Cerner acquired by Oracle for $28B

The deal further pushes Oracle into the healthcare market, where its presence is mostly in data use efficiency for payers and providers. Oracle's areas of focus include database software and cloud systems.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 20, 2021

FDA finds 3 COVID-19 tests that fail to detect the omicron variant

Diagnostics from Applied DNA Sciences, Meridian Bioscience and Tide Laboratories are not able to detect omicron, causing false negative results, and should not be used, the agency said.

By Greg Slabodkin • Dec. 16, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial intelligence

Amid mounting interest and investment in the space, it's clear AI’s applications in healthcare will only continue to grow.

By Healthcare Dive staff

3 medtech markets poised to thrive in 2022 despite renewed COVID-19 pressures

While the emergence of the omicron variant is muddying next year's medtech outlook, analysts have identified three niches within the sector best positioned to successfully weather the continued strains on the healthcare system.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 15, 2021

Study finds surgery volumes bounced back after 2020 COVID-19 shutdown

But more recently, confounding factors such as healthcare staffing shortages are causing the delta variant headwind to drag on. Rapidly increasing inpatient volumes are leading some U.S. hospitals to again delay surgical procedures.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 9, 2021

COVID-19 drops out of top telehealth diagnoses in September even as virtual care use rises

National telehealth use, measured as a percentage of all medical claims, rose more than 2% in September for the second straight month as the delta variant surged, following a sustained period of decline early this year.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 7, 2021

Medicare telehealth visits increased 63-fold from 2019 to 2020, new government data shows

Virtual visits for Medicare beneficiaries went from hundreds of thousands pre-pandemic to tens of millions in 2020, with many beneficiaries using telehealth for the first time.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 6, 2021

Are you leaving your FHIR API front door unlocked?

Research shows FHIR APIs come with major security vulnerabilities — here's how to protect your data.

Dec. 6, 2021

3 healthcare CIOs share top industry challenges

Behind the scenes, healthcare CIOs are critical to keeping their organizations running through a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. Now, three executives weigh in on the challenges ahead.

By Roberto Torres • Dec. 2, 2021

CVS, Microsoft ink alliance to develop digital health, personalized products

CVS is banking that Microsoft's computing capabilities can help it weave together its virtual and physical assets to capture a greater slice of patients' healthcare journeys — and the corresponding revenue.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 2, 2021

VA to resume Cerner medical record implementation early next year with new leadership

Officials have released an updated deployment schedule for the beleaguered $16 billion EHR modernization project.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 2, 2021

Patient willingness for telehealth high, but in-person care perceived as more valuable, research suggests

Patients who leaned toward in-person care were more willing to pay for it, while those who preferred video visits were more sensitive to out-of-pocket costs, a survey conducted by Rand found.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 1, 2021

Medical device security continues to be casualty of hospital-medtech divide

FDA says manufacturers and hospitals are both responsible for protecting devices from growing cybersecurity threats. However, healthcare organizations carry a much heavier load.

By Greg Slabodkin • Dec. 1, 2021

Accelerating outcomes amid healthcare's digital transformation

New market research finds that while digital strategies are widespread in healthcare, execution challenges persist.

Nov. 29, 2021

EHR vendor Athenahealth bought out in $17B private equity deal

The transaction, which will be financed through a mix of equity and debt, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year and is the latest in a recent string of large leveraged buyouts.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 22, 2021

MCIT breakthrough device payment pathway included in Cures 2.0 bill

Lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a revised MCIT proposal in the next version of the 21st Century Cures Act, following last week's repeal of the final rule by CMS. Industry groups AdvaMed and MDMA backed the legislation.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 18, 2021

Delta surge spurs Amwell's urgent care growth as specialty, behavioral visits drop off

Urgent care visits generate less revenue, so the shift in mix had an unfavorable impact on total revenue per visit. Amwell's revenue was down 1% year over year to $62.2 million, lower than analyst expectations.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 11, 2021

Siemens software vulnerabilities potentially put millions of medical devices at risk

A U.S. cybersecurity agency issued an alert about the weaknesses, one of which was scored 9.8 on a 10-point risk scale, which could allow hackers to disrupt the operation of anesthesia machines and bedside monitors.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 11, 2021

GE unveils plan to spin off healthcare business

The independent company, expected to be separated in early 2023, is being positioned as having more flexibility to pursue acquisitions as it sharpens its focus on precision health amid struggles with supply chain shortages.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 11, 2021

How a self-service approach can boost healthcare customer satisfaction

Automate for agility: How technology can solve healthcare organizations’ biggest challenges.

Nov. 9, 2021

Women in the healthcare C-suite on what they've learned

Teladoc CFO Mala Murthy and Mount Sinai Health System President Margaret Pastuszko told Healthcare Dive what struggles they have faced as women in leadership roles and what advice they give to others.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 4, 2021

Controversial UnitedHealth-Change tie-up gets new deadline for DOJ review

Consummation of UnitedHealth's $13 billion Change acquisition is now teed up for February at the earliest, though the deal could close even sooner if the DOJ unexpectedly drops its investigation — or later, if the agency challenges.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 4, 2021

FDA issues long-awaited draft software guidance in overhaul of 16-year-old policy

Bradley Merrill Thompson, an attorney at Epstein Becker Green, said the new guidance is sorely needed by the medical device industry. "In the realm of software, [16 years is] an eternity," Thompson said. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 4, 2021

CMS finalizes plans to hike price transparency penalties, extend telehealth flexibilities

The agency is also moving forward with a plan to stop the elimination of the Medicare inpatient-only list, which is a win for hospitals.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 3, 2021

Why are women more likely to use telehealth?

As Washington mulls over telehealth regulations post-COVID-19, it's important not to roll back access in a way that could disproportionately affect women, experts say.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 2, 2021

Women in the healthcare workforce

Women who work in healthcare have long endured setbacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic threw a harsh spotlight on the obstacles they face while on the front lines.

Nov. 1, 2021