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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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

Could coronavirus derail the decades-long shift to value-based care?

"This is not about managing a population. This is about doing everything you can to keep these people alive," Dean Ungar, vice president of Moody's Investors Service, said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 15, 2020

Hospital CARES funding not quite 'no strings attached'

Chains like Tenet and CHS can expect to see the biggest benefit in relation to profitability as providers start to receive the first $30 billion of the $100 billion allocated, according to Jefferies analysts.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 14, 2020

AMA, other doc groups seek piece of CARES act funding

The doctors lobby, along with groups representing cardiologists, dermatologists and a range of other specialties, urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to provide immediate aid "to support them against financial peril while they put their lives and businesses at risk."

By Hailey Mensik • April 9, 2020

Rural hospital closure fears mount as COVID-19 financially strains health systems

Forty states have at least one rural hospital at high financial risk of closure, according to a new Guidehouse report.

By Hailey Mensik • April 9, 2020

Hospital costs to treat uninsured COVID-19 patients could top $40B

The Kaiser Family Foundation analysis is another indication that more funding will be needed to keep the U.S healthcare system running as it faces the unprecedented crisis.

By Shannon Muchmore , Hailey Mensik • April 8, 2020

COVID-19's public health crisis could also be a financial disaster for hospitals

Most systems already operate on relatively thin margins, with little room to handle a downswing, much less the pandemic that has now caused more deaths in the U.S. than any other nation.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 8, 2020

Digital health rakes in record $3.1B in Q1, but COVID-19 slump could loom

"Though some of the economic blow will be tempered by demand for connected healthcare, we do not anticipate investment activity to keep pace with Q1 levels in the coming months," according to the new Rock Health report.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 7, 2020

Hospital M&A was normal in Q1, but Kaufman Hall says that will change

Deals essentially died down by the middle of last month, and first quarter performance "will be an uncertain predictor of activity for the remainder of 2020," according to a new report.

By Ron Shinkman • April 6, 2020

VA pauses Cerner EHR implementation — again — amid COVID-19

It's the second delay this year of the multi-billion dollar project, and the latest in a stop-and-go effort to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic records system.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 6, 2020

Commercial labs push for piece of $100B coronavirus relief

The clinical labs trade group, representing LabCorp and Quest, wants HHS to allocate CARES Act money for expenses or lost revenue related to COVID-19. But there's strong competition from healthcare providers also hurting financially.

By Greg Slabodkin • April 6, 2020

Quorum files for bankruptcy

The CHS spinoff had warned the action might be necessary after years of flagging financial performance. The system has entered into a restructuring agreement with terms to reduce its debt by about $500 million.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated April 7, 2020

HHS to divert some of $100B hospital COVID-19 funding to uninsured

AHA seemed to object to the order, saying funding to treat the uninsured should come from new legislation or an emergency program as the $100 billion for them "was intended to provide hospitals with an infusion of emergency relief."

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated April 6, 2020

Health jobs plummeted in March despite rising need for healthcare workers

Dentist's offices shed 17,000 jobs, doctor's offices lost 12,000 and other healthcare practitioners lost 7,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday morning.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 3, 2020

Tenet pulls 2020 guidance in wake of COVID-19 impact

The for-profit hospital chain said its system is not currently overwhelmed but has rescheduled "a substantial amount" of elective procedures and closed or reduced hours at ambulatory surgery and outpatient centers.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 2, 2020