Predicting the future of healthcare: 10 takeaways from HIMSS21

Along with "guarded optimism" on the current state of the pandemic, some 19,000 on-site attendees in Las Vegas mulled what's next for AI, telehealth, cybersecurity, mental health and more.

By Rebecca Pifer , Hailey Mensik • Aug. 13, 2021

Tackling healthcare's female leadership problem at HIMSS21

Women are largely absent from most healthcare companies' C-suites where major decisions are made, despite their massive influence as consumers and workers in the industry.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 12, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Payer/provider relationships

As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Rethinking healthcare workers' roles post-pandemic

Healthcare employers need to consider how to make front-line caregiving a more sustainable career, and how they'll leverage technology to accomplish that — all while the workforce suffers significant burnout, experts said.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 11, 2021

Telehealth has promising future if obstacles can be overcome, poll finds

A new survey by the Bipartisan Policy Center concludes that telehealth could continue to be used on a large scale after the COVID-19 pandemic winds down, and could help prevent unnecessary emergency room visits.

By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 6, 2021

Telehealth waivers wind down, restricting some providers from delivering care across state lines

A number of states allowed medical professionals licensed elsewhere to hold virtual visits with their residents during the pandemic. While some are making those rollbacks permanent, others are going back to pre-pandemic rules.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 4, 2021

After controversial approval, doctors are still debating how to use Biogen's Alzheimer's drug

Nearly two months since Aduhelm became available, many physicians have yet to use the first treatment approved in the U.S. to slow Alzheimer's disease.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Aug. 3, 2021

Despite volume rebound, hospital margins still tight from pandemic, Kaufman Hall says

Health system revenues in June surpassed both 2019 and 2020 levels, though expenses were higher than two years ago, the report found.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 3, 2021

Zocdoc taps Morgan Stanley exec as CFO

After over two decades as head of Americas Technology Banking at Morgan Stanley, Edward Liu will oversee all of the New York-based digital healthcare marketplace's finances.

By Jane Thier • Aug. 3, 2021

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. 2, 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. 2, 2021

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.

Aug. 2, 2021

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

Healthcare exclusion sources: what you need to know

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

July 26, 2021

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

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 9, 2021

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 6, 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 1, 2021