The U.S. healthcare system is responsible for an estimated 10% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and they account for roughly 98,000 deaths annually, according to new findings from the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee.
Category: Healthcare Finance News
UnitedHealth and Change win court case to merge
UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare have won their case to merge.
Federal Judge Carl Nichols on Monday denied the Department of Justice’s request to block the $13 billion merger, with the DOJ saying it is evaluating its next steps.
HHS targeting mental health pay parity in new roadmap
As efforts to address mental healthcare access and pay parity are bogged down in Congress, the Biden Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services have established a roadmap for increasing access to behavioral health services, in addit…
CMS attempting to curb dubious telehealth claims
While the vast majority of providers billing for telehealth services do so in a way that poses no significant risk to Medicare, a small percentage of telehealth claims are problematic – and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking to c…
Providence announces $712 million expansion in southern California
Providence is investing $712 million in southern Orange County in California to build two new multi-specialty medical centers and a new patient care tower at Providence Mission Hospital.
Evernorth expands digital health formulary to address substance use, anxiety
Evernorth, the health services business of Cigna, has expanded its Digital Health Formulary to include five new app-based programs designed to help people better manage their sleep issues, anxiety, alcohol and opioid use disorders, and inflammatory con…
Amazon, Walmart join providers in pushing Senate to extend telehealth policies
Major healthcare disruptors Amazon and Walmart have joined a chorus of hospitals, provider groups and telehealth organizations in pressing the U.S. Senate to extend telehealth flexibilities, such as removing in-person requirements for virtual behaviora…
Private equity investments in healthcare are increasing, AHIP says
AHIP has released a brief on private equity investments in healthcare, saying the need of these firms to achieve high returns, including through the use of provider consolidation, directly conflicts with the goal of lowering costs.
Half of hospitals will show negative margins in 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to financially challenge hospitals and health systems – not just in the continued number of hospitalizations, but in added expenses for labor and supplies.
“COVID-19 continues,” Rick Pollack, AHA president and CEO, said …
Blue Cross NC’s value-based program saved $130 million in 2021
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Blue Premier program, which emphasizes value-based healthcare, has saved members about $130 million in health costs in 2021, and almost $500 million total since the program first launched three years ago, …
