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

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

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The hospital operator, which rescinded its full-year earnings forecasts after an ominous first quarter, is continuing to withhold earnings guidance due to ongoing uncertainty as COVID-19 cases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

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

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

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