Author's posts
Aetna to cut coverage for audio-only and asynchronous text-based telehealth visits
Aetna is modifying its commercial policy to no longer cover certain telemedicine services starting on December 1, the company said by statement.
This is for audio-only and asynchronous text-based visits that were expanded under the public health emerge…
DEA extends remote prescribing of controlled substances
The Drug Enforcement Administration has extended flexibilities for remote prescribing of controlled substances through the end of 2024.
Final telemedicine regulations are expected to be issued by the fall of 2024, the DEA said.
Brigham and Women’s, Samsung explore connection between digital wearables and wellness
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a founding member of Mass General Brigham and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is partnering with Samsung Medical Center in South Korea to research how digital wearables affect wellness.
Minnesota AG uses new law to review two proposed health system mergers
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is using a new state law to review two proposed hospital mergers to determine whether they are in the public’s interest.
One involves the 25-hospital system that would be created by the merger of Essentia Health…
Sutter Health expands into central California through integration of Sansum Clinic
Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California is now part of Sutter Health.
The partnership of Sansum Clinic and its six care facilities into the Sutter Clinic system of 24 hospitals and over 200 clinics took effect on Monday. Sansum’s full integration wi…
Drug companies agree to participate in Medicare negotiations
All 10 drug companies whose drugs were selected for price negotiation with Medicare for the first cycle of the program have decided to participate in those negotiations, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The drug companies …
Court denies injunction to prevent Medicare drug negotiations
A federal judge on Friday denied an attempt by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to stop the October 1 deadline for pharmaceutical companies to begin drug price negotiations in Medicare.
Hospitals face a rocky recovery to financial health, AHA says
The American Hospital Association has released a blog on research it said confirms what hospitals and health systems have been saying: That 2022 was among the most financially challenging years the hospital field has experienced and that recovery remai…
HIMSSCast: Collecting out of pocket expenses a challenge for hospitals
PayMedix CEO Tom Policelli knows the challenges faced by hospitals in collecting payments from patients after the procedure or service has been performed. This is not from uninsured patients, but from consumers who have employer coverage, but who may s…
LCMC Health’s purchase of three HCA hospitals upheld by court
A federal judge has ruled in favor of Louisiana Children’s Medical Center’s purchase of three HCA hospitals.
