Pandemic highlights need for unique patient identifier, industry tells ONC

"We want to see that ban removed and hope we can have that conversation on a national level," Mark Probst, VP and CIO of Intermountain, said at the virtual conference.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 2, 2020

Providers show support amid unrest: #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives

Health officials also expressed worry that the protest gatherings could further spread of the novel coronavirus. Some COVID-19 testing sites have been shut down for safety reasons, further exacerbating concerns.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 2, 2020

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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

Citing lack of funding, Oklahoma withdraws planned July 1 Medicaid expansion

Millions of Americans have likely been booted off their employer-sponsored insurance and many are newly eligible for Medicaid, something the state didn't anticipate when prepping for the expansion, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 1, 2020

Molina, Centene big winners in Kentucky Medicaid award

The lucrative contracts begin next year and cover 1.4 million people with an annual spend of $8 billion.

By Samantha Liss • June 1, 2020

Pathologists most frequent surprise billing offenders, HCCI finds

More than a third of pathologists who billed for inpatient visits did so on an out-of-network basis more than 90% of the time in 2017, according to the Health Care Cost Institute.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 28, 2020

BCBS plans sue CVS alleging overcharging generic prescriptions

Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in six states contend that CVS Health concealed the true cash price from the insurers for more than a decade. The plans are seeking to recoup millions from CVS.

By Samantha Liss • May 28, 2020

Cancer, spine doc leaders among top recipients of drug, device industry funds, study finds

Officials at 10 influential medical associations in the U.S. have extensive financial ties to industry, according to a study published Wednesday in BMJ.

By Samantha Liss • May 28, 2020

Medicare members using telehealth grew 120 times in early weeks of COVID-19 as regulations eased

CMS head Seema Verma said her department is evaluating the telehealth waivers to determine if they should be extended past the scope of the national emergency, and is in the process of additional rulemaking around the issue.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 27, 2020

How tariffs ravaged the COVID-19 medical supply chain

Months into the pandemic, the U.S. faces an ongoing shortage of PPE and some of it is still subject to tariffs.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 27, 2020

COVID-19 has forced nearly half of patients to postpone care

About a third of those who have put off treatment said they would seek it in the next three months, and 10% said they will do so in four months to a year, according to a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 27, 2020

Here's how much for-profit hospitals have received in COVID-19 bailout funding so far

The nation's largest for-profit hospital chains have received about $2.2 billion​, money they don't have to pay back. Healthcare Dive is tracking how much major health systems have collected in federal relief.

By Samantha Liss • May 26, 2020

Over 1,750 Part D, MA plans applied for new CMS insulin model

Payers cheered the effort to lower insulin costs and drugmakers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi have said they plan to participate. But powerful lobby PhRMA pushed back against the model.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 26, 2020

What hospitals are doing to make patients feel comfortable coming back

Health systems face worried patients, according to recent polls. But volumes are picking back up in states where restrictions have been lifted.

By Hailey Mensik • May 22, 2020

MA, Part D final rule gives more star ratings weight to patient experience

The rule also attempts to let more MA plans comply with network adequacy standards by reducing the percentage of rural beneficiaries that must reside within maximum time and distance areas.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 22, 2020

PAs gain authority during COVID-19 pandemic, but still face layoffs, furloughs

Over the past few months, 21 states have taken action — eight through executive orders — to waive practice requirements for physician assistants. But the financial strain on health systems has also led to job cuts.

By Hailey Mensik • May 20, 2020

Despite $33M in approvals, FCC has sent just 1 provider CARES telehealth funds

"We expect the number of invoices to increase steadily as more funding continues to be approved," an FCC spokesperson told Healthcare Dive.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 20, 2020

States brace for 'nearly certain' Medicaid budget shortfalls amid COVID-19

The Kaiser Family Foundation survey comes as the House passed a $3 trillion legislative relief package Friday, which would further bump the federal match rate for Medicaid.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 18, 2020

ACOs ask Trump admin for more help to cope with coronavirus

Nine organizations, including NAACOs and AMA, want CMS to shelter them from financial losses in exchange for lower shared savings as well as push back some key deadlines.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 15, 2020

House Dems carve out $100B for providers in latest attempt at COVID-19 relief package

The $3 trillion bill, which passed the House on Friday, is the Democrats' opening gambit for the next wave of congressional action, but Republicans and President Donald Trump say they're not in a hurry to approve new funding.

By Susan Kelly • Updated May 18, 2020

Pushback against transparency, patient data plans in ONC's roadmap

Insurers and providers don't want negotiated rates made public while EHR vendors want to avoid federal "micromanagement," among other asks during the public comment period on the five-year federal health IT plan.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 12, 2020

As Trump pushes states to reopen, Fauci warns against lifting COVID-19 restrictions too soon

The U.S. doesn't have the necessary testing and surveillance infrastructure in place for a fall resurgence of the novel coronavirus, a second wave that's "entirely conceivable and possible," the pandemic response leader said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 12, 2020

Hospitals balk as CMS doubles down on price transparency

In the draft of the Medicare payment rule posted Monday, the agency also proposed raising the rate for inpatient hospital services by about 1.6% in 2021, which would amount to nearly $2.1 billion.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 12, 2020

Healthcare sector lost stunning 1.4M jobs in April

The bulk of jobs shed were concentrated in ambulatory services, which lost more than 1 million jobs, presumably due to the widespread cancellation of elective procedures during the pandemic.

By Ron Shinkman • May 11, 2020

Trump administration: states to decide which hospitals get Gilead's COVID-19 drug

Remdesivir was cleared for FDA emergency use May 1 but hospitals and physicians were in the dark over how it would be distributed across the country, sparking frustration over the lack of transparency. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 11, 2020

Hospitals tell court price transparency laws violate 1st Amendment

Thursday's hearing was the first step in what's likely to be a drawn out legal fight. Negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers have long been private, and hospitals want to keep it that way. 

By Hailey Mensik • May 7, 2020