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

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

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

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: 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

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

HHS reminds providers of civil rights obligations amid COVID-19 race disparities

The agency on Monday said it's seen an uptick in complaints since the pandemic began and issued guidance to ensure providers comply with federal civil rights laws.

By Hailey Mensik • July 21, 2020

Hospitals facing depleted volumes beg for more funds, advanced Medicare loan forgiveness

About half of the country's hospitals could be operating on negative margins by the end of 2020, according to a new industry analysis funded by the American Hospital Association.

By Hailey Mensik • July 21, 2020

Strike averted with new contract for Chicago Loretto Hospital workers

Instead of striking, hospital workers will "show their solidarity for workers across the city and country calling for the resources, wages and workplace protections needed to protect Black lives," SEIU Illinois said.

By Ron Shinkman • July 20, 2020

As pandemic rages on, hip and knee surgeons lay out elective procedure guidance

An international group of orthopaedic experts recommended changes to hospital protocols to prevent transmission of COVID-19 when elective procedures are resumed.

By Susan Kelly • July 20, 2020

Home healthcare sees surge in wake of COVID-19 nursing home fears

While nursing homes lost about 18,000 jobs last month, home healthcare services gained the same amount, a trend some industry officials say was sped up by the pandemic.

By Hailey Mensik • July 17, 2020

CommonSpirit's CHI Franciscan inks deal to explore combination with Virginia Mason

Together the two organizations would operate 12 hospitals, more than 250 sites of care and would employ more than 21,000 people.

By Samantha Liss • July 17, 2020

Big hospital groups ramp up lobbying for additional relief funds with new polling

Three-fourths of Americans support $100 billion in additional congressional funds for hospitals, the industry-sponsored polling found. Hospitals are hoping Congress will grant them more funds in a fourth round of relief legislation.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 17, 2020

HHS to send $10B to hospitals in coronavirus hot spots as surge continues

Total funding committed to the most distressed hospitals now totals more than $20 billion, representing 12% of the $175 billion allocated by Congress.

By Samantha Liss • July 17, 2020

Hospitals to challenge loss on site neutral payments

An appeal court ruled earlier this month HHS was acting within its authority when it reduced some payments to off-campus hospital outpatient departments to make them consistent with other outpatient payments.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated July 27, 2020

UHS partners with home health giant Bayada on at-home services

Bayada will manage post-acute home health operations, while UHS will utilize Bayada's years of expertise in the sector in tandem with UHS' capabilities and resources to further its integrated model, a system exec said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 17, 2020

Embattled Arizona hospitals bring in hundreds of out-of-state nurses

The state’s largest health system Banner Health is bringing in 1,000 out-of-state nurses and respiratory therapists. The health department is also deploying 584 nurses to stressed hospitals and will absorb the cost.

By Hailey Mensik • July 16, 2020

To stay independent, Boulder Community Health inks deal with Optum

The UnitedHealth Group unit has inked another deal with a small hospital operator, this time in Colorado. BCH CEO Robert Vissers said it represents a middle path instead of having to succumb to an acquisition.

By Samantha Liss • July 16, 2020

Public health officials blast COVID-19 data reporting change imposed on hospitals

"In the midst of the worst public health crisis in a century, it is counter-productive to create a new mechanism which will be extremely complicated to build and implement," one coalition said of the abrupt change.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 16, 2020

COVID-19 causes unprecedented drop in physician demand

A new survey from Merritt Hawkins also concluded the pandemic has depressed overall physician pay, but the staffing firm said it was too early to provide specific estimates.

By Ron Shinkman • July 15, 2020

ER visits lag behind in hospital volume recovery

Adult visit volumes rebounded far more quickly by the end of June than emergency and outpatient pediatric visits, but the recovery was slower for inpatient services, according to an analysis from Transunion Healthcare.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 15, 2020

COVID-19 hospital charges vary widely by age, Fair Health study finds

The most common venue for an initial diagnosis was a doctor's office. About 33% of patients sought help from an office, while 23% went to an inpatient facility, such as an ER, according to the analysis of insurance claims.

By Hailey Mensik • July 14, 2020

Pandemic spurs national union activity among hospital workers

Striking a balance between union action and continuing care for patients could be an ongoing challenge, said Patricia Campos-Medina, co-director of New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute.

By Hailey Mensik • July 13, 2020

UHS finalizes DOJ fraudulent billing case for $122M

The hospital operator continues to deny the allegations and does not admit guilt. Criminal charges were dropped when the settlement was first announced roughly a year ago.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 13, 2020