What makes innovating in health tech so tricky?
At every state of development, the unique complexities of the healthcare industry stall progress. Innovators can start by partnering with existing entities that already have […]
hospitals
ONC: Rural, critical access, independent hospitals trail behind in providing health data via apps
The number of hospitals providing patients electronic access to their health information via apps has increased exponentially over the past decade. But small, rural, critical […]
Report: Which US markets are ripe for ‘payvider’ models?
“Payvider” models — that is, collaborative arrangements between payers and providers — are growing in popularity. But not all markets are created equal with regard […]
How Covid-19 extended the care team
One key change – in our Covid world – that has not received the same level of attention but that is, in many ways, just […]
UPMC spins out AI-driven analytics company focused on chronic disease patients
Realyze Intelligence, incubated at and funded by UPMC Enterprises, provides a platform that uses EMR data to identify chronic disease patients and help clinicians link […]
Increasing plant-based offerings at hospitals can improve community health outcomes
Hospitals have a responsibility to continually improve quality of care, and offering nourishing, plant-based meals and medical food options are critical for enhancing patient outcomes, […]
100+ workers sue Houston Methodist over mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy
The lawsuit alleges that the policy is akin to forcing employees to participate in a medical experiment as none of the vaccines available have received […]
Bassett Healthcare Network outsources IT, RCM operations to Optum
The New York-based rural health system has entered into a collaboration to outsource its IT and revenue cycle management operations to Optum. Further, about 500 […]
AdventHealth, Sema4 partner to launch precision medicine program
The collaboration will build on AdventHealth’s existing genomics and personalized health program, leveraging data to predict disease progression and response to treatments. Sema4’s Centrellis data […]
Register for INVEST Precision Medicine virtual conference June 9-11 where life science and health tech meet
The conference will include conversations with healthcare industry experts from The Steve & Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Vineti, Ori Biotech, […]
HCA, Google partnership to focus on data analytics
The health system and technology giant are teaming up to create a data analytics platform and tools that support workflow management. Google Cloud will gain […]
Geisinger rolls out platform for virtual monitoring of chronic disease patients
Developed by Noteworth, the ConnectedCare365 application will enable Geisinger clinicians to virtually monitor patient vital signs and intervene when needed. The platform will be used […]
‘Better Than the Hospital’: Pandemic Boosts Care for Serious Illnesses at Home
Late last year, Janet Yetenekian was one of the thousands of people in Southern California whose case of covid-19 was serious enough to send her […]
A new report ranking urban hospitals based on racial inclusivity finds ‘de facto segregation’
A new analysis from the Lown Institute identified the most and least racially inclusive hospitals in America, but hospitals at the bottom of the list […]
Pandemic Leads Doctors to Rethink Unnecessary Treatment
Covid-19 is opening the door for researchers to address a problem that has vexed the medical community for decades: the overtreatment and unnecessary treatment of […]
CMS’ Next Generation ACO Model to end this year
In a move that ACOs found “disappointing,” CMS has declined to extend the Next Generation ACO Model beyond 2021. Though evaluations have found that the […]
Is Your Living Room the Future of Hospital Care?
Major hospital systems are betting big money that the future of hospital care looks a lot like the inside of patients’ homes. This story also […]
How advanced hospital communication and collaboration tech is the solution to chronic nurse burnout
The healthcare ecosystem cannot exist without nurses, so it is time to invest in the enhanced technologies available to hospitals to alleviate burnout among healthcare’s […]
Pakistan’s Private Vaccinations Draw Criticism
An inoculation push, plagued with limited supplies and red tape, makes doses available to those who can pay for them. In a country with a […]
Pakistan’s Private Vaccinations Draw Criticism
An inoculation push, plagued with limited supplies and red tape, makes doses available to those who can pay for them. In a country with a […]
Pakistan’s Private Vaccinations Draw Criticism
An inoculation push, plagued with limited supplies and red tape, makes doses available to those who can pay for them. In a country with a […]
ChristianaCare added a primary care practice to its cancer center. Here’s why.
