In big win for hospitals, CMS pitches nixing mandate to submit some payer-negotiated rates

The proposed rule would also add 1,000 graduate medical education slots over the next five years, with a priority given to facilities in rural areas and with underserved patient populations.

By Shannon Muchmore , Samantha Liss • April 28, 2021

UHS posts Q1 profit, will hand back some CARES funds

The hospital operator plans to return $188 million in grants received during the first quarter after recording more than $400 million in relief grants in 2020 that it didn't return.

By Hailey Mensik • April 27, 2021

Centene Q1 performance fueled by lower medical usage, 1.3M new members

Executives seemed optimistic about the remainder of the year, raising full-year guidance as they see momentum coming from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplace growth due to the special enrollment period.

By Samantha Liss • April 27, 2021

Hospital margins remain narrow in March as COVID-19 financial strain lingers

Pandemic-related costs continue to depress hospitals' finances, though performance recuperated as outpatient activity increased, Kaufman Hall found.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 27, 2021

Primary care plays bigger role in vaccine rollout as burnout persists

About 42% of those administering vaccines are partnering with local health departments, while 34% are partnering with nearby health systems, according to a new survey.

By Ron Shinkman • April 26, 2021

Health benefits platform Accolade acquires virtual primary care company for $450M

After going public last year, Accolade now has scooped up two virtual care companies in 2021.

By Hailey Mensik • April 26, 2021

HCA Q1 profit more than doubles to $1.4B

Execs said Thursday they expect volumes to recover throughout 2021. "We need a few more months to figure out exactly what that's going to be. But we're encouraged by March," CEO Sam Hazen said.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 22, 2021

Tenet posts Q1 profit, but suggests recovery won't be swift

Despite vaccine roll-outs, outpatient and admissions were still depressed. "We're a believer that some of that business either won't come back or will take a long time to come back from a low acuity standpoint," the COO said.

By Hailey Mensik • April 21, 2021

Anthem reports major Medicaid growth in Q1 as executives downplay concerns of pent-up care demands

The payer reported a profit for the quarter driven by performance of its pharmacy benefit management arm and its government plans. It missed Street expectations on revenue, but beat on earnings and hiked EPS guidance.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 21, 2021

What to watch as health systems and insurers report Q1 results

For both payers and providers, volumes will be an important metric. The lingering question is how quickly patients will return to in-person care.

By Samantha Liss , Shannon Muchmore • April 20, 2021

Health funding shatters records in Q1, hits all-time high of $31.6B

The digital health sector, which has seen unprecedented investor interest during COVID-19, also hit a new high of $9 billion, according to a CB Insights report.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 20, 2021

3 takeaways from CHIME21: EHRs, Big Tech and VCs look to the future of health

The public health and financial devastation of COVID-19 can't be overlooked, but the pandemic has also created new opportunities for industry to leverage technology.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 19, 2021

SPAC-powered digital health deals rising dramatically

A new Rock Health analysis notes the targets tend to raise significantly less money than the comparable IPOs, but calls the trend a "wake-up call" to larger healthcare firms looking to acquire.

By Ron Shinkman • April 15, 2021

UnitedHealth kicks off Q1 earnings season with 44% profit jump

Care was still muted in the first quarter even as vaccinations ramped up and states lifted restrictions, contributing to the healthcare behemoth's $4.9 billion bottom line.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 15, 2021

Medicare sequester cut pause extended through 2021

The 2% cuts were first put on hold more than a year ago through federal coronavirus relief legislation. To pay for the extension, the new bill states the cuts will increase in 2030.

By Hailey Mensik • April 14, 2021

Intermountain buys Utah-based air ambulance company Classic

Snapping up Classic, which operates in eight western states and has a significant overlap with Intermountain's telehealth footprint, is meant to make it easier to transport high-need patients to the closest suited medical facility.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 13, 2021

Microsoft acquires clinical voice-to-text company Nuance for $19.7B

Microsoft has had a relationship with Nuance since 2019, but permanently marrying Nuance — and its provider and vendor relationships — greatly expands the software giant's reach in the healthcare space.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 12, 2021

Value of hospital deals soared in Q1, Kaufman Hall says

The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to recent hospital deals swelling in size and ambition, the new report found.

By Ron Shinkman • April 9, 2021

Urgent care centers draw some ER visits but associated with higher spending overall

The findings published in Health Affairs may suggest patients are going to the centers instead of more appropriate and lower cost settings like a primary care office or virtual visit.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 7, 2021

Medtechs top pharma in cash to doctors for consulting, travel: Health Affairs

The study also found payments from medical device companies increased greatly as Medicare billing increased among surgeons.

By Ricky Zipp • April 7, 2021

Nonprofit hospitals spent less on charity care than for-profit, government facilities: Health Affairs

The research is likely to garner attention as skeptics have questioned whether nonprofit organizations dole out enough charity care to justify the tax breaks they receive.

By Samantha Liss • April 6, 2021

Shifting payer mix puts 340B hospitals at risk of losing eligibility

AHA wants HHS to waive certain eligibility requirements to allow continued access to the program during the public health emergency, the group wrote in a letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra.

By Hailey Mensik • April 1, 2021

SOC Telemed acquires acute telehealth vendor Access Physicians for $194M

Relying on inorganic growth to drive revenue could be a bit of a gamble for SOC Telemed, which took on a considerable amount of debt to fund the purchase and is facing a flagging topline.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 1, 2021

One-third of small businesses say health insurance is a top concern during COVID-19: survey

The new poll from the Small Business Majority and Families USA also found that pain is particularly acute among Black-, Asian American- and Latino-owned businesses, which tend to have fewer resources than their White counterparts.

By Rebecca Pifer • March 31, 2021

Medical liability insurance premiums rising after stable decade, AMA report finds

While providers grapple with the pandemic's toll on finances, some can face liability premiums of $200,000 a year, according to the analysis sponsored by the doctors' lobby.

By Hailey Mensik • March 30, 2021