Access to patient records held back by cultural and technical issues

The debate over who really owns patient records reignited after news reports of a spat between former Vice President Joe Biden and Epic CEO Judy Faulkner when the topic came up during a meeting. 

By Les Masterson • Sept. 26, 2017

Survey: Trust in health insurance plans dips to all-time low

Two-thirds of ReviveHealth Trust Index respondents said they would prefer a “Medicare for all” healthcare system.  

By Les Masterson • Sept. 25, 2017

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

Doximity offers one-touch dialing for physicians via Epic Haiku

The technology is available free to physicians from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

By Meg Bryant • Sept. 21, 2017

Study: Telemedicine cuts costs, wait times in pediatric sports medicine

The report found patient satisfaction was high, with 99% saying they would recommend telehealth to others.

By Meg Bryant • Sept. 20, 2017

Online scheduling can help physician appointment wait times

A ZocDoc study follows a Merritt Hawkins report that found the average wait time for a physician appointment in 15 different large city markets increased 30% since 2014.

By Les Masterson • Sept. 20, 2017

The low-acuity arms race among health systems is on

Under the reality of softening patient admissions and insurers pushing customers to lower acuity environments, providers are looking toward urgent care investments.

By Jeff Byers • Sept. 19, 2017

AHA questions MedPAC report on new post-acute payment system

The organization is concerned the model proposed by MedPAC contains fundamental problems that make it "unworkable as a foundation” for developing the new payment method.

By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 18, 2017

Most physicians fall behind on appointments at least several times a week

Despite some workflow problems, more than half of surveyed doctors said they are at least somewhat satisfied with the overall efficiency of their office.

By Les Masterson • Sept. 14, 2017

WSJ: Tenet exploring possible sale

The for-profit hospital chain recently announced plans to sell eight U.S. hospitals and nine U.K. facilities.

By Jeff Byers • Sept. 14, 2017

Yet another study highlights EHR burden on physicians

Primary care doctors spend more than half their workday on EHR-related activities, a retrospective study shows.

By Meg Bryant • Sept. 13, 2017

Study: Scribes improved physician satisfaction, charting efficiency

The authors said the use of scribes is "a promising strategy to improve healthcare efficiency and reduce physician burnout."

By Les Masterson • Sept. 13, 2017

Most patients want to know costs, financing options before treatment

A HealthFirst Financial survey finds more than half of respondents said they would like healthcare providers to discuss financial options before care.  

By Les Masterson • Sept. 12, 2017

Telehealth could lure more providers to ACOs

At a recent MedPAC meeting, members noted Medicare telehealth payments are increasing, but usage is low overall and dominated by a small number of providers and beneficiaries.

By Meg Bryant • Sept. 12, 2017

Altarum creates value-based health benefit plan

The Medical Episode Spending Allowance Plan is geared for people with chronic or serious health conditions.

By Les Masterson • Sept. 12, 2017

Online physician ratings fail to adequately provide quality information

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center researchers said online ratings should not be used solely to select doctors.

By Les Masterson • Sept. 8, 2017

Study shows magnitude of continuing provider consolidation

In 2016, hospitals were highly concentrated in 90% of metropolitan statistical areas, according to new research published in Health Affairs. 

By Jeff Byers • Sept. 6, 2017

The final nail in the coffin? Overtime rule is 'invalid,' court says

A federal judge has determined that DOL didn't have the authority to increase the FLSA's overtime salary threshold so drastically.

By Kate Tornone • Aug. 31, 2017

Government report says ACOs in MSSP 'show promise'

Most of the ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings Program reduced spending and improved care quality, but a few dozen stood out substantially as high performers.

By Shannon Muchmore • Aug. 31, 2017

Keys to accelerating transformation in healthcare

Constance Sjoquist, chief content officer for the health innovation event HTLH, argues there is no magic bullet to revolutionize the industry, but there are strategies that can result in significant change. 

By Constance Sjoquist • Aug. 29, 2017

BCBSA study shows drop in antibiotic prescription fill rates

The report also had the troubling finding that prescriptions for reserve antibiotics, which should be used as a last resort to fight superbugs, increased 30%.  

By Les Masterson • Aug. 27, 2017

Northwell folds insurance arm CareConnect

The provider cited uncertainty concerning the Affordable Care Act's future and its failure to receive risk corridor payments as reasons behind the decision.

By Jeff Byers • Aug. 24, 2017

Clampdown on network directories fueling online solutions

"It’s problematic for both sides,” MGMA’s Robert Tennant says about the effort to keep health plan network directories updated.

By Meg Bryant • Aug. 24, 2017

Providence Health & Services cuts 210 jobs

While the layoffs are a small number in comparison to the system's 111,000 employees, the company is prepping more cost containment measures.

By Jeff Byers • Aug. 24, 2017

New startup Pivot Health looks to disrupt healthcare staffing

Companies such as Pivot and Nomad Health are both banking on technology to help streamline job recruitment processes for healthcare organizations.

By Jeff Byers • Aug. 23, 2017

Provider groups mostly approve of latest MACRA proposals

The proposed rule in question exempts more small providers from the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, allows hospital-based physicians to report at a facility level and introduces virtual reporting groups.

By Shannon Muchmore • Aug. 22, 2017