Government: Page 72
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Hospital admissions not linked to COVID-19 fell dramatically in fall, especially in Midwest
The latest analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation gives a fuller picture of how the pandemic affected inpatient volume throughout 2020, focusing on trends by age, sex and region.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Retrieved from Manatt on February 18, 2021
Obama admin alum Chiquita Brooks-LaSure picked to head CMS
Brooks-LaSure will have a lot on her plate. Biden during his campaign ran on expanding the role of the Affordable Care Act and perhaps attempting to build in a public option or lowered Medicare age eligibility.
By Shannon Muchmore • Updated Feb. 19, 2021 -
Q&A
Don Rucker reflects on highs and lows of tenure as ONC head and the future of health IT
In this exit interview, Rucker, who has been national coordinator since 2017, looked back on his time at the agency and predicted what industry might expect from the Biden administration.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 17, 2021 -
One-third of US adults postponed care during pandemic: reports
Substantial portions of those who delayed or put off services had one or more chronic health conditions, with many reporting health worsened as a result, researchers from the Urban Institute and RWJF found.
By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 16, 2021 -
Opinion
CMS inpatient only policy threatens patient access to appropriate surgical setting
Nixing Medicare's IPO list has unintended consequences, especially for high-risk patients, the president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons argues.
By Joseph Bosco • Feb. 16, 2021 -
Biden admin begins plan to rescind Medicaid work mandates in win for providers
The policies threatened to lower hospitals' Medicaid revenues as enrollees lost coverage, raising uncompensated care costs. But lawsuits and the pandemic have kept states from implementing the controversial Trump-era requirements.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 16, 2021 -
Permission granted by BioNTech SE
Health system execs: national approach needed to stem vaccine disarray
"We don't know until we open the package how many doses we're getting that week," EVP of Ascension Joe Cacchione said Thursday during a webinar organized by the American Hospital Association.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 11, 2021 -
COVID-19 leads to explosion in cyberattacks, data breaches
A survey from CI Security found successful hacks involving healthcare organizations or their business associates soared in the second half of last year, leading to a jump in the number of breached patient records.
By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 10, 2021 -
Visby gets FDA nod for single-use, rapid point-of-care COVID-19 PCR test
The palm-sized diagnostic gives results in 30 minutes without the need for additional instruments or readers. While Abbott's ID Now provides results in 13 minutes or less, it is the size of a toaster and requires a cartridge.
By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 10, 2021 -
As COVID-19 becomes a business, vaccine makers confront thorny pricing questions
Yearly vaccinations could be required after the pandemic ebbs. Will drugmakers change how they approach pricing their shots?
By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 10, 2021 -
Oklahoma selects 4 private payers to manage Medicaid for $2B, faces legal suit
The state maintains the switch will improve costs while maintaining access, but the move to cede Medicaid control to for-profit entities is highly controversial.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 9, 2021 -
Courtesy of AstraZeneca
New data on AstraZeneca vaccine add to worries over coronavirus variant from South Africa
South Africa will use other shots in its immunization campaign after AstraZeneca's offered "minimal protection" against a coronavirus variant that has spread throughout the country.
By Ben Fidler • Feb. 8, 2021 -
Pandemic habits could cause US health spending to decelerate over 2 decades, Deloitte predicts
The consultancy's predictive modeling based its estimate on the rise of digital health products and more consumer engagement. Such a slowing contrasts more dire spending forecasts made prior to the COVID-19 crisis.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 8, 2021 -
Adeline Kon/Healthcare Dive
Fitch: Biden's healthcare plans could boost nonprofit hospitals
The ratings agency cited administration plans to bolster the Affordable Care Act, which could reverse the increased number of uninsured people, as among the factors driving brighter prospects.
By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 4, 2021 -
J&J asks FDA for emergency clearance of coronavirus vaccine
The regulator scheduled an advisory committee meeting for Feb. 26, making an authorization by the end of the month possible.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Feb. 5, 2021 -
Jacob Bell/Healthcare Dive
FDA appoints first medical device cybersecurity chief
University of Michigan professor Kevin Fu will serve a one-year term as acting cyber director at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Experts fear the chaos of the pandemic creates the perfect storm for hackers to exploit.
By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 4, 2021 -
Low Medicare EKG rate a potential setback for device makers
Wall Street analysts questioned whether the lower-than-expected rates are final and what the prospects are for renegotiation. Shares of market leader iRhythm fell over 32% on Friday.
By Ricky Zipp • Updated Feb. 1, 2021 -
Medicare buy-in for older adults could cut health costs, increase coverage value: Urban Institute
A Medicare buy-in is not a specific prong of President Joe Biden's health policy agenda, but there are currently two proposals in Congress designed to build upon the ACA.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 3, 2021 -
Courtesy of Ellume Health
Biden administration awards $231M to increase US production of at-home, OTC COVID-19 test
Australian company Ellume will use the funding to establish a U.S. manufacturing facility that is projected to increase production capacity by 640,000 tests per day by December.
By Susan Kelly • Feb. 2, 2021 -
How might Xavier Becerra operate as HHS Secretary?
The nominee has made headlines since leaving the House of Representatives, in part by leading blue state efforts to defend the ACA. Less high-profile, perhaps, were his efforts to block major hospital mergers in California.
By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 1, 2021 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Vaccine makers prepare response as coronavirus mutations raise alarms
So far, both Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines appear to work against more transmissible variants, but preparation is underway for the day they don't.
By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 1, 2021 -
Courtesy of Novavax
Novavax vaccine prevents COVID-19 in studies, but less effective against new variants
The drugmaker is already discussing an authorization with health authorities in the U.K., and plans to begin talks with the FDA and other regulators, too.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 29, 2021 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
J&J says single dose of coronavirus vaccine 66% effective in large trial
The vaccine's efficacy was higher in the U.S., but lower in Latin America and South Africa, where new, more infectious virus variants are circulating.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 29, 2021 -
Payers welcome reopening of ACA marketplaces
Healthcare.gov will be open for a special enrollment period from Feb. 15 through May 15, though advocates say robust outreach and marketing efforts need to be coupled with the move.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 28, 2021 -
Biden campaign cyber chief named federal CISO
Cybersecurity veterans praised the appointment, highlighting Chris DeRusha's extensive government and private sector experience.
By David Jones • Jan. 28, 2021
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