As Congress, Biden administration squabble over COVID-19 funds, an ongoing pandemic response posture strains public health

Congress and the administration are at odds on the need to purchase more vaccines and therapeutics while the public health workforce is beleaguered, former Moderna VP Richard Hughes argues.

By Richard Hughes • July 14, 2022

FDA clears Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine as 4th option in US

The regulator’s decision comes more than a year after the main part of the principal trial was completed, raising questions about the shot’s effectiveness against omicron.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated July 13, 2022

Antibiotic-resistant infections rose in hospitals during pandemic, CDC data shows

Nearly 30,000 people died from infections associated with healthcare settings in the first year of the pandemic and about 40% were infected during a hospital stay, according to the CDC.

By Hailey Mensik • July 12, 2022

University of California nurses nab new contract deal

The system and unionized nurses were able to reach a deal before the end of their prior contract, which was slated to expire this fall.

By Hailey Mensik • July 11, 2022

COVID-19 reappeared in top 5 telehealth diagnoses in April

Telehealth use overall rose nationally and in every region following two months of decline, according to Fair Health’s monthly tracker.

By Hailey Mensik • July 6, 2022

Healing within the healthcare community starts with empathy

The U.S. healthcare system can’t take much more employee turnover without compromising care. Overwhelmed and overworked, many healthcare workers don’t feel safe and supported, Qualtrics’ CMO argues.

By Adrienne Boissy • July 5, 2022

SCOTUS won't hear challenge to health worker vaccine mandate

Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented in the court’s decision regarding the New York lawsuit.

By Hailey Mensik • July 1, 2022

Pfizer seeks full FDA approval of Paxlovid as questions about its benefits grow

A standard clearance could further broaden Paxlovid’s fast-rising use. But weaknesses are emerging too, among them unclear benefits in vaccinated people and a potential lack of potency against new variants.

By Delilah Alvarado • June 30, 2022

The doctor's visit of the future will be like having coffee with a friend. Here's why

Solv Health CMO Robert Rohatsch contends that digital healthcare transformation will help GPs finally get back to what most of us really want to do in the first place — keep patients healthy.

By Robert Rohatsch • June 22, 2022

AMA presses policies on abortion, guns, climate at annual meeting

The AMA announced over 20 policies including those that declared climate change a public health crisis, urged the FDA to make over-the-counter oral contraceptives accessible and more.

By Sydney Halleman • June 21, 2022

FDA authorizes Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for young children

The much-anticipated decision follows two days after a panel of independent experts unanimously recommended expanding the shots’ use. A CDC panel is meeting Friday and Saturday to develop specific recommendations. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 17, 2022

Pfizer study results show Paxlovid benefit less clear in lower-risk patients

A closely watched study missed its goal, failing to prove the antiviral pill’s benefit in a broader population than the high-risk people for whom it’s currently cleared.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 16, 2022

FDA advisers recommend Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for youngest children

Independent experts unanimously supported use of both shots in children aged 6 months to 5 years old, clearing the way for an FDA decision.

By Ben Fidler • Updated June 15, 2022

FDA staff supportive of Pfizer, Moderna COVID vaccines in young children

Agency scientists found the shots to be similarly effective in kids as in older teenagers and raised no major safety red flags, documents published ahead of a meeting of agency advisers this week show.

By Jonathan Gardner , Ned Pagliarulo • June 13, 2022

Physician residents reach deal with Los Angeles County, averting strike

The labor discord is one of several recent disputes in California, where unions representing healthcare workers have been especially active as more contracts expire and staff see an opportunity to negotiate working conditions.

By Hailey Mensik • June 8, 2022

Surge in 'new' nurses reflects rise in resignations, job shuffling, study finds

Median nursing tenure fell 19.5% across the U.S from March 2021 to March 2022, according to an analysis by Epic.

By Hailey Mensik • June 7, 2022

Healthcare payrolls recovering, still lag pre-pandemic levels

Hospitals led growth in healthcare jobs in May as the industry slowly rebuilds its pandemic-shaken workforce.

By Susan Kelly • June 6, 2022

Telehealth visits dropped in March amid better COVID-19 outlook, new report finds

The data provides a snapshot of early 2022 when COVID-19 infections dropped and patients seemed more willing to return to the doctor's office.

By Sydney Halleman • June 3, 2022

Steep expenses, falling patient volumes stifled hospitals in April

Kaufman Hall's new findings reverse trends from March, when hospitals posted a modest rise in patient volumes and temporary expense reliefs.

By Sydney Halleman • June 1, 2022

Cleveland Clinic, scrambling to staff hospitals, posts Q1 loss

The academic medical giant is paying higher employee wages and hiring more agency nurses and other temporary personnel to cope with a nationwide shortage of healthcare workers.

By Susan Kelly • May 31, 2022

Gender pay gap for registered nurses widened during pandemic

The findings come as hospitals face major hurdles recruiting and retaining enough staff two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and as healthcare workers and unions push for higher wages.

By Hailey Mensik • May 31, 2022

Rollback of pandemic protections to test Medicaid managed care organizations

At question is whether insurers will be able to shift Medicaid members who lose coverage to subsidized marketplace plans.

By Samantha Liss • May 26, 2022

Millions of people counting on Congress to protect telehealth access

Patients who have come to rely on telehealth have been left waiting and wondering if they will be able to receive the virtual care they need once the COVID-19 public health emergency has ended.

By Julia Mirich • May 26, 2022

Pfizer says 3 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine works in youngest children

The drugmaker, along with partner BioNTech, plans to submit the new data to the FDA this week. The agency has scheduled a meeting for outside experts to review the data in mid-June.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 23, 2022

Healthcare employers must urgently address burnout, surgeon general warns

Systems should address burnout systemically, according to a Monday advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. A priority is seeking and responding better to feedback from front-line workers.

By Hailey Mensik • May 23, 2022