Medical groups, health systems expect COVID-19 pinch to last into next year, AMGA says

Although most of the providers surveyed say they have adequate reserves to last at least two more months, the trade group stepped up its pleas for more financial assistance from the federal government.

By Ron Shinkman • June 17, 2020

Advocate-Aurora, Beaumont ink letter of intent to explore merger

A union would create a system with combined revenue of about $17.5 billion. The plans come soon after Beaumont, Michigan's largest health system, canceled a planned merger with Ohio-based Summa Health.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 17, 2020

Tenet cites dramatic rebound of patient volume post COVID-19 slump

New hotspots are emerging in states in the West and South largely spared from the first coronavirus wave, posing a challenge for hospital operators with major footprints in those states, such as the Dallas-based chain.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated June 17, 2020

CMS pushes back payer MLR reporting deadline, citing COVID-19

The agency said granting flexibility would help insurers pay rebates mandated by the Affordable Care Act more quickly to enrollees, but issued no requirement that they be sped up.

By Ron Shinkman • June 15, 2020

Air ambulance market is 'dysfunctional,' puts most patients at risk for huge surprise bills: analysis

Even the insured struggle to pay, with median charge for in-network claims up from $24,938 in 2014 to $32,708 in 2017, according to claims data from Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

By Ron Shinkman • June 12, 2020

It's time for a national hospital supply chain czar

If the current lack of supply chain coordination isn't resolved before the expected second surge in COVID-19 cases strikes, the result will be a far worse crisis, writes Jody Hatcher, a healthcare supply chain expert.

By Jody Hatcher • June 12, 2020

Professional services revenue plunged nearly 50% in April as pandemic worsened

The nonprofit FAIR Health study found the dramatic decrease was due to a 68% drop in use as patients and doctors deferred non-essential care.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 10, 2020

Amwell files for IPO — report

The telehealth player is reportedly preparing to go public on the heels of raising almost $200 million in funding amid widespread enthusiasm for virtual care brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 5, 2020

$250B of all healthcare spend could be digitized, McKinsey estimates

Some analysts expect telehealth use to flag in the second half of 2020 if the novel coronavirus loses steam. But McKinsey researchers think these dynamics will persist for up to 18 months at least, or until a vaccine is widely available.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 4, 2020

CMS relaxing more value-based model requirements in wake of pandemic

The changes are aimed at minimizing reporting burden and increasing flexibilities for providers as they continue to face great financial and logistical challenges from the novel coronavirus.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 3, 2020

Medicaid expansion key indicator for rural hospitals' financial viability

Other factors that play a positive role include tax-exempt status and occupancy rates, according to a study in Health Affairs.

By Hailey Mensik • June 2, 2020

UPMC latest hospital system to report Q1 loss due to COVID-19

The Pennsylvania-based system's health insurance plan saw increased revenue due to a significant rise in its membership, but its operating income dropped by 56%.

By Ron Shinkman • June 1, 2020

Sluggish patient volume could jeopardize hospitals repaying advanced Medicare funds, report suggests

Older patients lead the pack in returning to emergency rooms while younger generations had smaller declines in visit activity overall and are returning to all care settings faster, a survey of 500 hospitals by Transunion found.

By Hailey Mensik • June 1, 2020

Public option would drive premiums down, but increase enrollments only modestly, RAND says

The California-based nonprofit explored four different scenarios in which a public option health plan could be introduced to the state and federal exchanges.

By Ron Shinkman • May 29, 2020

Hospitals to face bumpy recovery with depressed margins into 2021, S&P predicts

Federal funds are helping offset short-term health system losses, but a potential second coronavirus surge makes long-term prospects unpredictable.

By Hailey Mensik • May 28, 2020

HCA tells nurses union to give up bargained wage increases — or face layoffs

The country's largest nurses union said HCA is also threatening elimination of employer contributions to 401k plans, wage freezes and pay cuts if they do not give up contractually-promised raises.

By Hailey Mensik • May 26, 2020

Providence, 1st to treat COVID-19 patient, posts $1.1B loss

The nonprofit system saw investment losses of $763 million in the first quarter as stock market volatility followed stay-at-home orders for much of the U.S. That compared to a $582 million investment gain in the prior-year period.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 26, 2020

Ascension reports loss of $2.7B in Q1

The nonprofit system saw operating revenue decrease 2.5% year over year in the period ending March 31 to $6.1 billion. That came as expenses like salaries and supplies ticked up by more than 3% to $6.4 billion.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 26, 2020

Trinity Health joins other operators battered by pandemic, details CARES funding

The Michigan-based nonprofit reported surgical volumes alone plummeted 25% in March as significant investment losses contributed to a net loss of more than $880 million for the first nine months of its fiscal year.

By Samantha Liss • May 22, 2020

Tips for hospitals to prepare for upcoming worksheet S-10 audits

Get prepared for FFY 2018 Worksheet S-10 audits as CMS appears ready for MACs to begin the next round of audits.

By Michael Newell, Partner, Health Care Consulting Practice • May 22, 2020

COVID-19 has upended how Americans obtain healthcare

A new survey by the Alliance of Community Health Plans and the pharmacist lobby AMCP found nearly 40% of respondents plan to delay future care.

By Ron Shinkman • May 21, 2020

COVID-19 sinks Advocate Aurora's operating income in Q1

The major nonprofit system was pushed into the red for the quarter due to the pandemic. It has a large presence in the Chicagoland area, a hot spot for the virus, and has discharged more than 3,200 patients who were infected.

By Samantha Liss • May 21, 2020

April was dismal for US hospitals, with long road ahead, surveys find

Operating margins plummeted 174% last month compared to April 2019 and were down 118% from March of this year as surgeries, ER visits and outpatient appointments declined drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 21, 2020

Despite $33M in approvals, FCC has sent just 1 provider CARES telehealth funds

"We expect the number of invoices to increase steadily as more funding continues to be approved," an FCC spokesperson told Healthcare Dive.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 20, 2020

Nonprofit health systems see investments slide as COVID-19 ravages economy

Major systems like CommonSpirit Health and Kaiser Permanente posted losses of more than $1 billion in first quarter reports.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 20, 2020