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Nonprofit hospitals’ charity care falling behind tax breaks, report shows
About 80% of all nonprofit hospitals’ charity care falls behind tax breaks, according to a new Lown Institute report – and some are short by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Of the 2,425 nonprofit hospitals that were evaluated, 80% spent less on financ…
Usefulness of AI in healthcare ‘mixed,’ says CBO
Answering a series of questions from lawmakers, the Congressional Budget Office addressed artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare, determining that the evidence on the usefulness of the technology is mixed, particularly when it comes…
CMS says inflation rebates for prescription drugs resulted in savings
Upwards of 41 drugs available through Medicare Part B will have a lowered Part B coinsurance rate from April 1 to June 30 if the drug company raises prices faster than the rate of inflation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Private payers deny 15% of claims, survey finds
Nearly 15% of all claims submitted to private payers for reimbursement are initially denied, including many that were pre-approved to move forward through the prior authorization process, according to a new national survey of hospitals, health systems …
Humana, DUOS partner on digital care for veterans
Insurer Humana and DUOS, a technology-enabled service provider, are kick-starting a collaborative digital program aimed at improving health outcomes for U.S. military veterans living in Louisiana with chronic conditions.
Healthcare workers to benefit from $6B student loan relief
The Biden administration this week said it would release an additional $5.8 billion in student loan debt relief, this time targeting roughly 78,000 public service workers, including those in the healthcare industry.
$39.4M earmarked for grants addressing SUD, mental health
Funding opportunities for grant programs addressing behavioral health are being made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to the tune of $39.4 mil…
Regulators reviewing UnitedHealth’s $3.7B Amedisys acquisition
Regulators in Oregon are investigating a pending deal that would see UnitedHealth Group’s Optum subsidiary acquire home health provider Amedisys for an estimated $3.7 billion, with the regulators saying in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing th…
Highmark Health revenue grows 5%, hits $27.1B in Q4
In a 5% year-over-year increase, Highmark Health reported $27.1 billion in revenue, an operating gain of $338 million, and a net income of $533 million in 2023.
The organization attributed the results to its insurance business units, notably Highmark H…
CDC releases guide to minimize healthcare worker burnout
As part of the first federal campaign to address healthcare worker burnout, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released an evidence-based guide for hospital leaders to impr…
