Democrat senators accuse PE-backed US Anesthesia Partners of anticompetitive business practices

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to USAP on Sunday alleging the company leverages its monopoly power to inflate prices. USAP is currently facing a federal suit over the allegations.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 28, 2023

340B drug discount program yields mixed evidence on how hospitals use funds

Researchers reviewed almost 300 pieces of literature on 340B and found some studies suggested hospitals were using savings from the program for purposes “seemingly unrelated” to patient care.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 27, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals need nurses so desparetly they're offering massive sign-on bonuses and staffing firms say open positions for both temporary and permanent nursing roles are at all-time highs.

By Healthcare Dive staff

FTC sues to block John Muir Health’s acquisition of Tenet hospital

Regulators allege the $142.5 million deal to buy the remaining stake in San Ramon Regional Medical Center would further reduce competition and drive up prices.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 20, 2023

Top FDA official Woodcock to retire early next year

The 37-year veteran helmed the agency’s pandemic response, and was a key decision-maker in controversial calls on opioids, an Alzheimer's therapy and muscular dystrophy drugs.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 16, 2023

FDA-ordered report tackles how to manage cybersecurity risks of legacy devices

The report proposes multiple actions for protecting older medical devices, including research into more modular devices and collecting data on cyber risks.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 16, 2023

CMS proposes stricter network adequacy standards for plans in state-run ACA exchanges

Beginning in 2025, plans sold in state-based exchanges would be required to meet time and distance standards for provider access under a new rule proposed Wednesday.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 16, 2023

‘Finger-pointing and blame-shifting’: House subcommittee voices frustration over VA Oracle EHR rollout

Witnesses at the hearing said system performance has improved, but lawmakers called the persistent outages “unacceptable.”

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 15, 2023

Biden administration finalizes rule requiring nursing homes disclose ownership

The rule comes amid growing concerns about the role of private equity firm ownership in nursing homes.

By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 15, 2023

Senate subcommittee signals support for permanent telehealth flexibilities

But witnesses noted Congress shouldn’t wait to enshrine pandemic-era accommodations for virtual care, arguing regulatory uncertainty is a danger to telehealth’s longevity.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 15, 2023

State Medicaid officials project enrollment nosedive next year amid unwinding

Enrollment in the safety-net insurance program could plummet 8.6% in the 2024 fiscal year — the largest year-over-year drop since 1998, according to KFF.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 14, 2023

New York proposes ‘nation-leading’ hospital cybersecurity regulations

The rules, which would require facilities to develop response plans and hire a chief information security officer, aim to safeguard hospitals from growing threats and keep them operating during an attack.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 13, 2023

Senate subcommittee mulls guardrails for healthcare AI

The technology could reduce clinicians’ administrative work or speed drug discovery, but the rapidly evolving field may need more human oversight to prevent harm, lawmakers and witnesses said.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 9, 2023

FTC challenges patents held by nine big drugmakers, citing unfair competition

The agency claims intellectual property for emergency allergy shot EpiPen and asthma medication Advair was “improperly listed” in a Food and Drug Administration database.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 8, 2023

Preparing for the future: Hospital climate resilience plans challenged by cost, uncertainty

As extreme weather events caused by climate change ramp up in frequency, hospitals are struggling with financial and data challenges in disaster planning.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 7, 2023

Biden administration proposes capping broker payment in MA, following pressure

The new proposed rule is meant to stop brokers from steering beneficiaries to plans based on excessive compensation. It’s regulators’ latest move to curb Medicare Advantage marketing misconduct following a push from lawmakers.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 7, 2023

Medicaid disenrollments pass 10M as states continue eligibility checks

States have assessed the eligibility of 28 million Americans to date, and terminated coverage for 35% of them, according to the latest data from KFF.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 6, 2023

Minnesota law kicks in requiring hospitals to bolster charity care checks prior to debt collections

As of Wednesday, Minnesota hospitals must check patients' financial assistance eligibility prior to sending debts to collections, as a part of a multi-year push around charity care oversight. 

By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 3, 2023

CMS finalizes 2024 Medicare hospital, doctor payments, 340B fix and price transparency requirements

Regulators finalized a number of rules Thursday with sweeping implications for providers in the Medicare program, including rates for next year that doctors and hospitals slammed as insufficient.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 3, 2023

AHA, hospitals sue Biden administration to stop restrictions on website tracking tech

The lawsuit filed on Thursday alleges the agency overstepped when issuing guidance seeking to limit hospitals’ use of third-party tracking technologies.

By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 3, 2023

North Carolina AG threatens lawsuit against HCA

The massive for-profit operator has allegedly shuttered services at Mission Health, the hospital system it acquired in 2019, violating the terms of its purchase agreement.

By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 2, 2023

White House orders HHS to collect reports on healthcare AI safety

President Joe Biden outlined the planned program as part of an executive order on “safe, secure, and trustworthy” artificial intelligence.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 1, 2023

HHS announces first ransomware settlement

Doctors’ Management Services agreed to settle claims it did not comply with HIPAA breach rules and failed to identify risks after a cyberattack exposed the information of more than 200,000 patients.

By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 1, 2023

Tracking healthcare data breaches

A breach at a vision benefits vendor exposed the data of more than 636,000 Blue Shield of California members in the spring.

By Emily Olsen , Susanna Vogel • Updated 3 hours ago

Biden administration overhauls surprise billing resolution process amid controversy

Regulators proposed a rule on Friday meant to make payment dispute resolutions more fair and efficient following more than a year of industry complaints.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 30, 2023

Guidance change threatens hospital 340B drug discounts

The Health Resources and Services Administration is once again requiring hospitals to register outpatient clinics and list them on Medicare cost reports, setting a higher bar for eligibility in the drug discount program.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 27, 2023