Author's posts
HHS announces reduced costs, expanded access for marketplace health coverage under ARP
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced on Thursday that additional savings and lower healthcare costs are available for consumers on HealthCare.gov due to the American Rescue Plan, which has increased tax credit…
CDC teams with NIH to gauge efficacy of at-home COVID-19 testing
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is teaming with the National Institutes of Health on an initiative to determine if the widespread use of at-home COVID-19 tests is effective at stemming transmission of the virus.
Vaccines and prior COVID-19 infection offer protection against variants
The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned at least three known variants of the coronavirus that cause the disease, but a new
FCC moves ahead with relaunch of COVID-19 telehealth program
This week, the Federal Communications Commission voted to move forward with Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, a $249.95 million federal initiative that builds on the $200 million program established as part of the CARES Act.
Strategies emerge for better managing healthcare systems during pandemics
Healthcare systems could save lives and minimize losses by optimizing resource allocation and implementing mitigation strategies, according to two new studies.
Colorado State University researchers explored how healthcare systems might perform under m…
California hospitals sue attorney general over affiliation conditions
Two California hospitals, Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai and Pasadena-based Huntington Hospital, have filed a lawsuit challenging the conditions for approval of their affiliation that were imposed by the state attorney general. The proposed affiliation…
COVID-19 ratcheting up demand for virtual behavioral healthcare, Cigna finds
The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the demand for telehealth, driving consumers to increasingly seek virtual care options, and this is extending to behavioral health services, according to a new report from health insurer Cigna.
DOJ investigating UnitedHealth’s $13B acquisition of Change
The U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing an investigation of UnitedHealthcare Group’s $13 billion acquisition of data analytics company Change Healthcare, spurred in part by a letter sent to regulators this month by the American Hospital Association …
CMS resuming routine hospital surveys after delays
Late last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services lifted a suspension on hospital surveys and said most on-site survey activity will now resume as normal.
American Hospital Association urges CMS to rescind mid-build denials
The American Hospital Association is imploring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to rescind recent denials of hospital requests for a mid-build exception to the site-neutral payment policy, according to a letter sent last week.
