Hospice, rehab, skilled-nursing facilities to face payment changes under 2017 Medicare rates

Payments will increase and new quality measures will be adopted once CMS' final rules become effective on October 1. 

By Ana Mulero • Aug. 1, 2016

HCA Q2 earnings continue to grow, buoyed by admissions

The hospital giant adjusted its guidance for 2016, on lower-than-expected growth in the first half of the year.

By Meg Bryant • July 29, 2016

Anthem Q2 profits drop amid uncertain transaction with Cigna

The insurance giant is grappling with increased medical spending on top of its fight with the DOJ. The insurer's CEO said the pending Cigna acquisition "will help stabilize pricing" in the ACA market.

By Heather Caspi • July 28, 2016

How UnitedHealthcare is making a purchase offer this Colorado insurer can't refuse

In exchange for access and a presence in Colorado's Medicaid market, the payer is investing to stabilize Rocky Mountain Health Plans.

By Ana Mulero • July 26, 2016

HHS dedicates $36M to advance health IT adoption

Support to Health Center Controlled Networks will help boost the technology at more than 1,000 health centers around the U.S.

By Heather Caspi • July 25, 2016

Report finds high risk of harm in rehab hospitals

Nearly half of harmful incidents could have been prevented, a government report finds.

By Meg Bryant • July 22, 2016

As feds set to quash merger plans, Humana floats exit of most ACA exchanges in 2017

The decision comes as the health insurance giant reported better than anticipated second-quarter results for its individual Medicare Advantage and healthcare services businesses.

By Meg Bryant • July 22, 2016

HRSA to expand primary care workforce with $149M

The awards aim to train health professionals to better serve vulnerable populations.

By Heather Caspi • July 21, 2016

Report: Federal health IT spending spiked to $6.5B

Research firm Govini found CMS and HHS led expenditures from 2011 to 2015.

By Ana Mulero • July 21, 2016

UnitedHealth's profits grew 13% in Q2, despite $200M Obamacare losses

Strong growth was fueled by Optum, which saw revenues jump 51.5% to $20.6 billion during the quarter.

By Meg Bryant • July 20, 2016

Physicians see little change in compensation in recent years

Specialties with the biggest increases were emergency medicine; cardiac and thoracic surgery; cardiology and hypertension; and nephrology.                              

By Meg Bryant • July 20, 2016

Cerner carves out new revenue cycle leadership role

Jeff Hurst will join Cerner as senior vice president of revenue cycle management, after spending 19 years at Adventist Health System. 

By Meg Bryant • July 20, 2016

Healthcare job growth poses 'ultimate conundrum' for economy

The issues of healthcare spending and healthcare job growth pose hopelessly entwined, competing priorities.

By Heather Caspi • July 14, 2016

Evolent, Valence Health join forces in $145M deal

The deal will shape the companies' future impacts on the value-based care market.

By Heather Caspi • July 14, 2016

Potential Yale-New Haven, Lawrence + Memorial merger facing pushback from within

The proposed affiliation has support from city and labor officials but is facing pushback by hospital employees who fear patients could lose out on the deal.

By Meg Bryant • July 13, 2016

UPMC enlists IBM's Watson in new supply-chain venture

The pairing will help hospitals attack growing supply-chain costs — the second greatest healthcare expense behind labor for providers.

By Heather Caspi • July 11, 2016

Sutter to shutter Berkeley hospital in 2030

Sutter’s Oakland hospital will take over inpatient services for the East Bay area, with Berkeley becoming a focal point for outpatient care.

By Meg Bryant • July 8, 2016

39K individuals were added to the healthcare workforce last month

In June, ambulatory services added more than 19,000 jobs and hospitals gained more than 15,000, according to the U.S Department of Labor.

By Ana Mulero • July 8, 2016

Aprecia Pharmaceuticals raises $30 million for 3-D printed medicine

The pharmaceutical company's first FDA-approved product manufactured using 3-D printing was made available to the U.S. market earlier this year. 

By Ana Mulero • July 7, 2016

AmSurg expands U.S. radiology services footprint with AllegiantMD purchase

The recent merger activity follows AmSurg’s lost bid to acquire hospital staffing firm TeamHealth Holdings last November.

By Meg Bryant • July 6, 2016

Why McKesson is divesting its IT portfolio in favor of stronger drug distribution

Reaction to the news has been favorable, with several financial analysts giving the company a “buy” rating.

By Meg Bryant • July 6, 2016

Aetna sells MA assets to mitigate antitrust concerns over Humana merger

The move comes as a strategy to help ease antitrust concerns with the health insurance giant's pending $37 billion acquisition.

By Ana Mulero • July 5, 2016

Aetna/Humana merger inches closer to closing with Illinois approval

Illinois insurance chief Melissa Dowd concluded the deal won’t harm competition in the Medicare Advantage market.

By Meg Bryant • June 29, 2016

Women taking lead in solving their own health issues

Jokingly referred to as bikini medicine, female health is a $55 million market.

By Meg Bryant • June 29, 2016

How New Markets Tax Credits are fueling rural health center expansions

Thanks to a federal tax credit, Lāna’i Community Health Center not only expanded its services but has contributed $3 million to the island’s economy.

By Meg Bryant • June 28, 2016