Category: Healthcare Finance News

Department of Justice sues Walmart alleging unlawful opioid dispensing

A Walmart entrance
Pharmacists are in the untenable position of being held liable for a doctor’s prescription, Walmart said in its own lawsuit.

Oscar lands $140M more as it prepares to scale in 2021

This raise follows a summer round of $225 million for the insurtech startup.

Amazon, CVS and Thermo Fisher Scientific unite to expand COVID-19 testing

The alliance plans to serve as a resource for public officials and businesses that want to launch or expand testing programs in their communities.

CMS finalizes rule to promote value-based drug purchasing agreements

Negotiations of drug prices are to be based on clinical outcomes; if the drug is not effective, the payer is not held accountable for the full price.

$900 billion COVID-19 relief package includes just $3 billion for providers

Ending surprise medical billing through arbitration will only increase healthcare costs, detractors say.

Close to 8 million doses of two COVID-19 vaccines are going out this week

The American Medical Association is urging Twitter, TikTok, Google and other social media giants to combat inaccuracies about the vaccine.

Hospital margins continue to fall amid rising expenses

Inpatient length of stay went up 8.7% year-over-year but ER visits fell 15.5% and operating room minutes declined 12.2%.

OCR issues guidance on disclosure of protected info using health information exchanges

  OCR Director Roger Severino (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights outlined several circumstances in which the disclosures of protected health information with public health authorities are permitted under HIPAA.

Moderna vaccine rolls out amid miscommunication over Pfizer doses and new virus strain

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide protection against new strain of coronavirus, former FDA commissioner says.

Selecting the right vendor is key to improving the patient financial experience, finds KLAS

Person gives plastic card to person in hospital wear at counter
Important factors include interactive voice response and email communication from the vendor denoting a patient’s responsibility.