Pandemic response complicated by public health agencies' inability to receive data from hospitals

Hospitals in regions forecast to be some of the hardest hit from COVID-19 were more likely to say public agencies were unable to receive health data electronically, according to a new study published in JAMIA.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 27, 2020

Here's how much for-profit hospitals have received in COVID-19 bailout funding so far

The nation's largest for-profit hospital chains have received about $2.2 billion​, money they don't have to pay back. Healthcare Dive is tracking how much major health systems have collected in federal relief.

By Samantha Liss • May 26, 2020

HCA tells nurses union to give up bargained wage increases — or face layoffs

The country's largest nurses union said HCA is also threatening elimination of employer contributions to 401k plans, wage freezes and pay cuts if they do not give up contractually-promised raises.

By Hailey Mensik • May 26, 2020

Providence, 1st to treat COVID-19 patient, posts $1.1B loss

The nonprofit system saw investment losses of $763 million in the first quarter as stock market volatility followed stay-at-home orders for much of the U.S. That compared to a $582 million investment gain in the prior-year period.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 26, 2020

What hospitals are doing to make patients feel comfortable coming back

Health systems face worried patients, according to recent polls. But volumes are picking back up in states where restrictions have been lifted.

By Hailey Mensik • May 22, 2020

Trinity Health joins other operators battered by pandemic, details CARES funding

The Michigan-based nonprofit reported surgical volumes alone plummeted 25% in March as significant investment losses contributed to a net loss of more than $880 million for the first nine months of its fiscal year.

By Samantha Liss • May 22, 2020

COVID-19 has upended how Americans obtain healthcare

A new survey by the Alliance of Community Health Plans and the pharmacist lobby AMCP found nearly 40% of respondents plan to delay future care.

By Ron Shinkman • May 21, 2020

Patients steadily return to in-person primary care as telehealth plateaus

Virtual visits that exploded in recent months are starting to level off and, in some cases, fall as doctor's offices reschedule backlogged patients for more in-person appointments, according to new data from The Commonwealth Fund.

By Hailey Mensik • May 21, 2020

COVID-19 sinks Advocate Aurora's operating income in Q1

The major nonprofit system was pushed into the red for the quarter due to the pandemic. It has a large presence in the Chicagoland area, a hot spot for the virus, and has discharged more than 3,200 patients who were infected.

By Samantha Liss • May 21, 2020

April was dismal for US hospitals, with long road ahead, surveys find

Operating margins plummeted 174% last month compared to April 2019 and were down 118% from March of this year as surgeries, ER visits and outpatient appointments declined drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 21, 2020

PAs gain authority during COVID-19 pandemic, but still face layoffs, furloughs

Over the past few months, 21 states have taken action — eight through executive orders — to waive practice requirements for physician assistants. But the financial strain on health systems has also led to job cuts.

By Hailey Mensik • May 20, 2020

Nonprofit health systems see investments slide as COVID-19 ravages economy

Major systems like CommonSpirit Health and Kaiser Permanente posted losses of more than $1 billion in first quarter reports.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 20, 2020

Hospitals, device industry set ground rules for sales reps' return

The guidance expands on advice for resuming elective surgery that a group of medical societies and the American Hospital Association released in April in preparation for reopening healthcare facilities for non-emergency care.

By Susan Kelly • May 20, 2020

COVID-19 pushes Mayo Clinic's operating income into free fall

Operating income plunged 88% while margin flatlined to 0.9% by the end of the first quarter due to the onset of the pandemic and the near closure of the health system's outpatient business.

By Samantha Liss • May 19, 2020

Knee replacements nearly halted as hospitals braced for COVID-19, data show

Even service lines involving what are often life-threatening illnesses saw large drops, with cardiac care falling 57% and cancer care decreasing 37%, according to an analysis from software company Strata Decision Technology.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 19, 2020

CommonSpirit posts $1.4B loss, says full COVID-19 impact unknown

The biggest proportion of losses were tied to investments, as the nonprofit health system's portfolio dropped in value by nearly $1.1 billion.

By Ron Shinkman • May 18, 2020

COVID-19 shreds Sutter Health's finances in matter of weeks

The Northern California nonprofit health system lost more than $1 billion in the first quarter due to the pandemic. Future finances could become even grimmer.

By Ron Shinkman • May 15, 2020

Fitch Q2 outlook for nonprofit hospitals: 'worst on record'

Moody's Investors Service also warned this week the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic will linger into next year and noted government assistance won't make up for all the financial losses.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated May 15, 2020

Front-line COVID-19 responders in middle of pack on pay

Medscape's annual survey also found men continue to earn more than women, a trend that's held now for a decade. Among primary care physicians, men earn roughly 25% more than women.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 14, 2020

For-profit, higher-margin hospitals at advantage when it comes to CARES funding

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis looked at the implications of tying the latest round of $50 billion in federal bailout money to providers' net patient service revenue.

By Samantha Liss • May 14, 2020

House Dems carve out $100B for providers in latest attempt at COVID-19 relief package

The $3 trillion bill, which passed the House on Friday, is the Democrats' opening gambit for the next wave of congressional action, but Republicans and President Donald Trump say they're not in a hurry to approve new funding.

By Susan Kelly • Updated May 18, 2020

Orthopaedic surgeons predict return to somewhat normal volumes in 6 months

While procedures are expected to steadily ramp up over the next six months, Jefferies analysts found that more will be performed outside of hospitals — a trend accelerated by the pandemic.

By Hailey Mensik • May 12, 2020

Pushback against transparency, patient data plans in ONC's roadmap

Insurers and providers don't want negotiated rates made public while EHR vendors want to avoid federal "micromanagement," among other asks during the public comment period on the five-year federal health IT plan.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 12, 2020

Hospitals balk as CMS doubles down on price transparency

In the draft of the Medicare payment rule posted Monday, the agency also proposed raising the rate for inpatient hospital services by about 1.6% in 2021, which would amount to nearly $2.1 billion.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 12, 2020

Healthcare sector lost stunning 1.4M jobs in April

The bulk of jobs shed were concentrated in ambulatory services, which lost more than 1 million jobs, presumably due to the widespread cancellation of elective procedures during the pandemic.

By Ron Shinkman • May 11, 2020