HCA, nurses avert holiday strike with last-minute contract deal

Nurses at three Southern California hospitals will vote on the agreement Tuesday and Wednesday, likely holding off a work stoppage that was set to start Christmas Eve.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 21, 2020

Provider-friendly surprise billing fix, more funds for hospitals in year-end spending bill

The final fix included in the legislation is almost exactly the same as the initial proposal greenlit last week by key congressional leaders, but includes additional concessions for providers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 21, 2020

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

Tenet inks deal to sell urgent care business as it doubles down on surgery centers

FastMed will acquire the hospital chain's 87 urgent care centers branded under CareSpot and MedPost in a pact expected to close in the first quarter.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 18, 2020

Providers stumble in efforts to avoid HIPAA breaches: OCR

Although a survey did not find any glaring security lapses, the agency did find little adherence to some collateral safeguards, such as how patients are provided notifications regarding privacy practices.

By Ron Shinkman • Dec. 17, 2020

COVID-19 vaccine supply chain has cyberthreats hidden in plain sight

Outdated systems throughout vaccine distribution logistics carry unprecedented cyberthreats.

By Samantha Schwartz • Dec. 17, 2020

Nurses at 3 California HCA hospitals set for holiday strike as ICU capacity drops

The two sides plan to meet again Thursday and continue discussions. Local groups, including the Hospital Association of Southern California, are concerned about the timing of the strike given current COVID-19 surges.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated Dec. 17, 2020

HHS starts doling out $25B in third phase of CARES provider funding

The amount exceeds the original $20 billion planned for this tranche, as officials realized more would be needed to get providers close to whole from coronavirus-related losses.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 16, 2020

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

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