Divided Congress after midterms will allow HHS to execute on policy priorities, Becerra says

The department will focus on implementing drug price negotiation in Medicare and surprise billing regulations, according to the secretary.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 16, 2022

Medical group asks Congress to offset Medicare payment cuts

The Medical Group Management Association wants Congress to take action to help physician practices by the end of the year.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 15, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

Hospitals are navigating persistent labor shortages with the need to cut costs — a source of contention that could leave patients caught in the middle.

By Healthcare Dive staff

HHS cybersecurity center warns of new ransomware threat

The ransomware has attacked targets worldwide, including at least one U.S. health group, since it was first identified in mid-August.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 14, 2022

Congressional committee requests investigation of hospital price transparency compliance

Committee members said in a recent letter to a government watchdog that hospitals have had “ample time” to comply with the rules.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 11, 2022

Abortion rights, Medicaid expansion win in state midterms

Voters in California, Michigan and Vermont passed measures codifying abortion rights, while those in conservative Kentucky rejected an anti-abortion measure.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 9, 2022

Children’s hospitals ask Congress to address mental health, staffing concerns

The requests come as hospitals face an influx of patients with respiratory illnesses and mental health conditions.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 9, 2022

Abortion access, Medicaid expansion, medical debt on state ballots

The battle over abortion rights continues to play out at the state level in wake of the Supreme Court's ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 8, 2022

5 takeaways from the FDA’s list of AI-enabled medical devices

As the number of devices increases, the agency is looking to adapt its regulatory framework to the new technology, including faster approval of algorithm updates.

By Elise Reuter • Nov. 8, 2022

Senator outlines potential cybersecurity mandates for health systems

Cybersecurity can no longer be treated as a secondary concern and must become incorporated into every organization’s core business model, according to the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 7, 2022

As travel time to abortion clinics skyrockets post-Dobbs, patients turn to telemedicine for abortion pills

Orders for abortion pills to telemedicine nonprofit Aid Access have increased in states that have restricted the procedure, according to a research letter, with states with total or near-total bans on abortion seeing the biggest surges.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 2, 2022

CMS to ease Medicare ACOs into risk models in bid to boost participation

Beginning in January 2024, ACOs that don’t have experience with performance-based risk will be able to stay in a one-sided risk arrangement for up to seven years before transitioning to two-sided risk.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 2, 2022

CMS finalizes requirements for rural emergency hospital designation

The conditions of participation include maintaining an average length of stay of no more than 24 hours and having emergency care available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 2, 2022

Hospitals face lowest readmission fines since 2014, analysis finds

More than 2,200 hospitals will incur penalties, the lowest number in nearly a decade, as the CMS adjusted its calculations for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 2, 2022

Healthcare lobbying rose 70% over past two decades

U.S. healthcare lobbying expenditures totaled almost $714 million in 2020, compared to $358 million in 2000, according to new research.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 31, 2022

Seniors to see reduced delays in Medicare coverage under new Biden admin policies

Under the changes, traditional Medicare coverage will kick in the month immediately after enrolling.

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 31, 2022

13 hospitals receive funding as special pathogen care hubs

The healthcare facilities will lead regional responses against pathogens such as COVID-19, Ebola and monkeypox.

By Susan Kelly • Oct. 26, 2022

‘I don’t feel safe.’ Abortion bans add new uncertainty to fertility treatment

State laws banning abortion could also impact people trying to conceive via in vitro fertilization and bring new legal risks for providers.

By Sydney Halleman , Delilah Alvarado , Shaun Lucas , Jasmine Ye Han • Oct. 24, 2022

DOJ requests more info on CVS, Signify deal

The second request, which CVS and Signify received on Wednesday, gives regulators another 30 days to review the proposed transaction.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 21, 2022

Molina whistleblower case moves forward after SCOTUS declines to hear challenge

A former contractor alleged the payer billed and received payment from the Illinois Medicaid program for services it did not provide.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 19, 2022

HHS needs to update strategic national stockpile procedures, GAO report says

Current procedures the HHS uses to make inventory decisions are hampering its ability to ensure the stockpile has the right resources in the right quantities to combat future crises, a GAO report found.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 18, 2022

Falling MA star ratings dog payers’ future earnings

Volatility in MA stars for the 2023 plan year is raising questions around the earnings outlooks issued by payers.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 18, 2022

Hospital price transparency ‘moving in the right direction’

A new report from Turquoise Health finds progress in compliance with federal rules created to help consumers comparison shop for medical services.

By Susan Kelly • Oct. 18, 2022

Biden admin increases funding for community mental health clinics

The HHS is awarding $15 million in new grants early next year to states developing community mental health clinics, on top of almost $300 million awarded in September.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 18, 2022

DOJ sues Cigna for exaggerating patient illnesses

The insurer paid vendors to conduct in-home visits with its members, then pressured the vendors to record high-value diagnoses that would lead to higher payments for Cigna, the DOJ alleges.

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 18, 2022

HHS approves Medicaid housing intervention program in Arizona

It’s the latest demonstration approval from the agency, following others in Oregon and Massachusetts targeted at expanding access to coverage and addressing nutrition and housing needs.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 17, 2022