Category: Modern Healthcare

McKesson CEO Hammergren will retire in 2019

John Hammergren is retiring after more than 17 years at the helm of the drug distributor. The company’s current COO will take over as CEO, and the current lead independent director will take over as chairman.

October was another strong month for hospital hiring

Hospitals added 13,000 new jobs in October, 1,000 more than the prior month, when they made the most new hires of any healthcare sector. Meanwhile, ambulatory healthcare services regained the top spot, just inching out hospitals.

CMS slashes clinic visit payments, expands 340B cuts

In a sweeping outpatient pay rulemaking, the CMS will reduce Medicare pay for checkups in outpatient departments by 70% and expand a controversial 340B cut to additional sites of care.

CMS slashes clinic visit payments, expands 340B cuts

In a sweeping outpatient pay rulemaking, the CMS will reduce Medicare pay for checkups in outpatient departments by 70% and expand a controversial 340B cut to additional sites of care.

Healthcare and the midterms: We’ve got you covered

Healthcare is top of mind for many 2018 midterm voters. In addition to picking lawmakers who will shape federal policy, many states have Medicaid expansion, provider pay provisions and other measures on their ballots.

CMS overhauls Medicare billing standards, telehealth standards

The CMS is moving forward with plans to pay doctors for telehealth visits as it overhauls a set of Medicare billing standards that haven’t been changed in decades.

Cigna’s low medical costs, commercial customer growth bolster Q3 earnings

Low medical costs and commercial customer growth helped boost Cigna Corp.’s bottom line in the third quarter of 2018.

HHS drug pricing czar Dan Best dies

The former CVS Caremark executive was brought into HHS to lead the drive to lower drug prices.

HHS must wipe out Medicare backlog by 2022, judge orders

A federal judge ordered HHS to eliminate its Medicare appeals backlog by 2022, giving them nearly two more years to catch up. The judge refused to reduce hospitals’ interest rates on outstanding appealed claims.

Anonymous donation will wipe out $250 million in medical debt

Not-for-profit organization RIP Medical Debt will forgive $250 million worth of medical debt for U.S. individuals and families through the year’s end, thanks to a donation from an anonymous couple.