Cancer screenings bounced back after steep pandemic declines, Rand report shows

"These are the first findings to show that, despite real fears about the consequences of drop-off in cancer screens, health facilities figured out how to pick this back up after the initial pandemic restrictions," a researcher said.

By Samantha Liss • March 23, 2021

AstraZeneca, Oxford vaccine prevents COVID-19 in big US study amid controversy overseas

A two-shot regimen was 79% effective at protecting people from COVID-19, which should support the fourth clearance of a vaccine in the U.S. and calm safety concerns abroad. 

By Ben Fidler • March 22, 2021

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

Hospital mergers can slow wage growth for nurses, others: study

The Federal Trade Commission said it wants more analysis on the effects mergers have on labor markets and worker wages, though it typically challenges mergers that could up prices and distort care access.

By Samantha Liss • March 19, 2021

House passes bill that would extend Medicare sequester cuts until December

The cuts will go back into effect March 31 and the bill now awaits action from the Senate. The hospital industry has been pushing hard for a delay.

By Hailey Mensik • March 19, 2021

Becerra confirmed as HHS secretary

The 50-49 vote in the Senate was almost entirely along party lines. The only Republican to cross the aisle was Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 18, 2021

Health Affairs' Alan Weil reflects on 1 year of COVID-19

The editor in chief of the respected industry journal spoke with Healthcare Dive about the role of equity in health research, the staying power of telemedicine and how to effectively communicate important public health messages.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 18, 2021

FTC joins overseas antitrust regulators in reexamination of pharma M&A

Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the commission's acting chair, indicated future reviews could look beyond measures of company size and market share.

By Jonathan Gardner • March 18, 2021

Independent primary care docs more financially stable, but fed up with vaccine exclusion

For the private practices that survived 2020, things have improved. But even as volumes recover, front-line physicians are still facing fresh challenges, including worries about downstream effects from delayed care.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 16, 2021

Despite pandemic, MedPAC advises few changes to 2022 provider payments

To the extent that the effects of the crisis are temporary and vary significantly depending on provider, they're best addressed through targeted yet temporary funding policies, the congressional advisers said in an annual report.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 16, 2021

CMS hikes COVID-19 vaccine pay, broadens scope of providers to give jab

The AMA praised the boosted reimbursement, intended to speed up distribution of the three currently available shots.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 16, 2021

ECRI says COVID-19 has made racial disparities biggest healthcare safety concern

Overall preparedness for pandemic response and supply chain and drug shortage concerns also made the organization's annual top 10 list this year.

By Ron Shinkman • March 15, 2021

The top drugs that could be impacted by an obscure provision in the pandemic relief law

Elimination of the so-called penny rule in Medicaid could force drugmakers to pay larger rebates on a number of top medicines, including some HIV, diabetes and anti-inflammatory drugs.

By Jonathan Gardner • March 15, 2021

COVID-19: 1 year later

For the healthcare industry, much has changed, and some of those alterations may be permanent. Hope is beginning to bloom as three coronavirus vaccines have been authorized for emergency use in the U.S.

March 15, 2021

S&P says risk of hospital operator defaults plummet from last year's highs

Officials credit coronavirus relief legislation for getting providers through the most difficult tumult of COVID-19 and keeping them financially stable even though patient volumes are still depressed.

By Ron Shinkman • March 12, 2021

A closer look at the manufacturing scale-up hastening the coronavirus vaccine push

The U.S. is now averaging more than 2 million doses given each day, a pace that will help President Joe Biden meet his target of 100 million shots in 100 days well ahead of schedule. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 12, 2021

Lawmakers mull greater federal healthcare worker protections

President Joe Biden in January issued an executive order directing OSHA to consider an emergency temporary standard and issue one if necessary by Monday, a move opposed by the American Hospital Association.

By Hailey Mensik • March 12, 2021

Hospitals lift curtain on prices, revealing giant swings in pricing by procedure

The eye-popping variations demonstrate "the total insanity of American healthcare pricing," Niall Brennan, CEO of the Health Care Cost Institute, said.

By Samantha Liss , Nami Sumida • March 11, 2021

Biden admin eyeing vaccine passports, ONC head says

Micky Tripathi, who gave a keynote Thursday at the Health IT Leadership Roundtable held by consultancy Sirona Strategies, said a top priority is helping with the pandemic response.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 11, 2021

4 key elements of the COVID-19 relief legislation for providers and payers

President Joe Biden signed the legislation Thursday afternoon, but provider groups immediately called on Congress to pass a new bill extending the pause on Medicare sequester cuts.

By Shannon Muchmore , Samantha Liss , Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated March 12, 2021

CMS pushes back kidney care payment model start date to January 2022

It is the second Trump-era payment model President Joe Biden's health administration has recently tweaked.​

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 10, 2021

HHS will send $250M in grants for vaccine equity push

The funding is available to cities, counties and other subdivisions and is expected to produce 30 urban projects and 42 rural projects over the next two years.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 9, 2021

FDA grants first EUA to at-home OTC molecular test for COVID-19

Cue Health received the emergency authorization and expects to be able to produce more than 100,000 tests a day by the summer, as the agency continues to prioritize more at-home testing options.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 8, 2021

Coronavirus relief bill with rural hospital aid passes Senate

The nearly $2 trillion bill also includes billions for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as well as extra subsidies to help people buy health coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 8, 2021

Becerra tells Californians to dispute COVID-19 fees from providers

Patients charged a "COVID fee" from a recent visit should contact their insurer and request a reimbursement, according to a statement from the state's attorney general, who is the nominee for HHS secretary.

By Hailey Mensik • March 4, 2021

Georgia health systems discard merger plans, averting FTC challenge

The tie-up between two of the largest systems in central Georgia would have led to "significant harm" for area residents and businesses in the form of higher healthcare costs, the agency alleged.

By Samantha Liss • March 4, 2021