'The promise it really brings': talking TEFCA with Sequoia Project CEO Mariann Yeager

ONC's main partner in creating a nationwide framework for data exchange shared details on timeline, buy-in and the vision for TEFCA on the sidelines of HIMSS22.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 15, 2022

Site that lets consumers compare hospital prices goes live

Turquoise Health's online search platform lists prices for medical procedures and rates the transparency efforts of nearly 6,000 hospitals.

By Susan Kelly • March 15, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Grassley pushes for PBM probe

The senator wants FTC commissioners to come up with a more targeted focus for the study and suggested narrowing a review to the impact on consumers and their out-of-pocket costs.

By Samantha Liss • March 14, 2022

Threats, obscenities, homicide: Healthcare workers stressed by pandemic face elevated violence

Millions of healthcare workers across the country are becoming inured to workplace violence, which can range from verbal abuse and threats to physical attacks and even homicide.

By Hailey Mensik • March 9, 2022

OSHA stepping up hospital inspections for COVID-19 mitigation efforts

The agency will ramp up investigations at healthcare facilities that previously received pandemic-related citations or complaints to make sure they're effectively prepared and able to prevent the rise of potential variants.

By Hailey Mensik • March 9, 2022

Pricier care correlated with lower mortality, but only in competitive hospital markets, study finds

Patients admitted to more expensive hospitals in competitive markets had a 35% lower chance of mortality, but higher costs weren't correlated with better outcomes in less competitive areas, NBER found.

By Susan Kelly • March 7, 2022

FDA warns about unauthorized versions of rapid COVID-19 tests from 3 manufacturers

The manufacturers have all received emergency use authorizations for antigen tests. But the FDA has learned some unauthorized versions of their diagnostics have entered the country.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 3, 2022

Biden discusses drug prices, mental health services in annual address

The president also announced a "test to treat" program that would allow people to receive a COVID-19 test at a pharmacy and immediately receive free antiviral pills, such as Pfizer's Paxlovid or Merck's molnupiravir.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 2, 2022

HHS received almost 300 info blocking claims since April, with majority lodged against providers

It's unclear what percentage of the claims are substantiated, though 77% of the possible claims of information blocking are against healthcare providers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 1, 2022

Healthcare sector on alert for cyber threats in wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

AHA is especially concerned that some hospitals were collateral damage after Russia targeted Ukraine in a 2017 cyberattack that quickly spilled worldwide.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 28, 2022

CMS redesigns controversial Medicare direct contracting model

The decision to retain the direct contracting model — albeit with numerous changes and a new name — was met with mixed reactions from stakeholders.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 28, 2022

HHS sets out plans to make medical device, diagnostics supply chains pandemic-proof

The department wants to shore up the public health supply chain by investing in personal protective equipment, durable medical equipment and testing. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 28, 2022

DOJ moves forward with suit to block UnitedHealth's acquisition of Change

The lawsuit alleges that if UnitedHealth acquired Change, the payer would be able to gain a competitive advantage by seeing "very competitively sensitive" data from other insurers.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 25, 2022

FTC seeks public comments on pharmacy benefit managers' impact on patients, pharmacies

After a failed bid to launch a formal inquiry into PBMs, the FTC now says it wants to collect comments from the public to study a wide array of PBM practices. 

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 25, 2022

Rhode Island's largest health systems abandon merger after FTC sues to block union

Lifespan and Care New England's boards decided "not to pursue litigation," according to a joint statement released Wednesday.

By Hailey Mensik , Samantha Liss • Feb. 24, 2022

Texas judge throws out piece of surprise billing rule in win for providers

The ruling tosses out the part of the rule that instructs arbiters must begin with the presumption that the qualifying payment amount, or median in-network rate, is the appropriate out-of-network amount to be paid to providers.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 24, 2022

FTC sues to block Rhode Island's largest health systems from merging

Regulators allege a union between Lifespan and Care New England would increase prices and diminish quality as the combined system would control at least 70% of the state's hospital market.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 18, 2022

FTC to vote on investigation into PBMs' drug pricing practices

The agency's commissioners will weigh Thursday whether to investigate PBMs and their relationship to drug prices and "practices that may disadvantage independent or specialty pharmacies," according to the meeting agenda.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 17, 2022

FTC fails to get enough votes to launch study into PBM practices

Numerous pharmacists urged commissioners to probe the practices of PBMs, which they allege harm their independent pharmacies and threaten to drive them out of business.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 17, 2022

FDA digital health chief talks new role with agency, AI tech

Bakul Patel, chief digital health officer for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, will help FDA meet its strategic priorities and set regulatory policies for new technologies such as AI and machine learning.

By Elise Reuter • Feb. 17, 2022

AstraZeneca notches win in ongoing 340B legal fight

The decision vacates a violation letter HHS sent to the drugmaker that argued it was illegally restricting discounts on drugs providers delivered through contract pharmacies.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 17, 2022

Molina plans steep reduction in marketplace enrollment

The payer is expected to lose two-thirds of its marketplace enrollment by the end of the year, according to executives.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 16, 2022

Nonprofit hospitals may provide less community benefit than for-profits in some states, study suggests

The results raise questions about the magnitude of tax subsidies nonprofits receive, and whether policymakers should better tie subsidies to facility performance in providing community benefit.

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 16, 2022

DOJ has until Feb. 27 to sue to block UnitedHealth's $8B Change acquisition

The companies said they would give the DOJ 10 days notice before completing the merger, during which the DOJ could launch a lawsuit to block it. On Feb. 17, UnitedHealth and Change gave the regulators that notice.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Feb. 22, 2022

Califf confirmed as FDA chief in close vote, ending protracted vacancy

Several Democratic lawmakers opposed Califf over his industry ties and the FDA's past policies on opioid painkillers, drawing out the confirmation process and making the final vote close.

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 15, 2022