CVS profit dips to $2.8B as patients return, COVID-19 costs persist

Lagging vaccination rates lead the company to expect the pandemic to be a "modest negative for 2021," CFO Shawn Guertin said. Previously, it expected COVID-19 to have little to no impact on full-year earnings.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 4, 2021

Medicare-reliant hospitals perform worse financially, more likely to face closure or acquisition: Health Affairs

But researchers cautioned policymakers not to view the results as a reason to avoid reducing Medicare reimbursement.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 3, 2021

Despite pandemic, independent medical practices say they are more confident than ever

This feeling of optimism came despite the fact that 11% of independent medical practices said they had shut down temporarily during the COVID-19 crisis, according to a new survey.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 2, 2021

For-profit hospitals saw volumes rebound in Q2, but delta variant poses threat

Some services were near or back to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter, though others like ER visits are still lagging. At the same time, increasing cases of the delta variant could hinder full business recoveries this year.

Aug. 2, 2021

Telehealth investments soar even as market matures

In the second quarter, late-stage investments outpaced those going into early-stage deals. Moreover, investor exits also reached a record high, according to CB Insights.

By Ron Shinkman • July 30, 2021

Cerner reports $1.5B in revenue, raises full-year guidance

Net income, however, plummeted in the second quarter as restructuring charges dragged on the health IT giant's margin.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 30, 2021

CHS profit down in Q2 but buoyed by non-COVID-19 care

Jefferies analysts said in a Thursday note they view the results positively, especially a jump in surgeries and "healthy organic growth trends." Still, CHS' stock was trading down about 8% Thursday morning.

By Hailey Mensik • July 29, 2021

Molina sees bump in coronavirus inpatient costs as delta variant takes hold

Those COVID-19 costs quickly tapered off as the quarter progressed, executives said. Still, the insurer was able to post a second quarter profit as more members sought care. 

By Samantha Liss • July 29, 2021

COVID-19 impact on US healthcare system will stretch for decades, Fitch says

In the long term, hospitals will face increased pressure from tight labor and wage markets, especially for experienced staff, as well as rising pharmaceutical and supply chain costs, the ratings agency warned.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 29, 2021

Amwell snaps up 2 digital health startups in $320M longitudinal, behavioral care bid

The acquisitions won't result in an immediate boost for Amwell's topline, but could be valuable strategic positioning for the future.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 29, 2021

Humana warns of 'uncertainty' in medical usage amid rising COVID-19 cases

Medical utilization bounced back faster than the payer expected, though the company was still able to post a profit for the second quarter.

By Samantha Liss • July 28, 2021

Stalled membership numbers, hospital business mar Teladoc's Q2 beat

Executives on a conference call stressed per-member revenue metrics and touted new contracts, including with major Blues payer HCSC, but investors pushed shares down.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 28, 2021

UHS posts Q2 profit, but executives warn delta variant could stress labor challenges

"The concern is with the resurgence of COVID that turnover rates could increase because we've seen turnover rates increase every time that COVID volumes increase," CEO Marc Miller said.

By Hailey Mensik • July 27, 2021

'Pent up demand' spurs Centene Q2 net loss as more members seek care

Executives warned, however, that the delta variant is raging. "It remains clear that the pandemic is not over, and the environment could remain choppy for the balance of the year," CEO Michael Neidorff said.

By Samantha Liss • July 27, 2021

Growing cyberattacks on hospitals may soon hit bottom lines, patient care: Fitch

"Hospital and health system databases are a treasure trove of critical and sensitive patient data, which are highly sought after by cyber criminals for ransomware and double extortion schemes," the report warns.

By Ron Shinkman • July 23, 2021

Tenet rebounds in Q2, buoyed by volume recoveries

CEO Ron Rittenmeyer told investors the quarter came in "better than expected on many fronts," but asked them to "please realize we're not claiming any victory, and we're not relaxing."

By Hailey Mensik • July 22, 2021

Medical debt overtakes nonmedical as largest source in collections. COVID-19 may be making it worse.

The study published in JAMA also found medical debt was significantly more concentrated in states that didn't expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 21, 2021

Patient volume rebound spurs HCA to $1.7B net income in Q2

The system, considered the industry bellwether for the hospital earnings season, raised its full-year expectations for earnings and revenue following the results, banking on continued demand.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 20, 2021

CMS pitches stiffening price transparency fines, halting end of inpatient-only list

Hospitals notched a win with the proposal to reverse the Trump administration's rollback of the inpatient-only list, but took hits with added enforcement of the pricing rule and in other areas.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 20, 2021

Large self-insured employers lack power in hospital price negotiations

A study in The American Journal of Managed care found that hospital market power far outweighs employer market power, suggesting employers may want to consider forging purchase alliances with local government employee groups.

By Samantha Liss • July 16, 2021

Health tracking tech revenue to reach $13B this year amid sustained consumer demand

Devices like blood glucose trackers, smart thermometers and pulse oximeters are a small but growing slice of the larger consumer tech market, according to the Consumer Technology Association.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 16, 2021

UnitedHealth brings in $71B in revenue, biding time on Biogen Alzheimer's drug coverage call

The health giant also expects both utilization and service acuity to trend up progressively in the back half of 2021. ​"We haven't observed that yet, but it's probably too early to say," CFO John Rex told investors Thursday.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 15, 2021

CMS proposes extension of Medicare telehealth coverage

Provider groups are not happy with the payment adjustment in the rule — a 3.75% reduction to the conversion factor due to budget neutrality requirements — and will likely seek congressional intervention.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 14, 2021

Medtech pay to doctors plunged in 2020 as COVID-19 pummeled electives, in-person services

Zimmer Biomet had the biggest drop, cutting general payments nearly 80% to $63 million. Other notable decreases include Stryker, J&J's DePuy Synthes and Boston Scientific.

By Ricky Zipp • July 13, 2021

Women teaching internal medicine paid far less than men, study finds

Female academics were paid at least 90% of men's median yearly salary in 10 of 13 internal medicine specialties, according to new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 13, 2021