CMS updates hospital star ratings formula

The agency said the methodology changes will result in broader distribution of the ratings, increased reliability and more stable estimates.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 22, 2017

Banner off the hook for several claims in 2016 breach class-action suit

The 2016 breach compromised the personal information of 3.7 million people.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 22, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Patient satisfaction survey data undermined by low response rate, study finds

“What you get is a very biased sample,” says lead author Arvind Venkat.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 22, 2017

Cooper files suit to recoup $15M after walking out on merger plans

The Camden, N.J.-based Cooper stated it would no longer pursue the acquisition of three hospitals from Trinity Health last week.

By Jeff Byers • Dec. 21, 2017

Female med students outpace men for first time

While the number of new medical school enrollees rose slightly in 2017, the number of applicants declined.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 20, 2017

DOJ settles with EmCare, accused of improperly steering patients

"This settlement should serve as a warning to all providers who allow financial incentives to displace their medical judgment," said U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

By David Lim • Dec. 20, 2017

Epic to roll out Sonnet EHR in March

The product is one of two slimmed-down EHRs set to join Epic’s All-Terrain enterprise version.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 19, 2017

Physician job growth varies greatly by region, report finds

Seven of the 10 highest-paying jobs in 2017 were in the medical field, according to a separate report by CareerCast. 

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 19, 2017

Study: 8 in 10 consumers unaware of telehealth care

Nearly half of the consumers who did not use telehealth services said they weren't sure they would be comfortable with a virtual visit. Most patients who did use telehealth, though, said they would do so again.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 19, 2017

Humana, private equity ink $4.1B deal for Kindred

Kindred's portfolio will be divided where Humana will receive a portion of the Louisville-based company's home and hospice services.

By Jeff Byers • Dec. 18, 2017

5 tips for improving patient flow

Effective patient flow is essential to an efficient and profitable medical practice leading to a larger potential patient base. 

Dec. 18, 2017

NEJM: Opioid crisis measures aimed at docs mostly fail

Policies such as making doctor shopping illegal, limiting the supply of opioids dispensed at one time and alerting high-prescribing physicians were found to have no meaningful effect.

By David Lim • Dec. 15, 2017

Providers: Email is main data breach culprit

More than three-fourths of providers experienced a cyberattack in the past year.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 13, 2017

4 out of 5 US physicians have experienced a cybersecurity attack

AMA President David Barbe says the government, technology and medical sectors need to take a more active roll to stop future cyberattacks to ensure the confidentially of healthcare data. 

By David Lim • Dec. 12, 2017

Collaboration, strategic investments and efficiencies on deck for 2018, PwC says

PwC's Health Research Institute upped the number of the top issues facing the industry after an eventful year filled with natural disasters and health policy uncertainty.

By Jeff Byers • Dec. 12, 2017

Why hospitals will face greater cost containment efforts in 2018

Providers will try to rein in costs next year with a renewed focus on labor, purchase services and supply chain.

By Jeff Byers • Dec. 11, 2017

Healthcare supply chains are shifting as cost pressures rise

Rising expenses are threatening the viability of traditional distribution methods, giving way to a wave of shifts as hospitals seek to maintain patient care while spending less.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 11, 2017

How can healthcare supply chains improve? Experts weigh in.

From supplier relations to distribution to inventory management, healthcare is seen as one of the greatest opportunities for supply chain improvement. Here's why.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 11, 2017

Is self-distribution right for your hospital system?

Consider these factors before you make changes to your time-sensitive supply chain.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Dec. 11, 2017

Two ways hospitals are taking control of their supply chain

Whether through just-in-time delivery or a consolidated service center, hospitals are turning to self-distribution models in order to cut costs.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Dec. 11, 2017

How hospitals can turn cost-cutting drives into an advantage

Healthcare may be unique in its patient-centric focus, but the fundamentals of supply chains remain the same regardless of the industry.

By Rich Weissman • Dec. 11, 2017

Optum's MedExpress and Walgreens team up on urgent care

The move reflects a growing trend toward vertical integration in healthcare. 

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 8, 2017

Dignity Health, CHI finally strike deal to form second largest nonprofit system

The news caps off a courtship period dating back to at least October 2016.

By Jeff Byers • Dec. 7, 2017

Temporary physicians do not increase mortality risk, study says

A new JAMA Network report also found that patients treated by locum tenens physicians had higher Part B spending, longer length of stay and readmissions.  

By Les Masterson • Dec. 7, 2017

NYP CEO: Telemedicine important effort as tech disrupts healthcare

NewYork-Presbyterian President & CEO Steven Corwin said during an Axios event Tuesday that diversity in leadership isn't just important for aesthetics but also for results.

By Jeff Byers • Dec. 6, 2017