could include. But the goal is to scale results achieved at Geisinger to other operators, according to a Best Buy Health executive.

L.A. Care to pay $1.3M to settle potential HIPAA breach violations

The settlement comes after state regulators levied a $55 million fine against the health plan last year for alleged operational deficiencies, including failure to address a backlog of over 9,000 prior authorization requests.

Low-income seniors more likely to report fraudulent marketing from private Medicare plans

The Commonwealth Fund survey comes after regulators finalized a rule this spring aiming to cut back on deceptive and misleading advertising for Medicare Advantage plans after beneficiary complaints rose.

Walmart reportedly exploring ChenMed acquisition

If the deal reported by Bloomberg solidifies, Walmart would be the latest retailer to snap up a value-based primary care chain for seniors, following in the footsteps of rivals CVS, Amazon and Walgreens.

Indiana hospital settles suit over 2021 data breach, will pay $250K

The state alleged the hospital knew about security issues before the attack and failed to directly notify patients for more than 200 days.

Kaiser Permanente to pay $49M after investigators found syringes, medical records in trash

The settlement concludes an eight-year investigation, during which investigators reviewed dumpster contents and found “hundreds of items” of hazardous waste and paper records containing patient health information.

Employers expect health benefit costs to climb 5.4% in 2024

High inflation, labor shortages and industry consolidation contributed to the projected increase, according to a new survey of employers from consultancy Mercer.

Wisconsin’s Froedtert Health, ThedaCare announce merger plans

The health systems' boards signed a definitive merger agreement last week, moving the proposed combination of the Wisconsin-based nonprofits one step closer to completion.

Updated Sept. 11, 2023

CVS shuffles C-suite, appoints CFO as head of health services

Shawn Guertin will now helm the healthcare giant's suite of care delivery businesses, including Oak Street and Signify, as CVS undergoes a major corporate restructuring following flagging profits.

Medical credit cards ‘exploit loopholes’ in healthcare debt protection, report finds

The credit cards, which can promise patients deceptive no- or low-interest rates, are increasingly being offered in hospitals and physician offices.

Sanford Health shakes up C-suite

CEO Bill Gassen told employees that "new voices" on the executive team would help the nonprofit health system remain agile in the years ahead.

MA enrollment in rural areas nearly quadrupled since 2010, KFF finds

More rural seniors are turning to Medicare Advantage, but the plans can offer limited provider networks. That could prove an additional challenge for rural beneficiaries who already have to travel further distances for care.

Walgreens to pay $44M to settle claims over fraudulent Theranos tests

If the multimillion-dollar settlement is approved by a judge, patients who bought a Theranos blood test will receive double the amount they paid for it plus additional compensation.