Sanitized N95s acceptable alternatives to new masks, JAMA study finds

One of the biggest problems health systems have faced during the COVID-19 crisis is securing enough personal protective equipment to keep providers safe. The problem has sparked labor unrest and lawsuits.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 11, 2020

OIG says hospitals overbilled Medicare $267M by improperly coding post-discharge services

The watchdog recommended CMS direct its recovery audit contractors to recoup overpayments made within the past four years.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 10, 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

Buoyed by bailout funds, all major for-profit hospital chains reported increased profits in Q2

The second quarter was expected to be devastating for hospitals as the pandemic forced many to stop business as usual. The results raise questions about whether federal bailout funds were meant to pad the bottom line.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 10, 2020

Kaiser Permanente reports $4.5B in net income, joining other operators in large Q2 increases

The California-based integrated health system's operating margin improved substantially, hitting 9.4% compared with 5.2% a year ago.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 10, 2020

Healthcare gains jobs in July, but still down 800K from February

The latest report shows ambulatory, outpatient and medical and diagnostic lab service jobs are creeping closer to last year's levels following the COVID-19 downturn. Hospitals added 27,000 jobs last month.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 7, 2020

Fresh off Medicaid win in Missouri, Fairness Project calls for health industry to step up

"We need to see health insurers and private hospitals step up and make massive investments in these campaigns," Jonathan Schleifer, executive director of the D.C.-based advocacy group, told Healthcare Dive.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 6, 2020

DOJ moves to block Geisinger Health's tie-up with Evangelical Community Hospital

The lawsuit alleges that in exchange for 30% ownership, Geisinger would invest $100 million in Evangelical. But the money is "not without strings," according to DOJ, which argues it ends any competition.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 6, 2020

Tenet's profit more than triples in Q2 thanks to COVID-19 relief funds, cost cuts

Tenet and its peer for-profit hospital operators have seen profits buoyed by federal relief funds, sparking widespread criticism.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 4, 2020

CMS proposes eliminating inpatient-only list

The agency said the COVID-19 pandemic has "highlighted the need for more healthcare access points throughout the country," including ambulatory surgical centers.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated Aug. 4, 2020

COVID-19 caused hospital ED visits to dive more than 40%

Researchers in JAMA examined trends at major providers such as Mount Sinai Health, Baystate Health and Yale-New Haven, also finding emergency patients were more likely to be admitted.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 3, 2020

House panel finds Trump admin bungled Philips ventilator deal, overpaid by $500M

Philips denied raising prices to benefit from the COVID-19 crisis and said it is on track with scheduled production and delivery of ventilators.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 3, 2020

Hospitals consider Supreme Court appeal in 340B drug payment cut case

Judges have denied a request from the American Hospital Association and other plaintiffs to have the case reheard before the full bench after the nearly 30% rate reduction was upheld in July.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated Oct. 20, 2020

CHS beats Q2 expectations with help from $564M in bailout grants

The Franklin, Tennessee-based hospital chain reported $2.52 billion in net operating revenue, an 18.4% drop compared to the same period a year prior but above Wall Street forecasts.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated July 29, 2020

Nurses union survey finds most still feel unsafe at work amid pandemic

Months into the COVID-19 crisis, just 23% of nurses surveyed said they'd been tested, and only 31% said their systems screen every patient.

By Hailey Mensik • July 29, 2020

HHS prods Congress to act on surprise billing, but doesn't take a side on how

Congress has taken some action on surprise billing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, barring the practice for COVID-19 testing and treatment during the public health emergency. Still, a larger overhaul is unlikely soon.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 29, 2020

Mayo Clinic is U.S. News top hospital for 5th straight year

The data used for the rankings predates the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The publication said it "will initiate a dialogue" with hospitals on changes to its rankings or methodology for next year considering the crisis.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 28, 2020

UHS posts $252M in income, helped by bailout funds, but withholds full-year guidance

The hospital operator, which rescinded its full-year earnings forecasts after an ominous first quarter, is continuing to withhold earnings guidance due to ongoing uncertainty as COVID-19 cases surge again in the U.S.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 28, 2020

The single change that will transform your COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 testing is critically important in our fight to control this pandemic. And, because of the efforts of thousands, we've made incredible strides in our testing capacity. 

July 28, 2020

6 months in: The COVID-19 crisis

This series of stories examines how healthcare has changed during the course of the novel coronavirus in the United States, half a year after HHS declared a national public health emergency.

July 27, 2020

6 months in: Following the flow of CARES hospital funding

Congress has allocated $175 billion to help providers respond to the COVID-19 crisis, but HHS has been hit with multiple complaints about distribution as that money goes out the door.

By Samantha Liss • July 27, 2020

6 months in: What will the new normal look like for hospitals?

Whether there is a nationwide second wave or smaller surges in regions at different times, hospitals will need to remain vigilant and in an effective state of emergency until there is a cure or vaccine for COVID-19.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 27, 2020

What it's like to be a nurse after 6 months of COVID-19 response

"I think the biggest change is we always relied on science, and we have always relied heavily on infection control protocols to guide our practice," a nurse working on the frontlines said. "Now infection control is out of control, we can no longer rely on the information and resources we always have."

By Hailey Mensik • July 27, 2020

COVID-19 public health emergency extended

Extending the emergency allows several regulatory changes meant to help providers manage outbreaks of the novel coronavirus to continue, including the rollback of telehealth restrictions and Medicare add-on payments.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 23, 2020

HCA volumes plunge as Q2 captures full effects of coronavirus

Despite the steep declines, the hospital operator still reported almost $1.1 billion in net income in the quarter, bolstered by a sizable amount of taxpayer dollars from bailout legislation.

By Samantha Liss • July 22, 2020

Flooding in China disrupts medical, PPE suppliers. Shippers should expect delays

Extensive flooding in China is disrupting the flow of personal protective equipment and medical equipment into the U.S., with an expected economic impact of $12 billion.

By Matt Leonard • July 22, 2020