The AMA’s new president on how abortion restrictions, AI, burnout impact physicians

Newly-elected Jesse Ehrenfeld is taking the reins at the American Medical Association at a time of pressing changes for doctors.

By Emily Olsen • June 28, 2023

Walgreens stock plummets after pharmacy chain cuts 2023 outlook

“Our performance in the third quarter did not meet our overall expectations,” Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer told investors Tuesday morning.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 27, 2023

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

Masimo shareholders elect activist investor’s two board candidates

The vote approving Politan Capital’s nominees is “a clear mandate from shareholders that significant change is needed at Masimo,” said newly elected director Quentin Koffey.

By Susan Kelly • June 27, 2023

UnitedHealth to acquire Amedisys for $3.3B after home health provider reneges on Option deal

The deal would be UnitedHealth’s second purchase of a home health and hospice company, as the integrated healthcare giant looks to capture revenue from medical care increasingly delivered outside of hospitals.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 26, 2023

Pfizer, citing safety concerns, scraps one of two obesity pill hopefuls

Liver enzyme elevations in early- and mid-stage testing have led the drugmaker to discontinue development of a medicine known as lotiglipron, dealing a blow to its hopes of catching rivals Lilly and Novo Nordisk. 

By Ben Fidler • June 26, 2023

Health services M&A holding steady despite economic headwinds

Deal volumes declined 4% in the year ended May 15 compared to 2022, according to a PwC report. But the consulting firm is “optimistic” about the sector’s M&A outlook for the rest of the year.

By Emily Olsen • June 23, 2023

Cano CEO steps down after push from former board members

Prior to the leadership change, three former board members, who jointly own the largest stake in the company, accused the Florida-based chain of poor corporate governance and urged Cano to oust CEO Marlow Hernandez.

By Emily Olsen • June 20, 2023

MedPAC recommends return to lower telehealth payments

The group that advises Congress on Medicare policy also suggested more closely setting payment rates across outpatient facilities for some services, which hospital lobbyists oppose.

By Emily Olsen • June 16, 2023

Biden administration should not wait to provide access to non-opioid pain management

A surgeon and assistant professor argues that the CMS and providers must collaborate to enhance access to non-opioid pain alternatives.

By Nirav Amin • June 16, 2023

AMA takes on AI, Medicare payment at annual meeting

The medical lobby this week also approved recommendations meant to prevent overdoses, reduce gun violence and pare back physician reliance on body mass index.

By Emily Olsen • June 15, 2023

SCOTUS rulings on COVID-19, guns, abortion will lead to increase in preventable deaths, JAMA Network Open finds

The authors said the impacts could be long-lasting, writing, “the findings of this study suggest that these Supreme Court decisions may harm the health of US citizens for years, and possibly decades, to come.”

By Susanna Vogel • June 12, 2023

The public health emergency is over. Here’s why government must prioritize funding for long COVID research.

University of Arizona professors argue for more robust infrastructure to understand and research long COVID-19, which affects one in five Americans.

By Kristen Pogreba Brown, Leslie V. Farland and Jennifer Andrews • June 9, 2023

CMS launches primary care pilot to expand value-based care

The Making Care Primary Model, which will begin next summer in eight states, aims to strengthen primary care delivery, particularly for safety net and small or independent organizations.

By Emily Olsen • June 9, 2023

Oak Street, post CVS acquisition, plans to enter 4 new states

Oak Street Health, which was acquired by CVS in May, plans to enter Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and Virginia this summer.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 1, 2023

Physician compensation rose but was eclipsed by inflation, MGMA survey finds

Although hampered by a 7% increase in inflation, advanced practice providers saw the biggest change in median total pay compared to pre-pandemic levels.

By Brian T. Horowitz • May 30, 2023

Securing mergers and acquisitions in healthcare

Netskope’s Damian Chung outlines how healthcare organizations can avoid cyber risks when executing acquisitions or partnerships.

By Damian Chung • May 26, 2023

What 3 key congressional hearings last week mean for the industry

Political will seems to be rising to address drivers of growing medical costs and poor access to care, according to lawmaker comments on the Hill.

By Sydney Halleman , Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 19, 2023

HCA to acquire 41 urgent care clinics in Texas

The purchase, which includes clinics in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and El Paso, will boost the for-profit health system’s urgent care footprint.

By Emily Olsen • May 19, 2023

Included Health and DispatchHealth partner on virtual-to-in-home care

Included’s care teams will now be able to coordinate in-home care for patients after a telehealth visit through Dispatch’s network of medical practitioners.

By Sydney Halleman • May 17, 2023

Zocdoc expands urgent care bookings to meet surging demand

The healthcare marketplace company says the number of urgent care facilities on Zocdoc has grown by almost 40% month over month, and urgent care bookings have also expanded by an average of 80%. 

By Brian T. Horowitz • May 16, 2023

Envision Healthcare files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The physician staffing firm suffered from declining profits amid hurdles from the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged legal battles with health insurers over reimbursement and regulatory crackdowns on surprise billing.

By Sydney Halleman • May 15, 2023

Rethinking the area deprivation index: a call for more effective measures to promote health equity

Srilekha Palle, visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, argues that a key health equity indicator used by the Biden administration has significant limitations that could exclude many underserved communities.

By Srilekha Palle • May 12, 2023

Cano divesting non-core assets to bolster cash flow, CEO says

The primary care provider, which has been embroiled in a boardroom fight, is focused on improving profitability in its core Medicare Advantage business.

By Susan Kelly • May 11, 2023

Syneos to be taken private in $7.1B deal

The offer from a group of private equity firms comes after a series of ups and downs for Syneos, which was formed through the 2017 merger of contract research firms InVentiv Health and INC Research.

By Kristin Jensen • May 10, 2023

Envision Healthcare planning Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, WSJ reports

The potential filing comes after Envision has struggled in recent years, including in legal battles with UnitedHealthcare.

By Sydney Halleman • May 10, 2023