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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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

FCC releases 1st round of CARES funds for coronavirus telehealth response

Six providers, including those in hard-hit areas like New York and New Orleans, received more than $3.2 million from the $200 million fund set aside for telehealth by the CARES stimulus package Congress passed last month.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 17, 2020

Public health agencies, commercial labs warn patchy IT infrastructure hobbling COVID-19 response

"Public health is spending time digitizing the information, rather than being able to immediately analyze and act upon it," Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 17, 2020

Hospital lobby asks feds for more CARES funds, targeted distribution

The plea comes as CMS said the second round of the $100 billion package will come by the end of the week. The AHA chief said more is needed to address the worst financial crisis in history for hospitals.

By Ron Shinkman • April 17, 2020

Majority of commercial patients may receive surprise bill following ambulance ride

The amount billed to a patient was substantially higher for air ambulance services at a median of nearly $21,700, but ground ambulance rides were more likely to invoke a possible surprise bill, according to a Health Affairs study.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 16, 2020

CDC to launch clinical reporting app for COVID-19 in May

A patchwork of requirements creates confusion and leads to COVID-19 cases being "significantly underreported," a CDC official said Wednesday at a virtual meeting of health IT congressional advisory group HITAC.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 16, 2020

Teladoc, Livongo execs highlight bright spots for health IT amid pandemic

Behavioral health services are one of the fastest growing segments within virtual care, and those tailwinds are unlikely to abate post pandemic, management teams told SVB Leerink analysts.

By Hailey Mensik • April 16, 2020

Hospital CARES funding not quite 'no strings attached'

Chains like Tenet and CHS can expect to see the biggest benefit in relation to profitability as providers start to receive the first $30 billion of the $100 billion allocated, according to Jefferies analysts.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 14, 2020

Doctors say COVID-19 has slashed patient volumes, made finances shaky

A new survey of doctors by Piper Sandler concludes physician practices have been deeply impacted by the coronavirus, with patient encounters down by nearly two-thirds.

By Ron Shinkman • April 13, 2020

GM, Philips land $1.1B in HHS ventilator contracts, Medtronic boosts production

Much of industry has been prodded to ramp up production of the often large, complex and pricey devices barely mentioned in company financials before the pandemic but now seen as critical to saving the sickest COVID-19 patients.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 13, 2020

CMS further eases top of license rules amid COVID-19

Among the changes: Doctors practicing at critical access hospitals can provide care across state lines using phones, radio or online communications. Their instructions may be carried out by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.  

By Ron Shinkman • April 10, 2020

AMA, other doc groups seek piece of CARES act funding

The doctors lobby, along with groups representing cardiologists, dermatologists and a range of other specialties, urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to provide immediate aid "to support them against financial peril while they put their lives and businesses at risk."

By Hailey Mensik • April 9, 2020

Aimed to halt a 'Cold War' of hospital spending, CON laws could see renewed scrutiny after pandemic

With desperate New York City health systems turning to dormitories, parking lots and Central Park to construct emergency hospital beds, the laws spurred by the federal government may face further pushback.​

By Samantha Liss • April 9, 2020

Hospital costs to treat uninsured COVID-19 patients could top $40B

The Kaiser Family Foundation analysis is another indication that more funding will be needed to keep the U.S healthcare system running as it faces the unprecedented crisis.

By Shannon Muchmore , Hailey Mensik • April 8, 2020

COVID-19's public health crisis could also be a financial disaster for hospitals

Most systems already operate on relatively thin margins, with little room to handle a downswing, much less the pandemic that has now caused more deaths in the U.S. than any other nation.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 8, 2020

Gottlieb, other ex-HHS officials pitch national COVID-19 surveillance plan

The proposal comes as the White House is reportedly trying to patch together a real-time system to track hospital response and equipment use amid the pandemic.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 8, 2020

ONC benchmarks $2.5M for projects promoting interoperability

The injection of new funds comes after weeks of urging from the health IT and epidemiology spaces that the Trump administration better monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 8, 2020

$30B in CARES funding to be distributed to hospitals this week, Verma says

The money is based on Medicare revenue, not a "first-come, first-serve basis," the CMS administrator said. Hospitals "will get these dollars. Even if it takes a few days, there shouldn't be any panic in the system."

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated April 9, 2020