When ChristianaCare’s Graham Cancer Center saw that a significant number of its patients did not have a primary care provider, they decided to take action. […]
Where 5 CIOs see IT innovation heading as pandemic winds down
The Covid-19 pandemic has upended the healthcare industry in a myriad of ways — including the focus of IT innovation. Healthcare CIOs are seeing IT […]
Limitations of CMS’s Hospital Star Ratings System
Is your hospital high quality? Well, this depends on what quality means. Does it have low readmission rates? Low rates of mortality? Do they follow […]
NYC Health + Hospitals drops use of two race-based clinical assessments
The nation’s largest public health system will stop using clinical assessments for kidney function and vaginal delivery after C-sections that use race-based calculations for determining […]
Improving the patient experience without undermining care navigation [Sponsored]
Since the start of the pandemic, patients have more options as to how they access healthcare than ever before. A new report from Bright.MD shares […]
Providers, payers & startups are all looking for key pieces to solve the maternal care puzzle
America’s abysmal record on maternal care outcomes and equity has spurred the rise of startups as well as innovative strategies from providers and payers, each […]
Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic invest $100M in hospital-at-home company
The health systems are sinking a combined $100 million into Medically Home Group, which enables clinicians to provide hospital-level care in patients’ homes. The funds […]
How a national nursing license could improve patient care during a crisis
While the Covid-19 pandemic is diminished with the introduction of vaccines, the need for a national license model is still prevalent as we face other […]
32 hospitals in non-Medicaid expansion states sue HHS over payments for low-income patients
The hospitals are pushing HHS to recognize patients eligible for Medicaid under the ACA as “low-income” when calculating Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments in states […]
Mayo Clinic strikes remote patient monitoring partnership with NXgenPort
Mayo Clinic is ramping up activity in the remote patient monitoring arena. Its latest move is a collaboration with biomedical technology company NXgenPort, which will […]
Hospitals caught in crossfire of battle between Rhode Island AG, PE-owned operator
Amid a heated battle over an ownership change, Prospect Medical Holdings has threatened to close two of its hospitals in Rhode Island in response to […]
The Making of Reluctant Activists: A Police Shooting in a Hospital Forces One Family to Rethink American Justice
The beer bottle that cracked over Christian Pean’s head unleashed rivulets of blood that ran down his face and seeped into the soil in which […]
A day in the life of a pre-tagged medication: Identifying risk within the medication use cycle
With options like medication purchasing technology and diversion detection platforms, a well-equipped health system is better prepared to help patients and prevent stress and burnout […]
Study: PE firms acquire hospitals with high operating margins, boosting them further
Hospitals acquired by PE firms tend to have higher operating margins than those that are not acquired — and that gap widens over time, a […]
Covid Testing Has Turned Into a Financial Windfall for Hospitals and Other Providers
Pamela Valfer needed multiple covid tests after repeatedly visiting the hospital last fall to see her mother, who was being treated for cancer. Beds there […]
Survey: 42% of Americans may not go back to in-person care this year
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 vaccine rollout, a significant percentage of Americans say they are planning to delay care in 2021 or are unsure about in-person […]
New Analysis Summarizes Recent Research on the Effects of ACA Medicaid Expansion, Providing Context for Renewed Expansion Debates in States
New federal financial incentives for Medicaid expansion and the increased reliance on Medicaid as a coverage safety net during the pandemic have renewed debate in […]
Building on the Evidence Base: Studies on the Effects of Medicaid Expansion, February 2020 to March 2021
This report summarizes evidence from nearly 200 studies on the effects of Medicaid expansion published between February 2020 and March 2021. These studies generally find […]
Telemedicine Is a Tool — Not a Replacement for Your Doctor’s Touch
Earlier in the pandemic it was vital to see doctors over platforms like Zoom or FaceTime when in-person appointments posed risks of coronavirus exposure. Insurers […]
Global EMR purchasing remained robust during pandemic, with Epic in the lead
Epic led EMR purchasing globally in 2020, a year that saw strong activity in the arena despite the pandemic. But certain regions did experience a […]
KFF’s Kaiser Health News and Gray Television Partner to Examine the Drive Times and Roadblocks for Stroke Victims in Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta
KHN and Gray Television’s InvestigateTV team joined forces to dig into the underlying reasons why strokes are a deadlier threat across most counties in Appalachia […]
4 ways data can inform hospital physician liaisons
Here are four examples of how data can help hospital liaisons to successfully engage healthcare providers and hospitals to broaden the patient communities they serve.
