Practice Management

Despite pandemic, independent medical practices say they are more confident than ever

This feeling of optimism came despite the fact that 11% of independent medical practices said they had shut down temporarily during the COVID-19 crisis, according to a new survey.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 02, 2021

Primary care docs, facing 'existential' threat, fear for profession's future

A new survey from the Larry A. Green Center and Primary Care Collaborative found that 40% of clinicians worry primary care will be gone in just five years.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 02, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Consumerism

Some stablished players have paying more attention to patient experience, rolling out improvements such as same-day appointments, apps the help explain coverage or health conditions and better integration with email and text messaging.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Sponsored by ProviderTrust

A deep dive into the former GSA EPLS, SAM.gov

Have burning questions about the SAM.gov database? Don't worry; we've got you covered! Read on for an overview of one of the main primary sources: SAM.gov.

How the pandemic has accelerated digital payments in telehealth

Digitalization can simplify the medical bill payment process and give patients more information earlier on about their financial responsibilities, experts said.

By J. Duncan Moore, Jr. • July 28, 2021

Systems can nudge more healthcare workers to get vaccinated through targeted messaging: JAMA report

Among unvaccinated workers at Geisinger's system in Pennsylvania, an email nudge playing up social norms and virus risk caused more than twice as many employees to register for a shot compared with those who didn't get the note.

By Hailey Mensik • July 28, 2021

Sponsored by ProviderTrust

Healthcare exclusion sources: what you need to know

What you need to know about SAM.gov and the OIG LEIE, straight from the experts.

Tenet rebounds in Q2, buoyed by volume recoveries

CEO Ron Rittenmeyer told investors the quarter came in "better than expected on many fronts," but asked them to "please realize we're not claiming any victory, and we're not relaxing."

By Hailey Mensik • July 22, 2021

OSHA standard compliance date arrives amid confusion, industry pushback

Provider groups say the lengthy rule effective Wednesday is tricky to implement in just 30 days, especially with a variety of exemptions for vaccinated employees.

By Hailey Mensik • July 21, 2021

CMS pitches stiffening price transparency fines, halting end of inpatient-only list

Hospitals notched a win with the proposal to reverse the Trump administration's rollback of the inpatient-only list, but took hits with added enforcement of the pricing rule and in other areas.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 20, 2021

HHS earmarks $103M to address burnout among healthcare workers

The sector already had a high rate of stress and burnout, but the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated the problem, especially as the delta variant causes hospitalizations to surge in some parts of the country.

By Ron Shinkman • July 19, 2021

DaVita, former CEO charged for alleged noncompete conspiracies

The dialysis provider said the charges are unwarranted and rely on "alleged discussions involving former executives that occurred many years ago."

By Hailey Mensik • July 16, 2021

Biden executive order sparks debate on physician noncompete agreements

The document asks federal agencies to ban or limit noncompete agreements, which physicians regularly sign to restrict them from leaving, taking their patients and setting up their own competing practice nearby.

By Hailey Mensik • July 15, 2021

CMS proposes extension of Medicare telehealth coverage

Provider groups are not happy with the payment adjustment in the rule — a 3.75% reduction to the conversion factor due to budget neutrality requirements — and will likely seek congressional intervention.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 14, 2021

Deep Dive

Medtech pay to doctors plunged in 2020 as COVID-19 pummeled electives, in-person services

Zimmer Biomet had the biggest drop, cutting general payments nearly 80% to $63 million. Other notable decreases include Stryker, J&J's DePuy Synthes and Boston Scientific.

By Ricky Zipp • July 13, 2021

Hospital M&A down from pre-pandemic highs, though deal size growing, Kaufman Hall says

Health systems in general are shifting their focus from acquisitions of small, independent hospitals to regional partnerships, according to a new report.

By Hailey Mensik • July 09, 2021

Q&A

Nurse practitioners association past president reflects on pandemic, scope of practice rollbacks

The biggest challenge facing the profession is outdated regulatory barriers that don't allow nurse practitioners to practice at the top of their education and training, Sophia Thomas said.

By Hailey Mensik • July 06, 2021

Robotic abdominal surgery has no advantage over open, laparoscopic surgeries: meta-analysis

Of 39 studies reporting surgical complications, just 10% showed fewer complications with robot-assisted surgery. The analysis was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

By Greg Slabodkin • July 01, 2021

U.S. News hospital rankings to include new categories, examine equity

Among the changes to this year's list are two key issues the COVID-19 pandemic brought into focus: how hospitals handle health disparities and nurse staffing.

By Hailey Mensik • June 30, 2021

Nearly half of physician practices owned by hospitals, corporate entities, report finds

Avalere found that independent doctors are becoming increasingly rare in the U.S., which should raise alarms, according to a coalition of state medical societies. It's urging Congress to act.

By Samantha Liss • June 29, 2021

Hospitals, nurses tussle in contract negotiations as pandemic highlights complaints

The Cook County nurses reached a deal on a new contract and the healthcare workers at the University of Southern California will vote next week to ratify a new contract. Meanwhile 1,400 other nurses at USC are striking this week.

By Hailey Mensik • UPDATED: July 13, 2021 at 9:10 a.m.

FDA rejects Verily filing for wrist-worn Parkinson's clinical trial device

The sister company of Google developed the feature to collect data on the motor function of Parkinson's patients in between visits to trial sites. However, the agency questioned the wearable's ability to have a meaningful effect. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • June 17, 2021

Physicians, patients see race and trust in healthcare differently, poll finds

Patients' trust in their primary doctor rises with age and income, though 12% of respondents said they have been discriminated against by a healthcare facility, according to the survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.

By Hailey Mensik • June 15, 2021

Providers ask HHS for more flexibility in deadlines to use COVID-19 relief funds

The American Hospital Association wrote that the previous guidance limiting new deadlines to funds received after June 2020 "disadvantages certain providers without providing a clear policy rationale."

By Shannon Muchmore • UPDATED: June 24, 2021 at 9:55 a.m.

OSHA issues long-delayed COVID-19 safety rules for healthcare workplaces

The agency is extending the comment period on the emergency temporary standard, but it's not extending compliance dates for healthcare facilities.

By Hailey Mensik • UPDATED: July 12, 2021 at 10:48 a.m.

One Medical and Iora serve radically different populations. Here's why the $2.1B tie-up might make sense.

With its multibillion-dollar acquisition of value-based Iora, One Medical is betting big on capturing longitudinal care and the profitability of risk.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 09, 2021