Study finds 'mixed messages' in Medicare hospital ratings, penalty programs

The report echoes other findings that question the usefulness of hospital rankings.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 19, 2018

ACA ruling could upend Medicaid expansion

Policy experts say it's hard to overstate the chaos the ruling would create if it stands, although many legal scholars doubt it will be upheld. Still, some managed care companies have contingency plans.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 19, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Payer/provider relationships

As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Judge calls for expedited briefings in ACA case

The parties have until Friday to file their responses on whether a stay is warranted, whether the court should enter partial final judgment on the order and whether the court should certify the order for immediate repeal.

By Shannon Muchmore , Tony Abraham • Dec. 19, 2018

CMS raises questions over ties between accrediting agencies, healthcare facilities

The agency is concerned financial transactions may create a conflict of interest and "erode the public's trust" in the accrediting process.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 19, 2018

Labor board will charge Kaiser for refusing to bargain, union says

NLRB will prosecute Kaiser before the end of the year if it does not settle with union workers, according to an email obtained by Healthcare Dive. The health system said the decision is not a verdict, but the start of a hearing process.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 18, 2018

One-third of healthcare employees say their company targeted by cybercriminals more than once

More than a quarter of those surveyed said their organization experienced a ransomware attack in the past year, according to a Kaspersky Lab report.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 18, 2018

As providers merge, states look to supersede FTC

Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia all recently passed laws to protect mergers from being blocked by federal antitrust regulators — in exchange for state regulation and prolonged oversight. 

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 18, 2018

Don't count on stock market to keep hospitals afloat, report warns

Hospitals average about 47% of their net margin in investment income revenue, according to a recent Juniper Advisory analysis.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 14, 2018

DOJ takes up lawsuit accusing Sutter Health of cheating Medicare

The whistleblower lawsuit alleges the California health system and an affiliate manipulated diagnosis codes to inflate payments.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 13, 2018

Ardent Health Services files for IPO

The Nashville-based hospital operator plans to use the proceeds to pay off debt.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 13, 2018

Kaiser cancels some surgeries with 4K mental health therapists on strike

The workers are on the fourth day of their five-day strike. The health system is putting off some non-urgent surgeries after nurses began striking in sympathy.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 13, 2018

1 in 5 patients at high risk of socioeconomic health problem, survey finds

Patients who discuss their social determinant of health challenges with a clinician are more likely to accept help, according to the study. Younger patients, while twice as likely to discuss, are less receptive to assistance.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 12, 2018

Partners HealthCare reports 489% jump in FY18 operating income

A drop in insurance revenue contributed to a 0.5% dip in operating revenue for the Boston-based nonprofit health system.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 11, 2018

Trinity Health's Illinois hospital purchase helps drive revenues

The health system also announced CEO Richard Gilfillan will step down in June. He'll be replaced by current COO Michael Slubowski.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 11, 2018

Envision, UnitedHealthcare settle fierce nationwide contract squabble

If the two giant for-profit companies hadn't reached a deal, 27 million privately insured Americans could have been slammed with surprise emergency room bills as early as January.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 11, 2018

Payer, hospital groups trade blame on surprise billing

The problem of patients unexpectedly getting a bill for out-of-network services is common and growing, especially for people getting emergency room care.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 11, 2018

Provider interest in RCM tools growing, survey shows

More than half of providers plan to adopt web payments technology in the coming year, Billing Tree reports.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 10, 2018

Hospital labor skirmishes — 2018 in review

The year was marked by heated negotiations over staffing and wages. Here's a month-by-month breakdown of how it went down.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 10, 2018

VA invests in medical messaging system, brings services to Walmart

The country's second-largest government agency has also reportedly been in talks with Apple on a deal that would see the tech giant build software for veterans to access their EHRs via their mobile devices.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 10, 2018

Virtual visits led to uptick in overall visits at Massachusetts ACO, study shows

Participants tended to be younger, white and commercially insured, raising concerns that virtual visit programs could increase disparities in access to care.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 7, 2018

OIG raises concerns about safety in long-term care hospitals

More than half of harmful events in LTCHs are preventable, according to a new report from the watchdog agency.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 6, 2018

Low nurse staffing levels directly linked to higher patient mortality, study finds

BMJ researchers found that the hazard of death increased by 3% for every day a patient experienced nurse staffing levels below the ward mean.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 6, 2018

Aetna, Ascension join industry blockchain pilot to improve network directory data

Nearly half of Medicare Advantage directories contain at least one provider location error, according to CMS.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 5, 2018

Florida, California lead Leapfrog's Top Hospitals list

This year the group honored 118 hospitals across 23 states and the District of Columbia. Other states most represented include Texas and New Jersey.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 5, 2018

Status of Ascension-owned DC hospital ER up in air

The D.C. Hospital Association wrote in a now-deleted blog post that Providence will keep its emergency room for patients with low-acute, less severe conditions open through April 30.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated Dec. 10, 2018