Covid ‘Doesn’t Discriminate by Age’: Serious Cases on the Rise in Younger Adults
After spending much of the past year tending to elderly patients, doctors are seeing a clear demographic shift: young and middle-aged adults make up a […]
Scripps Health IT applications pushed offline following cyberattack
The San Diego-based health system experienced a cyberattack on Saturday, following which it suspended user access to several IT applications, including its patient portal. Though […]
Covid-19 and chronic disease: A spotlight and a stoplight
Covid-19 has demonstrated the grave need for us to invest in chronic disease prevention and support by building stronger, deeper relationships with patients and families, […]
Report: Despite some progress, hospital finances remain on shaky ground
Hospital operating margins increased from January to March, but are still narrow, leaving hospitals in a financially vulnerable state, a new report from Kaufman Hall […]
Journalists Track Biden’s First 100 Days
Chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner discussed Biden’s first 100 days on WAMU/NPR’s “1A” on Wednesday. She also joined Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Central Time” to talk […]
CHIME CEO: Digital acceleration fueling cybersecurity concerns
Healthcare is in the midst of a digital revolution, unlike anything the industry has experienced before. But, according to CHIME CEO Russell Branzell, the growing […]
CMS’ price transparency rule offers providers, payers a win, too
Patients are not the only ones who will benefit from the price transparency rule — providers and payers can also gain competitive advantages as a […]
What a Difference a Year Makes in Colorado’s Case for a Public Option Plan
DENVER — Before the pandemic, Colorado looked set to become the second state to pass what’s known as a “public option” health insurance plan, which […]
CMS proposes putting $2.5B into hospitals’ coffers, eliminating part of price transparency rule
CMS has released its proposed inpatient payment rule for fiscal year 2022, which includes a payment bump that could increase reimbursement for hospitals by $2.5 […]
INVEST Video Conference: Tackling burnout and mental health for frontline workers
Our expert panel weighs in on health systems addressing behavioral issues and supporting the mental health of doctors, nurses and others.
Automated telehealth tools are helping hospitals transform virtual care [Sponsored]
Bright.MD’s approach to virtual care seeks to make patient encounters more productive, improve patient satisfaction and help providers deliver care more efficiently. Presbyterian Healthcare Services […]
Pandemic Imperiled Non-English Speakers More Than Others
In March 2020, just weeks into the covid-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this […]
INVEST Conference Video: How health systems and payers are seeking to remove systemic racism
Learn how health systems and health plans are addressing care gaps with minorities and what strategies are being utilized to close those gaps.
Kaiser Permanente to shell out nearly $19M to settle discrimination lawsuits
The California-based health system agreed to settle two lawsuits alleging unfair practices that resulted in Black and Hispanic workers being paid less and receiving fewer […]
From Hospital Profits to Gender Gaps, Journalists Are on the Case
KHN freelancer Christine Spolar discussed how during the pandemic the nation’s richest hospitals and health systems profited after accepting the lion’s share of the federal […]
To help tackle healthcare worker burnout, start talking about it
Healthcare staff are working through immense loss, grief and uncertainty to provide care during the Covid-19 pandemic. As organizations think about how to support their […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Picking Up the Pace of Undoing Trump Policies
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. The Biden administration is speeding up the pace of efforts to undo Trump administration health […]
ChristianaCare, Highmark launch data, tech-driven joint venture
The provider and payer are launching a new company that will focus on advancing value-based care. The for-profit joint venture aims to leverage the organizations’ […]
In scramble to respond to Covid-19, hospitals turned to models with high risk of bias
Of 26 health systems surveyed by MedCity News, nearly half used automated tools to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, but none of them were regulated. […]
Stanford Health Care seeks up to $1.9M from Anthem in new suit
The California-based provider has filed a lawsuit against the payer, claiming Anthem has yet to pay for the care it provided to patients covered by […]
NorthShore, Sema4 set up genomics program to advance personalized treatment
The Illinois-based health system is teaming up with the analytics company to launch a genomics program, which will focus on predicting the risk of illness […]
UVA Health Will Wipe Out Tens of Thousands of Lawsuits Against Patients
University of Virginia Health System, which for years has sued thousands of patients annually for unpaid bills, said Monday it will cancel a massive backlog […]
Providers, payers are ready to listen, root out racism and regain the trust of minorities. Here’s how.
