AHA says hospital COVID-19 losses top $50B per month

The American Hospital Association estimate counts the first four months of the pandemic, including a forecast through June. It comes as the lobby pushes for additional aid on top of the $175 billion Congress has allocated so far.

By Ron Shinkman • May 6, 2020

For-profit hospital chains only saw beginning of COVID-19 impact in Q1

Companies started to see volumes plummet in the end of March as a result of the pandemic, but the effect on overall financial results was relatively limited. That could be a different story for the second quarter.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 6, 2020

CVS profit rockets up 41%, but warns April COVID-19 hit could persist

The company reported a significant jump in use of digital and at-home offerings in the quarter, including MinuteClinic virtual visits up 600% and retail prescription home delivery up more than 1,000%.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 6, 2020

Hospital, nursing groups join forces to lobby Congress for more COVID-19 funding

The groups requested funding to cover the cost of child care for nurses, physicians and other hospital staff as well as housing and transportation support, enhanced pay and free, regular COVID-19 testing.

By Ron Shinkman • May 4, 2020

CMS rolls back more Medicare, telehealth regs for providers working through pandemic

Accountable care organizations also scored a major win in the Thursday rule drop, with the agency pledging they wouldn't be dinged financially for lower-than-expected health outcomes in their patient populations from COVID-19.​ 

By Hailey Mensik • May 1, 2020

Teamsters union urges Tenet shareholders to reject CEO pay raise at upcoming meeting

One of the country's biggest labor unions, which helps fund its pension program through Tenet stock ownership, raised the alarm in a Wednesday letter to other shareholders and urged them to reject the measure at the annual meeting.

By Hailey Mensik • April 30, 2020

Teladoc hikes 2020 guidance after seeing visits double in Q1

Results were historically strong but fell short of Wall Street expectations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spur virtual care adoption.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 30, 2020

Telehealth startup 98point6 grows membership 16% with 4 major employer deals

The mobile app-based vendor can now count Boeing and Chipotle among its clients as its clinic volume has more than tripled since the start of this year.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 30, 2020

Q&A with Cerner's chief client and services officer on the vendor's Q1, COVID-19

Healthcare Dive talked with John Peterzalek about how the four-decade-old vendor is changing its priorities amid the outbreak and the status of some embattled federal projects.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 30, 2020

Cerner bookings drag down top line, guidance cut due to COVID-19

"It would be an understatement to say this has been an uneventful quarter. It's been extreme," CEO Brent Shafer said on a call with investors late Tuesday, but so far the pandemic has had "only minor impacts" on the vendor.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 29, 2020

CHS takes big hit in April, but eyes resumption of elective surgeries in May

The 99-hospital chain also said it plans to stash its CARES funding away as a "second quarter benefit to revenue" pending SEC approval, speaking to investors after reporting first quarter results.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated April 29, 2020

Payers, providers urge Congress to expand coverage options as COVID-19-spurred job losses soar

Relying on the $100 billion from the CARES Act "will quickly deplete the Emergency Fund and not provide the benefits of comprehensive coverage," the healthcare groups and U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote.

By Hailey Mensik • April 28, 2020

CMS hits pause on speeding Medicare payments to docs as COVID-19 funding reaches $175B

Health policy experts and provider groups called the move premature as the financial concerns plaguing doctor's offices and hospitals are unlikely to go away any time soon.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 27, 2020

Community oncology practices turn to mergers, private equity to avoid hospital acquisition

Still, the Community Oncology Alliance report found the rate of hospitals buying these cancer practices rose almost 10% between 2018 and 2020, in part due to financial incentives built into the 340B Drug Discount Program.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 24, 2020

Inpatient COVID-19 cases estimated to cost $14K per patient

Health Affairs researchers also found patients with coronavirus generated costs that dwarfed other infectious diseases, like the flu.

By Hailey Mensik • April 23, 2020

Operating margins plummet at US hospitals, Kaufman Hall says

The data paint a dire picture. "These initial numbers only reflect the first two weeks of the COVID-19 response and likely indicate more negative results in the future," Jim Blake, managing director of Kaufman Hall, said.

By Hailey Mensik • April 22, 2020

Another court rules against hospitals on DSH payments

Hospitals had argued CMS should only use Medicaid and uninsured patient payments toward the disproportionate share hospital payment cap. A lower court ruled in favor, but an appeals court overturned that decision Monday.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 22, 2020

Trump signs bill designating additional $75B for hospital COVID-19 response

It's the fourth major piece of emergency legislative relief Congress has approved amid the pandemic. But hospitals and providers say more help will be needed.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated April 24, 2020

HCA profit down 45% amid COVID-19 volume depression

The Nashville-based for-profit hospital operator missed Wall Street expectations for both earnings and revenue, chalking up the results to significantly lower patient volume in the last two weeks of the first quarter.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 21, 2020

CMS, surgeon group offer paths forward to resume elective procedures

Most facilities have been putting off non-emergency services since mid-March, but have taken a financial hit as a result. Congress is debating a fourth coronavirus relief package that reportedly contains $75 billion for hospitals.

By Susan Kelly • April 20, 2020

1/5 of primary care practices could close within next month as US mulls reopening economy

More than two-fifths of practices have had to lay off or furlough staff to keep afloat as the large majority face dramatic decreases in patient volume, a new survey of more than 2,600 doctors found.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 20, 2020

FCC releases 1st round of CARES funds for coronavirus telehealth response

Six providers, including those in hard-hit areas like New York and New Orleans, received more than $3.2 million from the $200 million fund set aside for telehealth by the CARES stimulus package Congress passed last month.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 17, 2020

2nd round of CARES funding, with broader reach, to go out this week

The first distribution was based on Medicare payments, but this week's funding round looks at "providers across the board, whether they serve Medicare patients, Medicaid or private insurers," CMS head Seema Verma said.

By Hailey Mensik • April 16, 2020

Coronavirus drives surge in Teladoc virtual medical visits

The telehealth vendor expects revenue for the first quarter to be up about 40% year over year as the pandemic drives virtual care adoption. CEO Jason Gorevic told investors, "The role of virtual care has changed forever."

By Rebecca Pifer • April 15, 2020

CMS doubles Medicare payment for coronavirus diagnostic lab tests

The American Clinical Laboratory Association praised the step for creating predictable reimbursement for high-throughput COVID-19 molecular tests. 

By Greg Slabodkin • April 15, 2020