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RSV resulting in more pediatric hospitalizations than COVID-19, flu
The respiratory disease known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has led to more emergency hospitalizations than the flu and the Omicron variant of COVID-19, according to recent findings in JAMA.
Cybersecurity incident hits Missouri hospital
A trend from 2023 that appears determined to persist into the new year is cybersecurity risk, as a Missouri hospital’s computer systems were disrupted at the end of December, forcing the facility to take its computer systems offline.
Liberty Hospital b…
Those with COVID-19 hospitalizations see lower cognitive function
The year may be new, but the concerns about COVID-19 are old: A new study in JAMA shows that people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 perform worse on cognitive and neurological tests, suggesting impaired brain function.
Labor pressures begin to ease for nonprofit hospitals, finds Fitch
Nonprofit hospitals in the U.S. are seeing more relief on the job front as broader labor conditions become less volatile, according to Fitch Ratings in its latest labor tracker. Payrolls continue to grow while year-over-year wage growth has declined fr…
Molina amends terms for Bright Healthcare Medicare Advantage acquisition
Molina Healthcare has amended its purchase agreement for the acquisition of Bright HealthCare’s California Medicare Advantage business.
The purchase price for the transaction, net of certain tax benefits, is reduced from the previously announced $510 m…
Jefferson Health, Lehigh Valley Health Network set to merge
Jefferson and Lehigh Valley Health Network have signed a non-binding letter of intent to combine, creating an integrated care delivery system that includes a national research university, as well as an expanded nonprofit health plan.
The merger would c…
COVID-19, RSV, other viruses buckling workforce in Fresno County
With hospitals operating at between 20-40% capacity, officials in Fresno County, California are warning of severe working conditions and are urging the public to avoid checking into the emergency room for nonemergency issues.
Humana sued for allegedly using AI for Medicare Advantage denials
Humana has become the latest insurer to be sued over allegedly using artificial intelligence to deny care, with a class action lawsuit claiming the company’s nH Predict AI model was used to deny care to Medicare Advantage members.
The lawsuit accuses H…
Medicare beneficiaries lack access to opioid treatments
Medicare beneficiaries aren’t getting the treatments they need for opioid use disorder and many are dying due to fentanyl, with fewer than one in five enrollees receiving medication to treat their disorder, according to a new report from the Department…
JN.1 COVID-19 variant comprising 21% of new cases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring JN.1, currently the fastest-growing COVID-19 variant in the U.S., representing about 21% of new cases, according to the agency’s numbers.
