Sutter launches 'sweeping review' of finances after $321M operating loss

The Northern California giant said it faced one of the toughest financial periods in its 100-year history due to the pandemic and warned it would take several years to recover.

By Samantha Liss • March 5, 2021

Georgia health systems discard merger plans, averting FTC challenge

The tie-up between two of the largest systems in central Georgia would have led to "significant harm" for area residents and businesses in the form of higher healthcare costs, the agency alleged.

By Samantha Liss • March 4, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Hospital-backed housing brings positive social return on investment: Health Affairs

Researchers used a "triple bottom line" approach to assess the effects of Bon Secours' housing program on the local economy, environment and people.

By Hailey Mensik • March 2, 2021

4 healthcare antitrust issues to watch

The FTC is looking to get more aggressive with anticompetitive tie-ups while states eye ways to beef up oversight. And if handed the reins of HHS, Xavier Becerra would likely put an antitrust lens to potential rules.

By Samantha Liss • March 1, 2021

Mayo Clinic's 2020 profit down, but net assets increase considerably

In December, the nonprofit system returned nearly half of the federal coronavirus relief funds it received. That's on top of sending back advanced Medicare payments earlier in the year.

By Ron Shinkman • March 1, 2021

FTC abandons challenge to Jefferson Health-Einstein merger, allowing deal to proceed

The union between the two Philadelphia providers, first announced two years ago, is now expected to close within six months.

By Samantha Liss • Updated March 1, 2021

Hospitals likely upcoding severity levels for Medicare patients, OIG says

The most expensive hospital stays increased 20% over the six years studied, which were before the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to the report.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 26, 2021

Cyberattack cost UHS $67M in back half of 2020

Still, the hospital operator reported year-over-year increases in profit for the fourth quarter of 2020 and the full year, helped some by federal pandemic relief funds.

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 26, 2021

Rising expenses threaten hospitals' financial recovery: AHA, Kaufman Hall report

Costs to treat COVID-19 patients are continuing to hamper finances as more lucrative services sluggishly recover, according to the report from the consultants and the hospital lobby.

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 25, 2021

Ascension expands pilot of Google EHR search tool

The two linked in 2018 to work on leveraging the health system's clinical data to create an integrated, longitudinal record of patient care and develop other health tools.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 25, 2021

Becerra backs price transparency, provider competition at first Senate panel

President Joe Biden's pick for HHS chief turns Wednesday to the finance panel, which will vote on sending the nomination to the full Senate.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 24, 2021

FDA review supports safety, efficacy of J&J coronavirus vaccine

Agency scientists noted the shot's strong protection against severe COVID-19, even for the virus variant first detected in South Africa and known to weaken vaccine potency.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 24, 2021

Lifespan, Care New England ink deal to create academic medical system with Brown University

"If the COVID pandemic taught us one thing it is that we are better when we work together," Lifespan CEO Timothy Babineau said.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 24, 2021

Hospitals still struggle with volumes, finances due to COVID-19

Kaufman Hall's national hospital flash report found ED visits were down 24.7% year over year in January, suggesting one of the biggest feeders into inpatient admissions will remain significantly depressed.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 23, 2021

Longitudinal integrated clerkships – True patient-centered care

How programs overcome administrative challenges to immerse medical students in community-based care.

Feb. 22, 2021

Capping hospital prices could save $235B annually, Rand study says

The American Hospital Association blasted the report, casting blame on the insurance industry and noting that sector's recent healthy profits.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 18, 2021

Google opens new office near Mayo Clinic campus to galvanize tech collaboration

The goal of the venture is to form an "AI factory," churning out algorithms and other digital products powered by Google in several clinical specialties.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 18, 2021

Hospital admissions not linked to COVID-19 fell dramatically in fall, especially in Midwest

The latest analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation gives a fuller picture of how the pandemic affected inpatient volume throughout 2020, focusing on trends by age, sex and region.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 18, 2021

Obama admin alum Chiquita Brooks-LaSure picked to head CMS

Brooks-LaSure will have a lot on her plate. Biden during his campaign ran on expanding the role of the Affordable Care Act and perhaps attempting to build in a public option or lowered Medicare age eligibility.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated Feb. 19, 2021

Baylor Scott and White, other hospitals stressed as storms pummel Texas, southern states

The dominant Texas health system with 51 hospitals closed drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites and rescheduled vaccine appointments while other systems in Louisiana and elsewhere are putting off elective care.

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 17, 2021

CMS inpatient only policy threatens patient access to appropriate surgical setting

Nixing Medicare's IPO list has unintended consequences, especially for high-risk patients, the president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons argues.

By Joseph Bosco • Feb. 16, 2021

Biden admin begins plan to rescind Medicaid work mandates in win for providers

The policies threatened to lower hospitals' Medicaid revenues as enrollees lost coverage, raising uncompensated care costs. But lawsuits and the pandemic have kept states from implementing the controversial Trump-era requirements.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 16, 2021

800 Tenet nurses at Massachusetts hospital set March strike date

The union issued a 10-day notice to hospital management Tuesday, intending to start the strike March 8 without a determined end date.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated Feb. 24, 2021

Health system execs: national approach needed to stem vaccine disarray

"We don't know until we open the package how many doses we're getting that week," EVP of Ascension Joe Cacchione said Thursday during a webinar organized by the American Hospital Association. 

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 11, 2021

Joint Commission alerts on health equity as vaccine disparity fears grow

Training staff on implicit bias, providing interpreters for patients of different cultures, using communication platforms beyond the telephone and tapping trusted community voices are among the accrediting group's recommendations.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 11, 2021