Racism has always existed in healthcare, but the Covid-19 pandemic laid bare how entrenched the problem still is. In response, providers and payers have vowed […]
A Surgical Emergency Exposes the Crisis of the Young and Uninsured
A Surgical Emergency Exposes the Crisis of the Young and Uninsured When a patient looked anxious before emergency surgery, it turned out he was worried […]
Infusing call centers with strong human connections
The volume of calls to hospital call centers has led to an industrialized approach thereby sacrificing the human touch and personal connection between doctors and […]
Compliance with HIPAA may offer some clues on how providers will fare with new info blocking rules
Despite a 20-year head start, providers still fall short of HIPAA requirements around fulfilling patient requests for their medical records. In light of the federal […]
Steward Health v Aya Healthcare: 4 things to know
The Texas-based health system first sued the staffing firm for “price gouging” amid the Covid-19 pandemic, as wages for nurses shot up from $75 to […]
5 ways tech has modernized healthcare practices and the patient experience
These innovations have not only made medical check-ups safer, but they’ve also helped modernize and improve the patient journey. These technologies automated many archaic administrative […]
LifePoint Health, Eon strike partnership to advance early diagnoses
Together, the Tennessee-based health system and health technology company will develop solutions to help clinicians detect diseases faster. The new agreement builds on an existing […]
4 strategies for healthcare providers to make virtual care practical for seniors
As telehealth becomes mainstream, seniors will be forced to adapt – but we as healthcare providers have a duty to make this process as seamless […]
Cleveland Clinic researchers measure pandemic’s effect on Medicare population
Research conducted by the Cleveland Clinic and Massachusetts-based startup Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) measured the difference in mortality during the pandemic between people covered […]
How are healthcare organizations shifting to digital documents? [Sponsored]
In order to gain insight into how organizations are thinking about digitizing medical documents and the strategy behind those decisions, we’re conducting a brief survey […]
Mayo Clinic launches two joint ventures to build, commercialize diagnostic AI tools
Mayo Clinic struck joint ventures with two startups to develop and commercialize AI diagnostic tools. It’s part of a broader plan by Mayo Clinic to […]
A Year Into Pandemic, Federal Officials Design New Mask Guidelines to Better Protect More Workers
Federal officials announced new measures to help get fresh, new N95 masks to health care workers and expand their use in other industries after scientists […]
Analysis: Will hospital price transparency rule actually allow patients to shop for care?
Though the price transparency rule aims to make it easier for healthcare consumers to compare prices, there is a lack of standardization in how hospitals […]
Cohere Health gains $36M to expand digital prior authorization platform
Cohere Health raised $36 million in a Series B funding round less than two years after its inception. It will use the new funds to […]
Orange County Hospital Seeks Divorce From Large Catholic Health System
In early 2013, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Orange County, California, joined with St. Joseph Health, a local Catholic hospital chain, amid enthusiastic promises that […]
Covid Spawns ‘Completely New Category’ of Organ Transplants
In a year when covid-19 shattered the pleas of so many who prayed for miracles, a Georgia man with two new lungs is among the […]
Report: Fewer health system M&A deals in Q1 2021 offset by larger transactions
Though the number of merger and acquisition deals in the first quarter of 2021 fell below historical averages, the size of the deals was far […]
How CMS final rule will impact E/M coding and documentation requirements
Historically, providers had to meet certain criteria and address three key areas in the patient’s progress notes: patient history, physical exam and medical decision making. […]
Readers and Tweeters Give Tips on Treating Diabetes and Long Covid
Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names. Glucose […]
Enforcement landscape for HHS data-sharing rules is hazy, experts say
The HHS’ new interoperability and information blocking rules have been in effect for one week, yet how they will be enforced is unclear. But there […]
500,000+ Trinity Health patients affected in widespread Accellion data breach
Several healthcare entities that used Accellion’s file transfer software now find themselves the victims of a data breach, including Trinity Health. The software had vulnerabilities […]
Analysis: Hospital Price Transparency Data Lacks Standardization, Limiting Its Use to Insurers, Employers, and Consumers
In spite of a new price transparency rule that requires hospitals to publish the prices of common health services, comparing prices across hospitals remains challenging […]
Early Results from Federal Price Transparency Rule Show Difficultly in Estimating the Cost of Care
A new issue brief examines compliance with a new federal price transparency rule and variation in payer-negotiated rates at U.S. hospitals. The analysis looks at […]
