Government: Page 74
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Brian Tucker/Healthcare Dive
FTC abandons challenge to Jefferson Health-Einstein merger, allowing deal to proceed
The union between the two Philadelphia providers, first announced two years ago, is now expected to close within six months.
By Samantha Liss • Updated March 1, 2021 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
CMS moves to stop COVID-19 testing denials, cost sharing in private plans
Congress required comprehensive health plans to cover COVID-19 tests without cost sharing, prior authorization or medical management last year, only for guidance to create uncertainty about the rules.
By Nick Paul Taylor • March 1, 2021 -
Hospitals likely upcoding severity levels for Medicare patients, OIG says
The most expensive hospital stays increased 20% over the six years studied, which were before the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to the report.
By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 26, 2021 -
FDA panel backs J&J's coronavirus vaccine, clearing way for shot's authorization
In a unanimous vote, the panel of experts gave a green light to the FDA for clearing J&J's shot, judging the benefits of vaccination outweigh its risk.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 26, 2021 -
Yujin Kim / MedTech Dive, original photo courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA advisers meet to review J&J's one-shot coronavirus vaccine
Friday's advisory committee meeting is one of the last steps in the FDA's review and could clear the way for an emergency authorization within days.
By Ben Fidler , Ned Pagliarulo , Jonathan Gardner • Updated Feb. 26, 2021 -
Retrieved from C-SPAN on February 24, 2021
Becerra distances himself from 'Medicare for All,' appears on track for confirmation
The nominee to run HHS also voiced support for expanded reimbursement of virtual care beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. "I don't think we're going back to the old days when it comes to telehealth," he said Wednesday.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 25, 2021 -
Retrieved from C-SPAN on February 23, 2021
Becerra backs price transparency, provider competition at first Senate panel
President Joe Biden's pick for HHS chief turns Wednesday to the finance panel, which will vote on sending the nomination to the full Senate.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 24, 2021 -
Jacob Bell/Healthcare Dive
FDA review supports safety, efficacy of J&J coronavirus vaccine
Agency scientists noted the shot's strong protection against severe COVID-19, even for the virus variant first detected in South Africa and known to weaken vaccine potency.
By Ned Pagliarulo , Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 24, 2021 -
FDA lays out shortened path for testing vaccines against new coronavirus variants
Lengthy trials won't be needed for updating shots against emerging viral strains, the agency told developers in newly published guidance.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 23, 2021 -
Retrieved from C-SPAN on February 23, 2021
Becerra embraces healthcare antitrust record at first Senate hearing
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., gave a taste of GOP opposition to the nominee for HHS Secretary on Tuesday by accusing him of disregarding the value of private sector innovation.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 23, 2021 -
FDA starts review of how skin pigmentation affects pulse oximeter results
The agency is evaluating published literature related to factors that may affect device accuracy and performance following pressure from senators to address concerns that "racism may be embedded in key clinical tools."
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 22, 2021 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Why this week's FDA meeting on J&J's coronavirus vaccine will be important
The FDA is widely expected to authorize the drugmaker's one-dose shot. But the advisory committee meeting beforehand will offer a window into debate over several key issues.
By Ben Fidler , Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 22, 2021 -
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
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