Hospitals look to surge protocols as public health officials again issue stark COVID-19 warnings

Despite encouraging vaccine news, top pandemic response official Anthony Fauci warned "we're getting those staggering numbers of new cases and hospitalizations before we even feel the full brunt of the Thanksgiving holiday."

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 8, 2020

Sanford calls off Intermountain merger after CEO mask uproar

The proposed union of regional giants fell apart after Sanford's longtime chief left the company following an email to staff alleging he did not need personal protective equipment because he had immunity to COVID-19.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 7, 2020

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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

MedPAC mulls cautious approach to bumping hospital pay amid pandemic

Commissioners of the influential advisory group seemed largely supportive of the draft recommendation that calls for a base payment increase of 2% for acute care hospitals.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 7, 2020

FTC moves to block New Jersey hospital acquisition

It's the third hospital acquisition the agency has attempted to block this year. In each case, it has argued the deal would eliminate close competitors and lead to higher costs and lower quality of care.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 4, 2020

CMMI rolls out geographic model it calls among 'largest bets on value-based care to date'

The program will enlist direct contracting entities, which can include ACOs, health systems and provider groups or health plans, to take responsibility for the total cost of care for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in their region.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 4, 2020

Trump admin rips up inpatient only surgery list, cuts 340B pay

CMS said the move will allow doctors and consumers more choices of where a procedure can be performed, but hospitals have decried the sweeping changes.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 3, 2020

Intermountain offers glimpse into COVID-19 vaccine strategy for workers

Two Utah health systems discussed their distribution plans, which will target clinicians on the front lines in the ICU or ER, as well as staff who handle waste.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 3, 2020

Hospitals inundated by COVID-19 cases try unique staffing, urge more federal flexibilities

Banner Health predicts it will reach 100% capacity within a week and is "putting anybody who's willing to go back into the healthcare setting in the hospital to work," Chief Clinical Officer Marjorie Bessel said Wednesday.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 3, 2020

CDC panel recommends giving first coronavirus vaccines to healthcare workers, nursing home residents

Advisers on the panel cited risk and disease burden as reasons for setting their priority list as initial vaccine supplies will be extremely limited.

By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 2, 2020

Google launches interoperability program in advance of data-sharing deadlines

The new program, with industry partners and consultancies like Bain and Deloitte, is meant to help payers and providers come into compliance with upcoming, but delayed, federal regulations.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 1, 2020

CMS expands ability for hospital-level care at home as Thanksgiving surge expected

Six health systems, including Brigham and Women's and Mount Sinai Health System, were immediately granted waivers for the new program to treat more than 60 acute conditions.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 30, 2020

Sanford Health CEO out after two decades following mask controversy

Sanford’s board of trustees and CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft have "mutually agreed to part ways," the major Midwest health system said, following a controversial email Krabbenhoft sent to staff about masks last week.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 25, 2020

COVID-19 weighs on Cleveland Clinic's financial performance year to date

The system's net income plummeted to $49.3 million through the first nine months from $1.3 billion a year prior as the virus continues to drag performance. 

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 25, 2020

Hospitals adopt new round of elective surgery restrictions, brace for Thanksgiving COVID-19 surge

The American College of Surgeons is among those placing new emphasis on factoring healthcare worker and surgeon wellbeing into capacity decisions going forward.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 25, 2020

Fewer, but sicker, patients visit Ascension hospitals in its latest fiscal quarter

After closing out its last fiscal year with a net loss of $1 billion, the giant nonprofit swung to a quarterly profit with net income of $1.2 billion.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 24, 2020

Mayo reports healthy Q3 profit, but operations remain under stress

Even amid reports that its Midwest unit saw hundreds of employees test positive for COVID-19, the system touted a patient mortality rate from the virus of 0.71%, compared to 4% nationwide.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 22, 2020

Kaiser Permanente's earnings bump suggests it's weathering COVID-19

Buoyed by tens of billions in revenue from its health plans and fresh investment gains, the nonprofit appears to be managing the coronavirus crisis better than many of its counterparts that solely operate hospitals.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 20, 2020

Banking on acuity: Tenet, UHS execs optimistic about Q4

"On balance, we're not feeling the type of pressure we were feeling in the early days, where you don't entirely know what you're fighting," Tenet CEO Ron Rittenmeyer said this week at Wolfe Research's virtual healthcare conference.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 20, 2020

Travel nurse demand outpacing supply, with hospitals paying steep rates

Pay increases being offered to staff are based on a variety of factors, including hours and specialty. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic both reported hundreds of workers out sick from the virus or exposure to it.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 20, 2020

Hospitals scramble to get ready for coronavirus vaccines

From ultra-cold storage capabilities to extra security staff, facilities are bracing now for their pivotal role in vaccine distribution.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 19, 2020

Moderna's vaccine can last for weeks in a refrigerator, expanding an edge on rivals

Pharmacies and doctor's offices should be able to store Moderna's shot on site, a crucial advantage for the mass immunization challenge that lies ahead.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 17, 2020

Pandemic spurs consumer-friendly healthcare services that patients expect to continue

Millennials in particular feel more comfortable shopping among traditional providers, telehealth providers and retail clinics than previous generations, according to the Kaufman Hall report.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 16, 2020

Moderna says vaccine prevents COVID-19 in large study as virus surges

The results, on par with those reported by Pfizer and BioNTech last week, come as health systems nationwide scramble to prepare for eventual distribution of shots that healthcare workers will be among the first to get.

By Ben Fidler • Nov. 16, 2020

Despite COVID-19, CommonSpirit Health reports $800M quarterly profit

The nation's biggest Catholic system is dealing with a significant increase in supply costs to treat patients infected by the virus, but still eked out a 7.7% increase in operating revenues compared to the same period last year.

By Ron Shinkman • Nov. 15, 2020

FTC sues to block Tenet's Memphis hospital deal with Methodist Le Bonheur

The two organizations are stepping away from the previously announced sale and "have determined that the best course for both organizations is to continue serving our communities independently," Tenet said.

By Samantha Liss • Updated Dec. 23, 2020