5 insights from a chat with Larry Merlo, CEO of CVS Health

Healthcare Dive talked to Merlo, who rose up the ranks to lead the giant chain over three decades, about CVS' rivals, the path to the Aetna acquisition and potential arenas for disruption.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 23, 2019

Cleveland Clinic, American Well partner on virtual visits with specialists

The joint venture extends the relationship between the nonprofit system and telehealth vendor, which have collaborated since 2014 to provide 24-hour access to virtual non-emergency care for many minor illnesses and injuries.

By Linda Wilson • Oct. 23, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Interoperability

Interoperability is a long term-challenge for the healthcare industry, but the Trump administration has big ambitions to improve data sharing and patient access — even though its plans so far have few details.

By Healthcare Dive staff

UPS flies further into healthcare with CVS, AmerisourceBergen, provider partnerships

UPS has "started with a hospital campus environment and [is] now expanding scale and use-cases" as it doubles down on healthcare, the company's chief strategy and transformation officer said.

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 22, 2019

Cerner expands federal investment with acquisition of VA software consultant AbleVets

Virginia-based AbleVets is one of the key IT companies in the controversial plan to transition vets from the VA system to private healthcare services.

By Ron Shinkman • Oct. 21, 2019

Surescripts CEO on monopoly accusations, private sector's role in interoperability

Healthcare Dive talked with Surescripts' Tom Skelton about the Federal Trade Commission's contention the e-prescription vendor is a monopoly and the company's row with an Amazon PillPack contractor, among other topics.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 21, 2019

Humana, Microsoft ink 7-year deal for cloud services

The payer, which already partners with telehealth vendor Doctor on Demand for virtual primary care visits, will also develop similar tools with Microsoft.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 21, 2019

Google nabs ex-Obama official DeSalvo for new chief health role

Karen DeSalvo will report to ex-Geisinger CEO David Feinberg, advising him on providers, doctors and nurses across the Verily and cloud computing businesses.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 18, 2019

The forgotten ones: Ransomware preys on the resource-poor

When Brookside Medical Center was hit with ransomware, it refused to pay. The practice was forced to shutter. 

By Samantha Schwartz • Oct. 18, 2019

Microsoft lands new partner in race to reliable speech-to-text, EHR documentation

Burlington, Massachusetts-based Nuance will transfer its internal infrastructure and hosted products to the tech giant's cloud as part of the agreement.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 17, 2019

Health IT advisory group targets price transparency, data security with eye toward 2020

HITAC members floated the idea of establishing a workgroup focused solely on price transparency, with one panel member calling it an area of "high interest, especially for consumers."

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 17, 2019

Novartis takes step back from marketing Pear prescription digital therapeutics

The move at Sandoz comes as recently minted CEO Richard Saynor refocuses the Novartis unit.​

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 17, 2019

Fitbit, Bristol-Myers, Pfizer partner to speed earlier diagnosis of AFib

The two drugmakers sell Eliquis, an anticoagulant for stroke prevention in people with atrial fibrillation, which reached nearly $4 billion in sales over the first six months of this year.

By David Lim • Oct. 17, 2019

Malware targets individual healthcare employees, not always VIPs

Malicious emails most often used URLs (77% of cases) rather than attachments to deliver infected code, according to a report from cybersecurity vendor Proofpoint.

By Linda Wilson • Oct. 17, 2019

Ancestry takes on 23andMe, rolls out genetic health test services

The company will be working with Quest Diagnostics and Illumina to sell the laboratory developed tests. It does not currently have a relationship with LabCorp, according to an executive.

By David Lim • Oct. 16, 2019

Hospitals, manufacturers could donate cybersecurity software under proposed regs

With the cost of protecting systems from malicious hackers increasing, the idea to tweak the anti-kickback laws recognizes some physician practices don't have the resources or expertise to keep pace, one lawyer said.

By David Lim • Oct. 14, 2019

Amazon Textract now HIPAA-eligible as tech giant expands AI portfolio

Of Amazon's $3.1 billion in operating income last quarter, more than half came from its cloud services business. AWS expects the expansion of its HIPAA-eligible offerings will lead to increased business from its healthcare customers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 11, 2019

UnitedHealth doubles down on telemedicine with app in employer-sponsored plans

The insurer currently contracts with Teladoc, American Well and Doctor on Demand to offer virtual visits, though it is in talks to partner with local providers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 10, 2019

From robots to staplers, a top 10 list of medtech safety hazards

The nonprofit ECRI identified increased use of certain devices outside of acute care settings and adoption of some technologies before safety is fully assessed as common themes in its annual ranking.

By Susan Kelly • Oct. 10, 2019

Confidence, investment in AI remains high, Optum says

Health executives plan to invest almost $40 million in AI-related projects over the next five years, according to a survey, up more than $7 million from last year's estimate.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 9, 2019

Frustrated patients ready to switch providers over poor digital experience, report finds

Patients are seeking more clarity on bills and flexible payment options. More than half want out-of-pocket cost estimates and creative payment options, according to the survey.

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 9, 2019

Startup Devoted says it's 1st MA plan to offer Apple Watch

It's not the first time Apple has made a wearables deal with an insurer, but does represent the tech giant's first concrete foray into Medicare Advantage.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 8, 2019

Livongo scores biggest diabetes contract yet

Investors reacted to the news of the BCBS federal employee program agreement by bumping up Livongo's shares more than 18%.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 8, 2019

Hospital electrification will lead corporate renewable procurement in next 5 years: Deloitte

Interest from corporations in renewable energy creates opportunities for utilities to offer green tariff programs, Deloitte's U.S. renewable energy principal said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 3, 2019

Radiologists call for ethics guidelines on AI

"AI developers ultimately need to be held to the same 'do no harm' standard as physicians," an international coalition said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 3, 2019

Fitness trackers could aid care of patients with respiratory disease symptoms, research suggests

The results highlight the potential of activity trackers and other monitoring devices to alert providers more quickly to changes in a patient's medical condition, leading to less expensive, more convenient care.

By Linda Wilson • Oct. 3, 2019