Trump reiterates support to kill ACA — despite pandemic — as House, states file briefs with SCOTUS

"We want to terminate healthcare under Obamacare and replace it," the president told the White House press pool on Wednesday. Estimates say that could throw some 20 million Americans off insurance.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 6, 2020

A coronavirus vaccine may arrive next year. 'Herd immunity' will take longer.

Experimental vaccines for COVID-19 are moving at an unprecedented pace. But that could mean researchers won't definitively know whether they're safe and effective when they do arrive.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 5, 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

Paying private insurers Medicare rates would tank hospital revenue by 35%, study finds

Policy action is needed to lower out-of-control healthcare prices, Health Affairs researchers determined, but any moves from Washington to tie reimbursement to Medicare rates could send hospital revenues flatlining.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 5, 2020

FDA beefs up coronavirus antibody test regs that critics called 'recipe for disaster'

The Association of Public Health Laboratories praised the move. "This revised policy makes a lot of sense and should have been in place over the last six weeks," the group's CEO Scott Becker said.

By Greg Slabodkin • May 5, 2020

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 Parduhn • May 4, 2020

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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 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