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

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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

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

FTC to block Philadelphia area health system merger in 1st big hospital challenge in 3 years

Jefferson and Einstein defended their union Thursday in a joint statement provided to Healthcare Dive, calling it a "creative effort" to increase access at a time when safety net hospitals are struggling.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 27, 2020

Healthcare professionals face challenges in negotiating religious diversity

By increasing their interreligious understanding, hospital chaplains and medical caregivers can offer more compassionate care.

Feb. 27, 2020

Increased volumes boost Mayo Clinic to top $1B in operating income for 2019

The nonprofit health system reported revenue of $13.8 billion for the year, an increase from $12.6 billion in 2018, according to financial documents released Tuesday.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 26, 2020

HHS officials warn of medical supply shortages amid coronavirus outbreak

"This is an unprecedented potential severe health challenge globally, and will require additional measures," HHS Secretary Alex Azar told lawmakers in a pitch for $2.5 billion in funding.

By Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria • Feb. 26, 2020

Provider community weighs in on CMS bid to overhaul organ donation

The almost 840 public comments were generally supportive of the Trump administration's push to eliminate regional monopolies in organ donation.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 24, 2020

Provider earnings snapshot: A focus on volume growth

HCA, Community Health Services, UHS and Tenet all saw year-over-year admissions improvement as they closed out the last fiscal quarter.

By Samantha Liss , Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Feb. 28, 2020

UnitedHealthcare terminates Mednax from its network over pricing squabble

The dispute puts patients, particularly those undergoing surgery, women with high-risk pregnancies and ill newborns, at risk of out-of-network bills in four states: Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 21, 2020

Community Health Systems reports $675M net loss in 2019

The Tennessee-based hospital operator continued to shed hospitals last year, contributing to a decline of total admissions.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 20, 2020

CommonSpirit posts 1st operating gain since merger finalized

The documents paint a better picture for the system formed a year ago by Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, which has struggled financially since its union.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated Feb. 19, 2020

Most large hospitals embrace patient-facing digital tools despite cost concerns

Respondents said they were helping patients manage simple tasks like accessing health records, making appointments and paying bills, according to a new survey from the Center for Connected Medicine.

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 19, 2020

FDA tracks uptick in masks, other protective gear in coronavirus update

Commissioner Stephen Hahn said the shift in ordering patterns is yet to manifest in a shortage but warned recently the situation is "evolving and very dynamic."

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 19, 2020

Richer not-for-profit hospitals less generous with charity care, JAMA analysis finds

Hospitals in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act also tend to provide less charity care, the survey of 2,500 health systems found.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 18, 2020

Ascension's income from operations falls 9% over 6 months

While total discharges remained stagnant, the Catholic system's biggest volume growth came from physician office and clinic visits, which increased 8.3% during the period compared to a year earlier.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 18, 2020

Last year saw 19 rural hospitals close, most in nearly a decade

The states with the highest number of closures in the past 10 years are Texas at 20 and Tennessee at 12, followed by Oklahoma and Georgia with seven each, according to a report from The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 18, 2020

Ballad Health reports stable quarter despite rural patient headwinds

Moody's Investors Service affirmed the rating of the system's bonds at Baa1 and maintains a positive outlook on its operations, which dominate a large swath of Appalachia.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 14, 2020

Moody's weighs coronavirus impact across hospitals, other sectors

For hospitals, the impact will depend on the length of stay for patients. Any further outbreak would increase volumes but could pressure margins if facilities are forced to cancel more lucrative elective procedures.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 13, 2020

Tenet to pay $1.4M to settle claims it implanted cardiac monitors unnecessarily

The allegations stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a medical center employee who will share in the settlement and is set to receive nearly $241,000.

By Samantha Liss • Feb. 12, 2020