Hospitals across US cancel elective procedures — again

Health systems have had to curtail, pause or halt nonemergency services when faced with ICUs at capacity and resources all but maxed out.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated Nov. 18, 2020

Despite COVID-19, CommonSpirit Health reports $800M quarterly profit

The nation's biggest Catholic system is dealing with a significant increase in supply costs to treat patients infected by the virus, but still eked out a 7.7% increase in operating revenues compared to the same period last year.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 15, 2020

In first report since IPO, Amwell sees revenue up 80% year over year

Total visits in the quarter for the Boston-based vendor were more than 1.4 million, up 455% from a year ago, but slightly down sequentially. Amwell went public in September with a hefty investment from Google.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 13, 2020

Payers saw volumes bounce back in Q3, say COVID-19 still volatile

Companies warned tailwinds may not last as people seek previously deferred care in the fourth quarter and into next year.

Nov. 11, 2020

Primary care networks One Medical, Oak Street Health report Q3 revenue jumps

COVID-19 has proved a major headwind for providers in 2020, but the third quarter is somewhat of a bright spot for medical networks, which were also helped by the employer return-to-work push.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 11, 2020

COVID-19 could depress 2021 Medicare Advantage payments, analysis suggests

Consultancy Avalere also warned that MA plans should brace for dealing with chronically ill enrollees whose health has declined due to foregoing care during the pandemic and could require more services in the long term.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 9, 2020

Intermountain sells supply chain management business to Vizient

The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of next year, is likely intended to streamline the operations of the dominant hospital operator and health insurer in Utah.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 6, 2020

CVS' Merlo to depart, replaced by veteran payer exec Karen Lynch

The company beat Wall Street expectations with revenue of $67 billion in the third quarter, up 3.5% year over year as its diversified book of business helped blunt the impact of coronavirus-related headwinds.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 6, 2020

Biden faces a divided Congress, stifling chance for more progressive health policies

Former Vice President Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, the Associated Press and all the major networks said, after votes were tallied in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated Nov. 7, 2020

Roadmap for keeping electives up amid COVID-19 surges laid out

The key is the use of predictive modeling in developing a clinical decision support tool to determine factors like patient length of stay and use of a ventilator, according to research in JAMA Network Open.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 2, 2020

Healthcare Dive's 2020 election coverage

The outcome of the presidential race and control of the Senate were still unknown. Polling showed healthcare issues were top of mind for many as they cast their vote.

Nov. 2, 2020

CMS set to bump MA rates for 2022 in win for payers

The agency is also proposing to rely entirely on encounter data to calculate patient risk scores in 2022, a move that has been opposed by commercial insurers.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 2, 2020

Physician pay growth pushed down amid COVID-19. Women bear the brunt, survey finds

The study by Doximity concludes compensation barely budged this year compared to 2019, an apparent victim of the economic fallout from the pandemic.

By Ron Shinkman • Oct. 30, 2020

Allscripts Q3 revenue misses Wall Street forecasts amid sustained COVID-19 headwinds

Management noted the third quarter is typically seasonally weaker, and that's being compounded by the pandemic. The vendor is still holding back guidance in the wake of volatility.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 30, 2020

Molina saw members return to care in Q3, braces for curtailment as cases spike again

The payer reported it spent $35 million on COVID-19 care in the quarter. But as cases reach new heights in the U.S., it expects members to again defer care as virus costs are likely to increase.

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 29, 2020

Teladoc's $18.5B Livongo acquisition closes in just under 3 months

Shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly approved the megadeal on Thursday, clearing the way for its final consummation.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Oct. 30, 2020

Teladoc ups guidance for third quarter in a row as telehealth use holds steady

Jefferies analyst David Windley called the results "robust overall but mixed in the details," calling membership growth underwhelming, and shares dipped.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 29, 2020

Cerner revenue up slightly in Q3, CFO announces departure

The EHR vendor's health system clients are especially warming up to its data tools that can help streamline their own workflows during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Don Trigg said during a Wednesday call with investors.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 29, 2020

Anthem beats in Q3, but profit plummets amid rising costs

The payer also reported a $594 million payment toward a federal antitrust settlement reached with Blue Cross Blue Shield plans that is still awaiting approval by a judge.

By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 28, 2020

Community Health swings to Q3 profit, even as COVID-19 cases swelled

The pandemic and flu season haven't stopped the hospital chain from shifting into the black. CHS also said COO Tim Hingtgen will replace long-time Wayne Smith effective January.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated Oct. 28, 2020

Centene Q3 profit skyrockets on WellCare close, ACA settlement

Lower utilization of healthcare services during the quarter was partially offset by higher testing and treatment costs for COVID-19, the payer said. Analysts called the results "good enough."

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 27, 2020

After hospital volumes plummeted due to COVID-19, full rebound not likely soon

Researchers writing in JAMA Internal Medicine suggested patients may be avoiding the hospital or may have lost health insurance as a result of the economic fallout from the pandemic.

By Ron Shinkman • Oct. 26, 2020

COVID-19 cases could be 5% of 2021 admissions, HCA says amid rising Q3 profits

The hospital giant reported profit of $668 million in the third quarter, up 9% from the same time last year. Results come weeks after it said it would return millions in government grants early and as COVID-19 surges in key markets.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 26, 2020

AHA, AMA ask Congress to extend suspension of Medicare sequester

The 2% payment cut was suspended under the CARES Act, but providers say the ongoing financial pain they are feeling due to the COVID-19 pandemic means it should continue to be on hold well into next year.

By Ron Shinkman • Oct. 23, 2020

HHS walks back CARES fund reporting requirement hospitals feared

The department said it had earlier concerns that some providers would wind up more profitable than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Samantha Liss • Updated Oct. 23, 2020