Amazon launches primary care centers for employees

Asked if it would consider expanding to the public at large, Amazon didn't quash the idea, saying it would "evaluate how effective" the clinics are and, if successful, "consider expanding the program to other regions."

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated July 15, 2020

Pandemic spurs national union activity among hospital workers

Striking a balance between union action and continuing care for patients could be an ongoing challenge, said Patricia Campos-Medina, co-director of New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute.

By Hailey Mensik • July 13, 2020

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

Providence, Humana back ad campaign urging patients to stop 'medical distancing'

Since the pandemic's onset in the United States, health officials have been concerned about the consequences of routine and preventive care being delayed or put off entirely. Providers also fear continued revenue loss.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 8, 2020

Walgreens invests $1B in primary care clinics with VillageMD deal

"As the first true doctor-in-a-retail-box, VillageMD Medical at Walgreens will be raising the bar, upping the ante on maintaining a robust patient panel to cover overhead," SVB Leerink analysts wrote in a Thursday note.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated July 9, 2020

Illinois nurses on strike after stalled contract negotiations

Nurses went on strike Saturday after contract negotiations stalled between the hospital and union. Both sides have been working on a new contract since the last one expired this May. 

By Hailey Mensik • July 6, 2020

Healthcare sector added 358K jobs, hospitals had first gains in 2 months

The unemployment rate dropped to 11.1%, but the report doesn't cover the last two weeks of June, when western and southern states reported some of their highest daily COVID-19 case numbers since the outbreak began.

By Hailey Mensik • July 2, 2020

With new funding, FCC rural healthcare program set to provide most money in its history

Nearly $200 million in unused funds from prior years are being carried over. The total amount now available to applicants is about $800 million.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 1, 2020

Primary care physicians could take $15 billion hit due to COVID-19 in 2020

A new study in the journal Health Affairs concludes that the nation's primary care practices have come under threat due to the financial pressures caused by COVID-19.

By Ron Shinkman • June 26, 2020

US risks 139K physician shortage by 2033, AAMC warns

The annual report also looked at underserved populations, estimating that if they were to have the same healthcare use patterns as those with fewer barriers to access, demand could rise by another 74,100 to 145,500 physicians.

By Hailey Mensik • June 26, 2020

HCA, nurses at California hospital prep for Friday strike

While unusual for a labor union to strike just days before scheduled contract negotiations, that's what happening at Riverside Community Hospital, where the pandemic has exacerbated long-simmering staffing issues.

By Hailey Mensik • June 25, 2020

North Carolina BCBS seeks to keep primary care practices afloat, nudge to value-based care

Participating doctor's offices will get added payments to stabilize flagging revenue for primary care services at their pre-COVID-19 levels beginning in September through 2021.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 25, 2020

Outpatient visits rebound, but some specialties like pediatrics lag behind

Volume is still substantially lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic gained a foothold in the U.S., according to a report from Harvard University researchers that analyzes data from Phreesia, a healthcare technology company.

By Samantha Liss • June 25, 2020

CommonSpirit doubles down on primary care with new direct-to-employer partnership

Employers will pay a flat fee per worker to access onsite, near-site or virtual clinics staffed by family medicine doctors and medical assistants. The nonprofit giant is partnering with ex-DaVita subsidiary Paladina Health on the model.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 25, 2020

Moody's: US healthcare system rebounds from COVID-19 in May, but a bumpy road lies ahead

Last month saw improvement in care volumes, but recent pullbacks in hot spots like Arizona may exemplify the rocky road ahead for hospitals and medical device companies.

By Ron Shinkman • June 19, 2020

GAO report finds insufficient staffing of HHS emergency responders

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is also responsible for maintaining the National Strategic Stockpile, which came under fire earlier this year amid PPE and ventilator shortages.

By Hailey Mensik • June 19, 2020

Female, younger patients more likely to choose telehealth visit pre-pandemic, study finds

The JAMA Network Open study also found patients were more likely to choose a virtual visit with their own primary care clinician, as opposed to a new doctor.

By Hailey Mensik • June 18, 2020

Tenet cites dramatic rebound of patient volume post COVID-19 slump

New hotspots are emerging in states in the West and South largely spared from the first coronavirus wave, posing a challenge for hospital operators with major footprints in those states, such as the Dallas-based chain.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated June 17, 2020

Detroit nurses sue Tenet for alleged retaliatory firings over COVID-19 safety concerns

But a Detroit Medical Center spokesperson told Healthcare Dive the hospital took "appropriate action" following an investigation into complaints that employees took inappropriate photos of deceased patients. 

By Hailey Mensik • June 12, 2020

FCC surpasses $100M in CARES telehealth funding approvals as House seeks more oversight

Top leadership in the House Energy and Commerce committee sent a letter Friday to the FCC requesting more transparency in the telehealth program, which passed the halfway mark in allocated funds earlier this week.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated June 12, 2020

HCA seeks nurse backup ahead of potential strike

The hospital chain has a job posting for qualified nurses in the event of a strike, an action a union spokesperson called "a threat to nurses."

By Hailey Mensik • June 10, 2020

UPS expands healthcare footprint, shifting focus to vaccines

UPS is growing its healthcare divisions, including distribution space and freezer storage for vaccines and biopharma supply, ahead of a potential coronavirus vaccine.

By Matt Leonard • June 10, 2020

Professional services revenue plunged nearly 50% in April as pandemic worsened

The nonprofit FAIR Health study found the dramatic decrease was due to a 68% drop in use as patients and doctors deferred non-essential care.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 10, 2020

Trump administration suggests restarting electives, with reliance on telemedicine, safety measures

Major surgeries should still be limited as much as clinically possible, and facilities should be prepared to screen all visitors and staff for symptoms as well as provide masks for those who don't have one.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 9, 2020

After fallout with UnitedHealthcare came COVID-19. Now Mednax is rethinking its strategy.

The company will continue to sell off other business units to achieve its singular focus on services for women and children and will change the company name to Pediatrix Medical Group to reflect the new direction.

By Samantha Liss • June 9, 2020

Healthcare sector added 312K jobs in May, but hospitals left out

The sector lost 43,000 jobs in March, then another 1.4 million in April, with most concentrated in ambulatory care, dentists' offices and doctors' offices. But Friday's figures seem to show a surprising reversal.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated June 8, 2020