Mayo Clinic's financials see sharp Q2 rebound

While the report was generally upbeat, the system warned “COVID-19 could still negatively affect the operating margins." And results don't include the late summer surge due to the delta variant that has hammered some regions.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 22, 2021

Hospital patient volumes match 2019 levels, will exceed them next year

Hospital executives surveyed by McKinsey also said they will focus on growing surgical volumes — which took a huge hit in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. — but will shift more of them to the outpatient setting.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 20, 2021

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

AHA moves to shift cost blame to health plans in letter to antitrust regulators

The letter included an updated AHA-funded study on the benefits of hospital mergers, which was previously criticized by outside experts for cherry-picked data, among other methodological weaknesses.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 19, 2021

The federal price transparency rules have critical gaps that must be addressed to achieve their objectives

Castlight Health CEO Maeve O'Meara argues that if regulations aren't implemented in a meaningful way for consumers, the efforts will likely fail to inform healthcare decision making and achieve the desired cost savings.

By Maeve O'Meara • Aug. 18, 2021

Burnout, delta variant boost demand for traveling nurses again

Hospitals are probably paying 10% to 20% more than they were during previous COVID-19 waves for travel nurses, Kathy Kohnke, senior vice president of client relations at Fastaff, said.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 18, 2021

Patients were still hesitant to seek medical care out of virus fears this spring, survey finds

Despite reopenings, one in 10 nonelderly adults put off needed medical care this spring, an April survey from the Urban Institute funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 18, 2021

Providence posts H1 operating loss amid increased labor costs

As more patients returned for care, the Washington state-based system's expenses increased to meet demand and was further stressed by worker shortages.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 18, 2021

HHS OIG backs nixing capital cost exemption for new hospitals

Currently, new facilities help pay for their capital costs through a special exemption. An HHS watchdog says Medicare could see significant cost savings if regulators did away with the carveout.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 17, 2021

AI gains steam, though some execs still not sold at HIMSS21

Data released Wednesday finds 7% of healthcare executives said they believe AI and machine learning are the top priority for the future, while 7% called them a "distraction."

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 13, 2021

Predicting the future of healthcare: 10 takeaways from HIMSS21

Along with "guarded optimism" on the current state of the pandemic, some 19,000 on-site attendees in Las Vegas mulled what's next for AI, telehealth, cybersecurity, mental health and more.

By Rebecca Pifer , Hailey Mensik • Aug. 13, 2021

8 insights from a chat with Joe DeVivo, Teladoc's head of hospitals and health systems

DeVivo hinted at joint R&D with tech behemoth Microsoft, a future API marketplace and where Teladoc sees virtual visits stabilizing post-pandemic.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 12, 2021

Health equity takes center stage at HIMSS21

Significant racial gaps in receiving vaccinations remain, despite the ongoing push to inoculate a greater swath of the U.S. population as the delta variant drives a surge in COVID-19 cases.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 11, 2021

Should healthcare organizations pay to settle a ransomware attack? Experts weigh in at HIMSS21

"I don't think there's a single yes or no," said Michael Coates, former chief information security officer for Twitter.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 11, 2021

HCA accused of hospital monopoly in North Carolina

After acquiring Mission Health System in 2019, the hospital operator has continued tactics of all-or-nothing arrangements with payers and gag clauses, driving up prices and insurance premiums, the class action complaint alleges.

By Shannon Muchmore • Aug. 11, 2021

Rethinking healthcare workers' roles post-pandemic

Healthcare employers need to consider how to make front-line caregiving a more sustainable career, and how they'll leverage technology to accomplish that — all while the workforce suffers significant burnout, experts said.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 11, 2021

Kaiser Permanente's Q2 profit down one-third despite revenue climb

The integrated health system remained in the black for the quarter ending June 30, but rising costs associated with COVID-19 are eating into its bottom line.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 10, 2021

Tenet CEO Rittenmeyer stepping down, Sutaria to take post

Suam Sutaria will take over Sept. 1, after serving as COO since joining the for-profit chain in January 2019. Both the executives' pay packages have come under fire.

By Shannon Muchmore • Aug. 10, 2021

Delaware caps hospital price growth to fund more primary care

Gov. John Carney signed the multi-pronged healthcare bill on Friday. "As I think about the things, particularly in healthcare that we focus on, there's not much that's more important than this," he said.

By Samantha Liss • Updated Oct. 5, 2021

5 must-watch panels at an unprecedented HIMSS21

Masks and proof of vaccination will be required on the ground in Las Vegas, and a corresponding digital event will also take place.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 5, 2021

After controversial approval, doctors are still debating how to use Biogen's Alzheimer's drug

Nearly two months since Aduhelm became available, many physicians have yet to use the first treatment approved in the U.S. to slow Alzheimer's disease.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Aug. 3, 2021

Despite volume rebound, hospital margins still tight from pandemic, Kaufman Hall says

Health system revenues in June surpassed both 2019 and 2020 levels, though expenses were higher than two years ago, the report found.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 3, 2021

Medicare-reliant hospitals perform worse financially, more likely to face closure or acquisition: Health Affairs

But researchers cautioned policymakers not to view the results as a reason to avoid reducing Medicare reimbursement.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 3, 2021

For-profit hospitals saw volumes rebound in Q2, but delta variant poses threat

Some services were near or back to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter, though others like ER visits are still lagging. At the same time, increasing cases of the delta variant could hinder full business recoveries this year.

Aug. 2, 2021

DOJ joins lawsuits alleging Kaiser Permanente committed Medicare fraud

Attempts to "defraud the program cannot continue and will be pursued," DOJ officials said in statement announcing the action against the California-based system.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 2, 2021

CHS profit down in Q2 but buoyed by non-COVID-19 care

Jefferies analysts said in a Thursday note they view the results positively, especially a jump in surgeries and "healthy organic growth trends." Still, CHS' stock was trading down about 8% Thursday morning.

By Hailey Mensik • July 29, 2021