Humana, Optum pilot blockchain to fix network lists

MultiPlan, UnitedHealthcare and Quest Diagnostics are also part of the initiative to use blockchain to ensure accuracy of network directories.

By Meg Bryant • April 3, 2018

California sues Sutter for anticompetitive practices, high costs

The complaint alleges profits from Sutter's "illegal pricing practices" have gone toward acquisitions, executive wages and the financing of its own insurance arm.

By Tony Abraham • April 2, 2018

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

Face time, compassion key in online doctor reviews, analysis finds

The analysis of nearly 7 million Healthgrades reviews showed little difference by physician gender.

By Meg Bryant • March 28, 2018

Millennials more likely to use walk-in clinics, telemedicine, survey shows

Young people are shopping around more for providers and health plans, and are using online tools to support decision-making.  

By Meg Bryant • March 23, 2018

Paper health records have privacy risks, study finds

An audit of recycling bins at five hospitals turned up nearly 2,700 documents containing patients’ personal information.

By Meg Bryant • March 22, 2018

Geisinger plans pilot to help patients get to appointments

Geisinger’s program will also provide transportation for non-clinical, but health-related reasons, such as going to counseling, a pharmacy, a grocery store or to a job interview.

By Les Masterson • March 22, 2018

Higher volume associated with lower online ratings

Researchers looked at patient ratings for more than 600 urologists across four websites.

By Meg Bryant • March 21, 2018

Docs more likely to prescribe opioids after pharma pay, study finds

Opioid manufacturers paid physicians more than $43 million over a two-year period, according to CareDash.

By Meg Bryant • March 16, 2018

CHS hires advisers to restructure debt

The news comes as the hospital operator came off a weak 2017, compared to 2016.

By Jeff Byers • March 16, 2018

Hospitals acquired 5K physician practices in 1-year period

The report concluded that physicians struggle to maintain independent practices because payer policies "increasingly favor integrated health systems."

By Shannon Muchmore • March 14, 2018

More employers go direct to providers, sidestepping payers

A recent survey found that only 6% of employers contract directly with providers now, but 22% are considering it for 2019.

By Les Masterson • March 14, 2018

NQF guide aims to help doctors include patients in care decisions

The goal is to make shared decisionmaking a standard of care, the National Quality Forum said.

By Meg Bryant • March 13, 2018

Intermountain opens its digital front door

The system recently launched a "virtual hospital," bringing together 35 telehealth programs.

By Jeff Byers • March 13, 2018

Too soon to tell if health-in-all-policies approach improves equity, study finds

The connection between health-in-all-policies and health equity tends to be strategic and issue-dependent, according to a Health Affairs report.

By Meg Bryant • March 9, 2018

HIMSS18: Docs get an empathy lesson

UPMC's Rasu Shrestha and athenahealth's Santosh Mohan said it starts with what not to say.

By Kim Dixon • March 8, 2018

Roadmap to reduce disparities needed in value-based care

A Health Affairs paper recommends tying health equity to payment incentives. 

By Meg Bryant • March 8, 2018

HIMSS18: Celebrate failure, Cleveland Clinic CIO says

Financial incentives for employees help the clinic spur new ideas, Edward Marx said.

By Kim Dixon • March 7, 2018

Centene to buy Florida primary care provider

The St. Louis-based payer will acquire Community Medical Group, which serves more than 70,000 patients in Miami-Dade County.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 6, 2018

IBM Watson Health names 100 top US hospitals

Winning hospitals outperformed their peers on complication and survival rates, length of stay, wait times and patient satisfaction, among other measures.

By Meg Bryant • March 6, 2018

Network directory errors remain an issue, AMA report finds

Previously, CMS has spoken out about errors in provider directories of Medicare Advantage plans. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 28, 2018

Lifespan joins Partners-Care New England merger talks

Any deal would affect the combined 81,000 employees from all three systems.

By Jeff Byers • Feb. 28, 2018

Community Health posts $2.4B net loss

The 127-hospital system system is navigating a turnaround as it attempts to shed debt.

By Jeff Byers • Feb. 27, 2018

Provider shortage a barrier to opioid dependence treatment, Avalere finds

Eleven states and the District of Columbia have lower than average rates of providers to prescribe treatment drugs.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 23, 2018

Lifepoint takes $27M loss in Q4

The 71-hospital system also posted lower admissions and a drop in net income.

By Jeff Byers • Feb. 23, 2018

Many hospitals lack strategy for leveraging smartphone technology

Apple leads as the smartphone of choice among healthcare organizations, but its weaknesses could cause other devices to become a new fan favorite, a KLAS Research report concludes.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 22, 2018