Poll: About half of healthcare workers feel burned out, anxious when going to work
Though a majority of healthcare workers believe that the pandemic is at least somewhat under control now, about half still feel anxious or burned out […]
Measuring Hospital Quality
Quality of care is difficult to measure. Even if you had a perfect measure of quality in terms of health outcomes, risk adjustment is imperfect. […]
The key IT decisions that helped providers survive April 2020
As Covid-19 cases started escalating last April, providers in hotspot states, like New York, California and Washington, had to quickly pivot their IT plans. These […]
A preview of the INVEST Precision Medicine conference June 9-11
The conference highlights the intersections of technology and life sciences through the prism of precision medicine. The topics at the conference span pediatric innovation in […]
Despite tax breaks, nonprofit hospitals spend less on charity care than for-profits
Nonprofit hospitals get substantial tax subsidies with the expectation that they will provide higher levels of charity care to needy patients. But these hospitals spend […]
AstraZeneca lands first big partner for digital health platform
The drugmaker struck a collaboration agreement with Mass General to use its platform for heart failure and asthma management. The health system plans to launch […]
How AdventHealth is using AI to fight Covid vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine hesitancy is still a challenge to providers’ immunization plans. Florida-based AdventHealth is bringing the might of AI technology — specifically machine learning and natural […]
41 Oregon providers, payers commit to value-based payment initiative
A group of healthcare stakeholders in Oregon signed a compact that aims to spread advanced value-based payment models across the state. Though it is not […]
KHN and Guardian US Win Batten Medal for “Lost on the Frontline”
The News Leaders Association (NLA) awarded KFF’s Kaiser Health News (KHN) and Guardian US the 2021 Batten Medal for Coverage of the Coronavirus Pandemic for […]
Despite Covid, Many Wealthy Hospitals Had a Banner Year With Federal Bailout
Last May, Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest nonprofit hospital system in Texas, laid off 1,200 employees and furloughed others as it braced for […]
Families With Sick Kids on Medicaid Seek Easier Access to Out-of-State Hospitals
Three-year-old Elizabeth Zakutansky was born with a rare genetic condition that causes multiple seizures. Her neurologist, a top expert on treating her condition, practices at […]
How providers are tackling a crisis within a crisis — the opioid epidemic
As the pandemic rages on, the other major public health crisis in recent history has not ebbed. The opioid epidemic is worsening, but providers have […]
The shift to value-based care has accelerated in the wake of the pandemic
The pandemic has upended virtually every industry, and although many of the impacts are undeniably devastating, negative events can also offer opportunities for positive change, […]
Telehealth aside, providers look to invest IT dollars in cloud services, data analytics
Though telehealth will continue to account for a large portion of healthcare IT budgets in 2021, there are other technology-based services driving provider interest. These […]
Being “complaint proof” on information blocking won’t be easy for providers, vendors
The HHS’ information blocking rule goes into effect Monday, and for nearly a year, providers and IT vendors have been racing to prepare. But they […]
Cleveland Clinic, IBM launch 10-year tech-enabled research partnership
The healthcare provider and technology giant have entered into a 10-year partnership that will leverage AI, cloud and quantum computing capabilities to accelerate research. The […]
Lawsuit: Cerner systems’ failure drove Astria Health into bankruptcy
The Washington-based health system has filed a lawsuit against EHR giant Cerner saying it intentionally misrepresented its products and services. Cerner’s systems did not operate […]
Advocate Aurora’s new investment arm to focus on aging, parenthood, wellbeing
Advocate Aurora Health has launched a subsidiary focused on making investments in companies that enhance health and wellbeing. The subsidiary has already made its first […]
Her Doctor’s Office Moved One Floor Up. Her Bill Was 10 Times Higher.
Kyunghee Lee’s right hand hurts all the time. She spent decades running a family dry cleaning store outside Cleveland after emigrating from South Korea 40 […]
Eric Trump-linked hospital COO reportedly resigns after vaccine controversy
A top executive at Chicago-based Loretto Hospital has resigned after controversy surrounding vaccination events held at businesses with close ties to him. Mayor Lori Lightfoot […]
The Great Undoing: Which of Trump’s Policies Will Biden Reverse?
KHN has put together an interactive tool of significant health policies implemented by the Trump administration using its own authority — executive orders, agency guidance […]
OIG: Pandemic forced hospitals into ‘survival mode’
A new report from the HHS’ Office of Inspector General lays bare the varied challenges hospitals faced in the past year — and continue to […]
The “biggest thorn in President Trump’s side” is now HHS Secretary. What’s next?
