FDA seeks funds, powers to fix 'great weaknesses' in medical device supply chain

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock wants Congress to give the agency "expanded authority to obtain supply disruption notifications for critical devices any time there is the potential for a shortage."

By Nick Paul Taylor • July 22, 2021

OSHA standard compliance date arrives amid confusion, industry pushback

Provider groups say the lengthy rule effective Wednesday is tricky to implement in just 30 days, especially with a variety of exemptions for vaccinated employees.

By Hailey Mensik • July 21, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Provider burnout

Hospitals are still struggling with provider burnout, after the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated underlying staffing issues and prompted workers to quit their jobs.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Black patients have worse safety outcomes than White patients at the same hospital, study finds

Urban Institute researchers analyzed 11 safety indicators and found in six of those, Black patients experienced significantly worse patient safety outcomes than White patients of the same age and gender treated in the same facility.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 20, 2021

Patient volume rebound spurs HCA to $1.7B net income in Q2

The system, considered the industry bellwether for the hospital earnings season, raised its full-year expectations for earnings and revenue following the results, banking on continued demand.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 20, 2021

CMS pitches stiffening price transparency fines, halting end of inpatient-only list

Hospitals notched a win with the proposal to reverse the Trump administration's rollback of the inpatient-only list, but took hits with added enforcement of the pricing rule and in other areas.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 20, 2021

HHS earmarks $103M to address burnout among healthcare workers

The sector already had a high rate of stress and burnout, but the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated the problem, especially as the delta variant causes hospitalizations to surge in some parts of the country.

By Ron Shinkman • July 19, 2021

Want to quickly recover from ransomware? Plan ahead

Security teams need to understand how the business will work when an attacker limits access to its systems. A recent report found that more than a third of healthcare organizations suffered a ransomware attack last year.

By Katie Malone • July 19, 2021

Large self-insured employers lack power in hospital price negotiations

A study in The American Journal of Managed care found that hospital market power far outweighs employer market power, suggesting employers may want to consider forging purchase alliances with local government employee groups.

By Samantha Liss • July 16, 2021

National healthcare organizations call on hospitals to require vaccines for employees

The statement comes as the nation is experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases, which experts fear will hamper the fight to stop the pandemic.

By Samantha Liss • July 14, 2021

Microsoft, Teladoc partner on virtual care integration for hospitals

The companies said the bid to streamline clinician access to telehealth was the first of new tools they plan to bring to market.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 14, 2021

CMS proposes extension of Medicare telehealth coverage

Provider groups are not happy with the payment adjustment in the rule — a 3.75% reduction to the conversion factor due to budget neutrality requirements — and will likely seek congressional intervention.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 14, 2021

Women teaching internal medicine paid far less than men, study finds

Female academics were paid at least 90% of men's median yearly salary in 10 of 13 internal medicine specialties, according to new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 13, 2021

Cleveland Clinic, New York-Presbyterian among hospitals with biggest charity care, community benefits deficit

According to Lown's 2021 Hospitals Index, nonprofit hospitals fell short in community investments by nearly $17 billion in the past year.

By Ron Shinkman • July 12, 2021

The future of care starts with a renewed focus on the patient

For hospitals and health systems intent on thriving in the emerging consumer-based healthcare landscape, a broad-based and encompassing focus on acute care needs is a must. 

By Gregg Miller, MD • July 12, 2021

Patient satisfaction differs between inpatient, outpatient settings, Leapfrog finds

Surveys show that while patients are satisfied on several levels, safety issues remain a significant concern, especially when children are being treated.

By Ron Shinkman • July 9, 2021

Hospital M&A down from pre-pandemic highs, though deal size growing, Kaufman Hall says

Health systems in general are shifting their focus from acquisitions of small, independent hospitals to regional partnerships, according to a new report.

By Hailey Mensik • July 9, 2021

Hospital mergers to get added scrutiny under Biden order

The hospital lobby is against the executive order, which calls on regulators to "enforce the antitrust laws vigorously" and reminds them to challenge prior bad mergers.

By Samantha Liss • Updated July 12, 2021

Are recent labor actions getting nursing unions what they want?

While nurses in Cook County, Illinois, struck a deal in recent days, those on a more than three-month strike against a Tenet hospital in Massachusetts protested at the chain's Dallas headquarters Wednesday.

By Hailey Mensik • July 7, 2021

Supreme Court will hear case over Trump admin's 340B drug program cuts to hospitals

The case pivots on whether CMS has the authority to make payment cuts under the outpatient prospective payment system. The justices are expected to hear arguments either later this year or early next year.

By Ron Shinkman • July 6, 2021

Cleveland Clinic-owned hospital system pays $21M to settle False Claims allegations

Along with an Akron General Health System whistleblower, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation voluntarily disclosed to the federal government its concerns with some compensation arrangements, the DOJ said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 6, 2021

Rural hospital CEO urges providers to 'get ready now' as delta variant outstrips nursing resources

"It'll turn faster than it did in the fall in terms of case count, so you won't have much time to get ready," Steve Edwards, CEO of CoxHealth, said as his Missouri system struggles to meet patient demand.

By Samantha Liss • July 2, 2021

Robotic abdominal surgery has no advantage over open, laparoscopic surgeries: meta-analysis

Of 39 studies reporting surgical complications, just 10% showed fewer complications with robot-assisted surgery. The analysis was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

By Greg Slabodkin • July 1, 2021

FDA wants to require timely updates, patches for legacy devices: cyber chief

Kevin Fu, the agency's acting director of device cybersecurity, spelled out plans to protect aging devices from hackers. There's currently no requirement compelling manufacturers to address the problem.

By Greg Slabodkin • July 1, 2021

Lifespan, Care New England merger will 'significantly alter' healthcare market, regulator warns

Given the risks, Rhode Island's insurance commissioner put forth an oversight model regulators should consider before approval, including price caps and requirements that tie payment to quality of care.

By Samantha Liss • July 1, 2021

U.S. News hospital rankings to include new categories, examine equity

Among the changes to this year's list are two key issues the COVID-19 pandemic brought into focus: how hospitals handle health disparities and nurse staffing.

By Hailey Mensik • June 30, 2021