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Amazon software can analyze patient medical records: WSJ

The online retail giant is pushing further into healthcare, creating software that hospitals could use to sift through patient medical records for clues to improve treatment and cut costs.

Health IT

States debate Medicaid work requirements in wake of midterms

Virginia is the latest state to apply for a waiver, but Wisconsin's governor-elect is contemplating an end to his state's work requirement.

Payer

OIG: Medicare reimbursements skewed by 'significant vulnerabilities' in hospital wage data

Five of the watchdog's most recent reviews of hospital wage data between 2004 and 2017 revealed an estimated $140.5 million in improper payments to hospitals.

Finance

Almost 70% of voters support protection for pre-existing conditions

More than 90% of self-identified Democrats, 79% of independents and 62% of Republicans would feel very concerned if they lost coverage for pre-existing conditions, according to the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society.

Payer

Texas Walmart hosting Beacon mental health clinic

The mental health services provider said it's launching clinics in retail stores and other locations that will provide "convenience, privacy and accessibility."

Policy & Regulation

Pennsylvania community hospital bars striking nurses from returning to work

Union nurses at Indiana Regional Medical Center began what was initially meant to be a one-day strike Monday. The hospital paid $1.5 million for temporary replacement workers.

Hospital Administration

CMS aims to tackle drug costs by giving payers more bargaining power

Under the agency's proposal, Part D plans would be allowed to exclude protected drugs from their formularies in certain instances. 

Payer

California imposes conditions on CHI-Dignity Health merger

The state approved the deal so long as the two health systems agree to certain measures meant to preserve access to care and financial aid. The two will operate 30 hospitals in California.

Health Law

Drug costs pushed one-third of Americans to skip a prescription in the past year: GoodRx

Nearly all respondents to a recent survey said they had health insurance, yet 42% noted they were still having difficulty paying for medications.

Policy & Regulation

UPMC sees growth in health plan enrollment, inpatient visits

The Pittsburgh-based integrated health system also reported outpatient revenue jumped 33% for the first nine months of the year.

Payer

Walgreens, Humana in talks to deepen partnership, WSJ reports

The two are reportedly considering taking equity stakes in the other. The news comes as payers rush to bulk up and differentiate themselves as disruptors like Amazon closely eye the sector.

Payer

Cybersecurity, telehealth, tech disruptors top health system concerns for 2019

Nearly 90% of health systems expect to increase spending on cybersecurity in the coming year, many by more than 5%, according to the Center for Connected Medicine.

Health IT

Opinion

How healthcare leaders can spend less time on procurement and more time on care

Amazon Business head of global healthcare Chris Holt makes the case for e-commerce in streamlining healthcare supply chains.

Health IT

Amazon-Berkshire-JPM snags BCBS data executive

Dana Gelb Safran, senior vice president of enterprise analytics at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, is the latest healthcare executive — and the first woman — to join the growing company's leadership.

Health IT

Ascension sees greater shift toward outpatient care in Q1

Outpatient services now represent nearly 53% of the St. Louis-based system's overall revenue as the company moves away from simply treating patients when they get sick.

Hospital Administration

U.S. News & World Report to tweak best hospital rankings #USNHoT

The magazine issued its first hospital rankings in 1990. Many health systems use the metrics to market themselves.

Hospital Administration

More than half of health data breaches triggered internally, study finds

Still, more than a third of the incidents are caused by theft from outsiders or unknown parties, according to an analysis of HHS data.

Health IT

Consumerism (and Amazon) loom over #USNHoT

Disruption doesn't have to come from the tech sector, said healthcare execs at the U.S. News & World Report Healthcare of Tomorrow conference. Businesses must prioritize customer relationships, data and convenience to stay ahead.

Health IT

CMS should give states more info to improve Medicaid MCO data reliability, GAO says

Of the eight states studied, three use an additional oversight practice to compare encounter data with an external data source and five use other mechanisms to enforce reporting requirements, including penalties, according to the watchdog.

Payer

People with limited health insurance literacy more likely to avoid care

Plain-language communication from trusted healthcare professionals could help improve health literacy and lead to more use of preventive services, according to a new study in JAMA.

Payer

ECRI launches clinical guidelines site to replace resource HHS shuttered

The new portal will include "expertly vetted, evidence-based guideline briefs and scorecards" for the community, according to the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit.

Health IT

Mayo Clinic reports $9.5B revenue in first 9 months of 2018

The system's capital investment efforts come as many nonprofit health systems are downgrading facilities and divesting assets to offset higher operating costs and a slowdown in revenue growth.

Finance

FDA plan would ease regulations for prescription drug apps

The agency is seeking public comment on a proposed regulatory framework that would treat most prescription drug apps, including dose calculators, symptom trackers and medication reminders, as promotional labeling.

Policy & Regulation

Tailoring master plans for the uncertainties of tomorrow #USNHoT

From the threats of Mother Nature to the challenges of rampant M&A, hospitals must be prepared for instability and ready to make hard choices when necessary.

Hospital Administration