Illinois health regulators block Mercy hospital closure

The hospital on Chicago's South Side wanted to end inpatient services, but a board shot down the plans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system executives want to pivot to an outpatient model of care. 

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 16, 2020

Providers urged to champion coronavirus vaccines as they get first jabs

While many surveys have found skepticism in the U.S., new polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed rising acceptance, with more than 70% saying they would probably or definitely get the shot.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 16, 2020

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

FDA scientists back safety, efficacy of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine

A review by agency staff affirmed the strongly positive results Moderna reported from a large Phase 3 study, clearing the way for a possible emergency authorization in the coming days.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 15, 2020

Trump admin defends national stockpile as PPE, equipment shortages persist

"We're not the Walmart that you can walk into on a daily basis to get your standard needs to treat patients and get PPE. We are a 911 response team," an HHS official said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 14, 2020

Hospitals start COVID-19 vaccinations in historic effort

A New York nurse was among the first to get the shot after FDA emergency authorization late Friday. Many other health systems are either ready to receive their allotment or already have, and are prepping to start the immunizations.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 14, 2020

CMS looks to crack down on prior authorization

The American Hospital Association cheered the news but was disappointed the proposal excluded Medicare Advantage plans.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 11, 2020

Tenet boosts surgery center footprint with $1.1B deal

The all-cash deal injects greater scale into the hospital chain's already sizable ambulatory care presence across the country.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 10, 2020

FTC loses bid to stop Philadelphia hospital merger

The agency has reached an agreement with Jefferson Health to bar its acquisition of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network until 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

By Samantha Liss • Updated Dec. 15, 2020

As healthcare job growth slows, some look to restructure long-term operations

Providence and Baylor Scott & White are among the big hospitals that issued furloughs or layoffs early in the pandemic and are now further trimming their workforce.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 9, 2020

People of the Year: Front-line healthcare workers

"There's not an area in this hospital that was not touched, that their service structure wasn't touched by COVID," said Joan Hoch Kinniry, a nurse who also manages advanced practice providers at HUP's medical intensive care unit.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 9, 2020

The Healthcare Dive Awards for 2020

This year was unprecedented as healthcare workers around the globe battled the novel coronavirus. From those on the front lines to virtual care standout Teladoc, here are the people and companies that rose to the challenge.

By Healthcare Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

Hospitals prepare to reveal prices online come Jan. 1

"Hospitals are generally very compliant. They are rule-following organizations," said Delphine O'Rourke, a partner at the firm Goodwin. But it may be hard for some rural facilities to meet the deadline as they're pressed by the pandemic.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 8, 2020

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

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 Parduhn • 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