Ratings agencies issue foreboding reports on hospital finances as AHA seeks $100B to respond to COVID-19

"While the healthcare sector has responded extremely well to past crises, the scale of the coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented," Fitch Ratings warned.

By Ron Shinkman • March 20, 2020

CMS urges hospitals to put off elective procedures

AHA applauded the move, which leaves the final decisions to individual facilities, along with the passage of a coronavirus relief package that includes a raise to the Medicaid federal matching rate.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 19, 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

Trump admin weighs mobile hospital units as worry grows over capacity

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been urging the federal government to enlist the Army Corps of Engineers to work with states to build temporary medical facilities and said it "makes all the sense in the world."

By Samantha Liss • March 18, 2020

Coronavirus drives surge in demand for temp healthcare workers

David Savitsky, CEO of staffing firm ATC Healthcare Services, said one of the biggest concerns among physicians right now is being exposed to the virus and passing it on to other patients — further straining the labor supply.

By Hailey Mensik • March 18, 2020

COVID-19 puts unprecedented strain on US health system

Some Providence hospitals are converting operating rooms to intensive care units to prepare for a surge in coronavirus patients as federal officials pleaded with the American public to avoid gathering in groups.

March 17, 2020

As coronavirus threatens hospital capacity, debate swirls around elective procedures

The Senate is expected this week to take up a House-passed relief package that includes a 6.2 percentage point hike to the federal Medicaid matching rate, a move backed by providers.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 16, 2020

Dire warnings sound over hospital capacity as novel coronavirus spreads

The U.S. has a fraction of the number of hospital beds per resident as other developed countries. Many facilities are looking to quickly scale up amid the growing number of COVID-19 patients.

By Samantha Liss • March 13, 2020

Trump declares national emergency, opening up billions for coronavirus

It comes a day after the nation's largest medical organizations urged the president to take the step "to ensure that health care services and sufficient health care items are available to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak."

By Samantha Liss • Updated March 13, 2020

Cutting out-of-network hospital payments may save as much as single-payer system

A new study by the Rand think tank concluded that merely curbing out-of-network hospital payments could save well over $100 billion per year.

By Ron Shinkman • March 13, 2020

As US officials shift tone, Trump stops short of 1 provider ask

The president addressed the nation Wednesday night but did not declare a disaster or national emergency, which groups like the American Hospital Association had sought.

By Samantha Liss , Shannon Muchmore • March 12, 2020

Controversial EHR mandate in interoperability rule could threaten hospital Medicare reimbursement

The new requirement that hospitals must send electronic notice of key changes in a patient's status is worrying some facilities, especially those in rural areas and treating a high proportion of low-income patients.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 12, 2020

CMS eases more Medicare restrictions to boost coronavirus treatment access

The actions won't necessarily remove cost barriers for patients. Most payers have not extended the coverage promises to employers' self-insured plans that cover the majority of Americans, and high deductibles persist.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 11, 2020

Hospitals dipping into emergency stocks to combat coronavirus

While more community spread of COVID-19 is reported daily, hospitals are bracing for a rush of patients and payers are waiving fees for telemedicine consults and extra prescription drug supplies.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 10, 2020

Despite more EHR use, hospitals rely on fax, mail to share patient records

About 70% of health systems said they used mail or fax for sending and receiving summary of care records in 2018, according to a recent ONC report.

By Hailey Mensik • March 9, 2020

Providence St. Joseph swings to a surplus in 2019

The seven-state Catholic giant reported income of $1.36 billion in 2019, compared to a deficit of $445 million in 2018.​

By Ron Shinkman • March 6, 2020

$8.3B in coronavirus funding set in motion as federal agencies ramp up response

A bill that has now been passed by the House and Senate gives HHS authority to temporarily waive certain Medicare requirements for telehealth services but does not address treatment reimbursement for the uninsured​.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated March 5, 2020

Uber Health targets provider pain points with revamped platform

The ride-hailing giant is attempting to address gripes with its non-emergency medical transportation service through a handful of new features that began rolling out late last year.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 4, 2020

Hospitals face worries of supply, staff shortages as coronavirus cases tick up

The American Hospital Association has encouraged HHS to consider using a national disaster program to reimburse providers for treating uninsured people affected by the virus.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated March 4, 2020

FDA seeks 'right balance,' permits immediate use of coronavirus tests

"We are not changing our standards for issuing Emergency Use Authorizations," Commissioner Stephen Hahn said Saturday as the agency issued new guidance aimed at accelerating testing capacity in the U.S.

By Susan Kelly • March 3, 2020

GAO: Number of hospitals heavily dependent on Medicare has shrunk

The agency attributed the smaller number of facilities in the Medicare Dependent Hospital Program to closures, mergers or acquisitions and changes in designation.

By Ron Shinkman • March 2, 2020

UPMC topline soars on Highmark truce

Highmark members receiving inpatient care at UPMC's facilities increased by 30% in 2019, and those receiving outpatient care increased by 26%, according to the Pittsburgh-based hospital system's financial results released Friday.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 2, 2020

FDA reports first drug shortage due to coronavirus impact

Supplies of the drug, which the FDA did not identify, ran short as a result of issues at a site that produces the active ingredient. Other options are available, the agency said.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 28, 2020

Kaufman Hall: Hospital revenue, margins improved in 2019, but warning signs ahead

The consultancy's year in review report also noted rising expenses, and said the modest gains came amid a rosy economy and before the 2020 election and coronavirus outbreak.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 28, 2020

UHS sees slowdown in volume growth in Q4

"We’ve been preparing ourselves, and investors as well … that at some point our volumes would moderate to more historic normative levels and I think you saw some of that in the fourth quarter of 2019," CFO Steve Filton said.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 27, 2020

UnitedHealthcare-Mednax fallout set to hit Raleigh area

Even though North Carolina has some consumer protections when it comes to surprise billing, it will not be enough to shield all patients if and when surprise bills from the pricing squabble arise.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 27, 2020