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra may have won a narrow confirmation to be the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, but if his past […]
Nosing In on Kids Who Had Covid and Lost Their Sense of Smell
Orange. Eucalyptus. Lavender. Peppermint. Doctors at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Seattle Children’s Hospital will use scents like these to treat children who lost their sense […]
Effort underway to help hospitals by suspending Medicare sequestration
Medicare sequestration is making headlines this week, as legislation to pause the 2% payment cuts moves through Congress. Here is a recap of what the […]
Providence’s newest digital health spinout snags $20M
A new digital health company — spun out from Providence’s Digital Innovation Group — has raised $20 million in its first funding round. The company […]
Under New Cost-Cutting Medicare Rule, Same Surgery, Same Place, Different Bill
A cost-saving change in Medicare launched in the final days of the Trump administration will cut payments to hospitals for some surgical procedures while potentially […]
Hospitals to DOJ: UnitedHealth’s purchase of Change Healthcare will curtail competition
The American Hospital Association is urging the Justice Department to thoroughly review UnitedHealth’s intended acquisition of Change Healthcare. The transaction would reduce competition in the […]
Rural hospitals contend with an expensive shift to digital amid shrinking margins
The Covid-19 pandemic has decimated hospital finances, and as a result, rural providers are forced to make key IT spending decisions with limited dollars. Here […]
Healthcare leaders: disorganization, disparities characterized health crisis
Reflecting on lessons learned from the pandemic, healthcare leaders pointed to the lack of coordination and glaring health disparities that hampered the U.S. pandemic response. […]
How Hospital Sisters Health System is using tech to advance patient safety goals
In an interview with MedCity News, Hospital Sisters Health System’s Director of Quality Bill Cox discussed the types of technology the 15-hospital system is using […]
Covid-19 long-hauler clinics offer a ‘medical home’ for patients on uncharted journey
There is a growing demand for centralized care for Covid-19 long-haulers — that is, patients who had Covid-19 and recovered but continue to experience symptoms. […]
Clarify Health to use $115M in new funds to scale business
The healthcare analytics company will use the funds, raised in a Series C financing round, to scale its cloud-based platform that offers providers, payers and […]
There’s a hospital staff wellness crisis. It’s on executives to fix it.
Healthcare providers pushed to the brink after a year of the Covid-19 pandemic are tired, burned out, and even suffering the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress […]
Avoid legal pitfalls in developing innovative physician-hospital payment structures
While Covid-19 requires physicians and hospitals to be more efficient than ever, a number of legal structures must be considered before providers consolidate their resources. […]
Analysis: Most hospitals not complying with price transparency rule
The federal price transparency rule for hospitals went into effect Jan. 1, but a new analysis shows that a majority of providers studied were “unambiguously […]
Report: Budget constraints hamper data strategy for providers, payers
For providers and payers, a limited budget is the biggest hurdle to executing their data strategy, followed by disparate data sources and the quality of […]
Fred Figa, Who Helped Expose a Drug’s Dangers, Is Dead at 65
He was the first hospital official to question the use of an unregulated vitamin injection linked to the deaths of 38 infants. He died of […]
Fred Figa, Who Helped Expose a Drug’s Dangers, Is Dead at 65
He was the first hospital official to question the use of an unregulated vitamin injection linked to the deaths of 38 infants. He died of […]
Fred Figa, Who Helped Expose a Drug’s Dangers, Is Dead at 65
He was the first hospital official to question the use of an unregulated vitamin injection linked to the deaths of 38 infants. He died of […]
Judge gives preliminary approval to Sutter’s $575M antitrust settlement
Sutter would pay $575 million, and would have to limit out-of-network costs and cease “all-or-nothing” contracting with health plans, according to the settlement.
How Microsoft can transform healthcare delivery [Sponsored]
Microsoft’s latest eBook offers a look at how technology can help organizations meet patients’ changing expectations and provide personalized care.
Getting the 340B program back on track in 2021
As our nation continues to fight a global pandemic, the need for access to affordable and quality health care feels even more pressing. This is […]
When it comes to healthcare cybersecurity, the best defense is also the most simple
The rise in cybercrime is a significant concern among healthcare stakeholders. But defending against these types of attacks is not as complicated as it is […]
UAB Health System CIO: Remote work a boon, and burden, for IT teams
In a wide-ranging interview, UAB Health System CIO Joan Hicks shared some of the projects on her list for the year ahead, and how remote […]
Providers, tech companies to advocate for expanding clinical care at home
A group of healthcare stakeholders — Amazon Care, Intermountain Healthcare and Ascension, to name a few — has created an alliance to advocate for home-based […]
Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Young Covid ‘Long Haulers’
This story also ran on USA Today. It can be republished for free. A slumber party to celebrate Delaney DePue’s 15th birthday last summer marked […]
Highmark strikes deal with Verily as part of broader Google partnership
Verily become part of a six-year collaboration between Google Cloud and Highmark Health. A big part of the partnership will be Verily’s platform for managing […]
Payers are erecting higher hurdles to care: How can hospitals clear them?
