Author's posts
Nonprofit hospitals can manage Omicron’s effects on operations and cash flows, finds Fitch
While the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will likely cause challenges for the nation’s hospitals, nonprofit hospitals in particular will be able to manage these challenges without outsized effects on operations and cash flows, finds a new report by Fitch …
Jury orders UnitedHealthcare to pay TeamHealth more than $60M for underpaying clinicians
On Tuesday, a Clark County, Nevada jury awarded $60 million in punitive damages to three Nevada-based TeamHealth affiliates in their case against UnitedHealthcare for unfair payment and reimbursement tactics.
HHS debuts $30M grant program meant to curb opioid epidemic
While it may be overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic is still in full effect in the U.S., and on Wednesday the Department of Health and Human Services announced a harm reduction grant program to support community harm reduction se…
Changes to Medicaid asset limits could improve eligibility for vulnerable seniors
In a new analysis in the December issue of Health Affairs, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health scientists propose four solutions states could implement to improve Medicaid eligibility for seniors, particularly for Medicare enrolle…
Medicare physician spending dropped 14% ahead of fee schedule cuts
Medicare spending on physician services totaled $82.9 billion in 2020, down from $95 billion the year prior, data shows.
Cleveland hospitals delay surgeries due to COVID-19 spike
Three Cleveland area hospital systems – Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth – will be postponing some surgeries due to a spike of COVID-19 cases in the area, turning the clock back to the height of the pandemic when many facilities p…
HHS appeals block on healthcare worker vaccine mandate
Unhappy about a federal court decision that put the brakes on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ national vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, the Department of Health and Human Services has filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals …
CVS Health partners with Microsoft to advance digital-first strategy
As part of efforts to accelerate a digital-centric strategy, CVS Health is teaming with Microsoft and will be tapping into its cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies, the company announced this week.
HHS seeks comment on efforts to improve organ transplant equity, dialysis care
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is soliciting public feedback on potential changes to rulemaking it’s considering to improve both the organ transplantation system and dialysis ca…
FDA investigating possible impacts of Omicron variant, urges vaccination and boosters
As with previous variants of the COVID-19 virus, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has signaled its intent to actively work with federal partners, international regulators and medical product companies to quickly address any potential impacts of th…
