Reducing healthcare costs not one-size-fits-all, report finds

The Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement analyzed healthcare costs for five states and found huge differences in terms of costs and drivers.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 14, 2018

Amazon could shake up healthcare supply chains

While its ambitions aren't well known, the company’s famous (or infamous) disruption could find an entry point in hospital supply chains for a few reasons.

By Jeff Byers , Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 14, 2018

Most healthcare execs say value-based programs led to positive financial results

A Healthcare Financial Management Association survey also said commercial payers haven’t rolled out value-based programs as quickly as expected.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 14, 2018

Hospitals performed small amount of cost-shifting, study finds

Recent research found that hospitals negotiated 1.5% higher average private payer reimbursements to offset cuts from public payers.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 13, 2018

Molina posts $269M Q4 loss after turbulent year

Molina Healthcare went through major changes in 2017, including removing its CEO-president and CFO. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 13, 2018

$500M donation sparks UCSF hospital plan

UCSF Health must relocate inpatient care from Moffitt Hospital by 2030 to conform with California seismic code requirements.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 12, 2018

Trump budget slashes Medicaid, targets 340B

The proposal is more a political document than anything else, but HHS Secretary Alex Azar said it addresses priorities including a push toward paying for value.

By Shannon Muchmore , David Lim • Feb. 12, 2018

More oversight for 340B needed, White House council says

The Council of Economic Advisers suggested creating an independent agency to oversee the prescription payment program.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 12, 2018

Atrium Health to partner with Navicent Health

Atrium, formerly Carolinas HealthCare System, is also attempting to merge with UNC Health Care.   

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 9, 2018

Smorgasbord of health items in massive 2-year budget deal

The agreement staving off an extended government shutdown includes a delay to Disproportionate Share Hospital payment cuts, a repeal of the ACA's Independent Payment Advisory Board and more funding to fight the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • Feb. 9, 2018

CVS easily beats Q4 forecast, sees Aetna deal on track

CEO Larry Merlo said on an earnings call "nothing that has surfaced" on the Aetna merger bid has come as a surprise, and he still expects the deal to close in the second half of this year.

By David Lim • Feb. 8, 2018

Tax bill sows confusion for nonprofit hospitals

While for-profit healthcare companies celebrate a windfall, nonprofit systems try to figure out how the tax cuts will impact them.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Management organizations can play key role in ACOs

A Health Affairs report found partnerships helped providers in ACOs with data, administrative, educational and care coordination services.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Express Scripts: Plan drug spending rose at slowest rate in 24 years

The PBM says its efforts to rein in rising drug costs have helped the plans it administers secure hundreds of millions in savings last year.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 7, 2018

Intermountain, Geisinger shift focus to patients in revenue cycle

Patients are now a major payer, and providers need to adapt their strategies.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

CHI continues turnaround, Q2 bolstered by lower restructuring costs

The health system posted an operating income loss of $1.5 million, a substantial improvement from the $146 million loss in the same period of fiscal year 2017.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 7, 2018

Humana Q4 earnings a mixed bag

After increasing individual Medicare Advantage membership by only 1% in 2017, the insurer gained more than 3 million members in January. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Rideshares fail to reduce patient no-show rates, study shows

A number of hospitals and health systems have partnered with Uber and Lyft in an attempt to help people get to appointments.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 6, 2018

Highest healthcare spenders vary each year

The top 5% of healthcare spenders in 2015 accounted for 53% of spending, a new Health Care Cost Institute analysis found.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 5, 2018

Medicaid work requirements bring uncertainty to hospital bottom lines, Fitch warns

Kentucky has already received a Medicaid waiver that allows it to implement work requirements, and seven more states could follow shortly.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 2, 2018

DOJ seeks more info on proposed CVS, Aetna merger

CVS did not say what information DOJ is seeking, but the request is not unexpected.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 2, 2018

Medicare Advantage plans to see 1.84% rate bump

CMS is also proposing opioid prescribing limits starting in 2019 for Part D plans to help stem the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • Feb. 2, 2018

Healthcare cloud computing market on track for $35B by 2022

Driving growth is the demand for anywhere, anytime access to health data.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 1, 2018

Changes from DC could mean a difficult year ahead for hospitals

​Issues facing hospitals this year include Medicaid DSH cuts, a possible return of mandatory bundling initiatives and CMS potentially moving hip replacement procedures to outpatient.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 1, 2018

Cigna revenue, membership up with commercial focus

Medicare Advantage membership growth is also expected to increase by 3% in 2018 and will likely accelerate in 2019.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 1, 2018