Gilead's remdesivir, shown to hasten COVID-19 recovery, cleared for emergency use by FDA

In a remarkably rapid turn, the FDA authorized the antiviral drug two days after positive results were announced from a closely watched government-run clinical trial.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated May 1, 2020

7 states team up to buy $5B in medical equipment, supplies for COVID-19

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are aiming to use their combined purchasing power to drive down prices for in-demand items like ventilators and PPE.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 4, 2020

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

Ventilator sharing critical to save COVID-19 patient lives, Health Affairs paper says

Without a coordinated federal effort to promote the exchange of the breathing assist machines, thousands more Americans will die in the coming weeks as the virus continues its rampage across the U.S., the paper warns.

By Susan Kelly • May 4, 2020

Hospital, nursing groups join forces to lobby Congress for more COVID-19 funding

The groups requested funding to cover the cost of child care for nurses, physicians and other hospital staff as well as housing and transportation support, enhanced pay and free, regular COVID-19 testing.

By Ron Shinkman • May 4, 2020

HHS starts doling out $12B in CARES funds to 395 hospitals in COVID-19 hot spots

Another $10 billion is being directed toward nearly 8,000 rural hospitals, which will receive a minimum base payment and a percentage of their annual expenses.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated May 4, 2020

CMS rolls back more Medicare, telehealth regs for providers working through pandemic

Accountable care organizations also scored a major win in the Thursday rule drop, with the agency pledging they wouldn't be dinged financially for lower-than-expected health outcomes in their patient populations from COVID-19.​ 

By Hailey Mensik • May 1, 2020

COVID-19 cases are rising in rural America, and its hospitals may be unprepared

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds the COVID-19 caseload and death rate in rural counties is now outpacing urban areas. Georgia has a county with the most deaths per capita but has started reopening its economy against the advice of public health experts.

By Ron Shinkman • May 1, 2020

Gilead, without details, says COVID-19 drug clears crucial clinical test

No data were available from the NIH-led study Gilead said succeeded, but the drugmaker disclosed results from a trial of its own testing remdesivir in patients with severe​ coronavirus disease.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 29, 2020

Payers, providers urge Congress to expand coverage options as COVID-19-spurred job losses soar

Relying on the $100 billion from the CARES Act "will quickly deplete the Emergency Fund and not provide the benefits of comprehensive coverage," the healthcare groups and U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote.

By Hailey Mensik • April 28, 2020

5 key pillars of Biden's healthcare plan

As the coronavirus pandemic highlights shortcomings of the U.S. health system and millions lose coverage, here are the main tenets of the presumptive Democratic nominee's health agenda.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 28, 2020

Reimbursement portal opens for providers that test, treat uninsured COVID-19 patients

To take part in the program run by UnitedHealth Group, hospitals and doctor's offices must agree not to balance bill the patient for medical treatment.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 28, 2020

Supreme Court rules for payers in $12B risk corridors case

The 8-1 decision, with only Justice Samuel Alito dissenting, found the Affordable Care Act "established a money-mandating obligation, that Congress did not repeal."

By Shannon Muchmore • April 27, 2020

Gottlieb, Slavitt pitch $46.5B plan for COVID-19 contact tracing, isolation

Primary care doctors should be the main referral source for testing and contact tracing, according to a letter penned by a bipartisan group including former CMS head Andy Slavitt and former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 27, 2020

CMS hits pause on speeding Medicare payments to docs as COVID-19 funding reaches $175B

Health policy experts and provider groups called the move premature as the financial concerns plaguing doctor's offices and hospitals are unlikely to go away any time soon.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 27, 2020

Doctor On Demand inks pact with Massachusetts for COVID-19-related telemedicine

The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, covers the uninsured and comes on the heels of a separate agreement covering Medicaid and CHIP.

By Ron Shinkman • April 26, 2020

LabCorp coronavirus test gets 1st FDA nod for at-home sample collection

The agency re-issued an emergency use authorization for the lab giant's molecular test to permit self-collection of nasal samples. It comes days after FDA voiced concerns about at-home diagnostics to test for the virus.

By Greg Slabodkin • April 23, 2020

Another court rules against hospitals on DSH payments

Hospitals had argued CMS should only use Medicaid and uninsured patient payments toward the disproportionate share hospital payment cap. A lower court ruled in favor, but an appeals court overturned that decision Monday.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 22, 2020

2nd round of hospital CARES funding tied to patient revenue

The second wave of the $100 billion in funding includes $10 billion for areas hard-hit by the virus like New York. The larger net patient service revenue, the more funding a hospital is likely to receive based on the latest formula.

By Samantha Liss • Updated April 23, 2020

Medicare still expected to grow to 6% of GDP by 2026, but COVID-19 could speed insolvency

The Medicare Board of Trustees predicts the trust fund that finances Medicare Part A will run out by 2026 — the same estimate as 2018 and 2019's reports due to policy inaction. But the pandemic could worsen the situation.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 22, 2020

Trump admin delays interoperability deadlines amid COVID-19

The move was widely expected but controversial as the pandemic increases digital delivery of medical care and highlights the need for real-time exchange of data.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 21, 2020

Trump signs bill designating additional $75B for hospital COVID-19 response

It's the fourth major piece of emergency legislative relief Congress has approved amid the pandemic. But hospitals and providers say more help will be needed.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated April 24, 2020

Oklahoma 1st to seek waiver to block grant Medicaid, despite pandemic

The request, which includes a work requirement and asks beneficiaries to pay premiums for coverage, hinges on Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt's controversial plan for Medicaid expansion.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 21, 2020

New York nurses sue Montefiore, Westchester hospitals over pandemic working conditions

Both systems defended themselves against the actions by the New York State Nurses Association, which also sued the state health department. Nurses argued they were not properly trained for redeployment and not receiving PPE.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 21, 2020

CMS, surgeon group offer paths forward to resume elective procedures

Most facilities have been putting off non-emergency services since mid-March, but have taken a financial hit as a result. Congress is debating a fourth coronavirus relief package that reportedly contains $75 billion for hospitals.

By Susan Kelly • April 20, 2020

Obamacare insurers on hook for $2.7B in MLR-based refunds this year, KFF says

The expected owed refunds estimated by the Kaiser Family Foundation come amid a scramble to calculate 2021 rates in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertain costs.

By Ron Shinkman • April 20, 2020