Prior authorization is a massive and growing problem for patients and providers, and regulation is not likely to solve it completely or anytime soon.
Einstein Healthcare Network, Jefferson Health to merge after FTC drops challenge
The Federal Trade Commission is no longer opposing the proposed merger between Einstein Healthcare Network and Jefferson Health. Nearly three years after it was first […]
Providers look to predictive modeling to help rebuild finances in 2021
After a challenging 2020, health systems are looking to deploy strategies for recovery, especially to bolster financial health. One strategy health executives are considering is […]
Mercy, Humana partner to expand access to virtual, value-based care
The health system and payer are joining forces to offer Medicare Advantage patients access to Mercy’s telehealth center. They also plan to implement a value-based […]
College Tuition Sparked a Mental Health Crisis. Then the Hefty Hospital Bill Arrived.
Despite a lifelong struggle with panic attacks, Divya Singh made a brave move across the world last fall from her home in Mumbai, India. She […]
Hospitals could lose $53B this year — and that’s in the best-case scenario
A new report from Kaufman Hall examines two potential financial situations for hospitals in 2021 — one optimistic, and the other bleak. Hospitals could lose […]
How UCSF created a data platform that leverages 150+ social determinants variables
UCSF’s interactive data platform allows users to drill down into 150 social determinants of health variables. This data, layered with EHR data, can give researchers […]
HHS Prep Act amendment could fail the nurses it aims to support
The HHS amendment is meant to vaccinate Americans as quickly as possible. This could be an incredible turning point in offering additional support for our […]
How Banner Health streamlined digital experience for patients across 29 hospitals
Alexandra Morehouse, chief marketing officer at Banner Health, spoke to MedCity News about how the 29-hospital system made changes to patients’ digital experience amid the […]
Confronting disparities in access to healthcare for underserved populations in 2021
Particularly at the point of care, we have the means and resources to directly inform, educate and offer service to those who have been marginalized […]
Stamford Health wants to vaccinate 3,000 people a day. Here’s how
Stamford Health has partnered with city and state officials and community organizations to execute its Covid-19 vaccine administration plans. The health system has ambitious plans […]
HHS issues HIPAA, CMS regulatory waivers to Texas hospitals
As Texas reels from a devasting winter storm, HHS is issuing several waivers to help hospitals continue to provide care amid mounting challenges. These waivers […]
Vivor CEO highlights patient financial assistance platform for hospitals and health systems
Vivor CEO and Co-founder Ian Manners talks about the origins of the financial assistance startup and their mission to eliminate out-of-pocket costs as a barrier […]
Mayo Clinic, Google eyeing ‘AI factory’ as collaboration moves forward
The health system and tech giant are more than a year into their 10-year collaboration. As their partnership evolves, the organizations are looking to create […]
How hospitals can protect staff amid the ongoing Covid-19 Crisis
Cases are down and vaccine distributions have begun in full swing across the nation, but there is still a worry about future surges with new […]
MedCity INVEST Ask the Investor spotlight: Austin Duke of UnityPoint Health Ventures
The MedCity INVEST conference, April 19-23, will include a new session called Ask the Investor. The goal is to provide a forum for healthcare startups […]
Medicare Cuts Payment to 774 Hospitals Over Patient Complications
Use Our Content It can be republished for free. The federal government has penalized 774 hospitals for having the highest rates of patient infections or […]
Montana’s Health Policy MVP Takes Her Playbook on the Road
Use Our Content It can be republished for free. Marilyn Bartlett might be the closest thing health policy has to a folk hero. A certified […]
Humacyte sets out to bring regenerative medicine to Wall Street, then the world
Humacyte is going public via a SPAC merger that infuses it with $255 million for its regenerative medicine pipeline. The biotech’s technology produces universally implantable […]
Report: Healthcare data breaches spiked 55% in 2020
There were nearly 600 healthcare data breaches in 2020, a 55% jump from 2019, a new report shows. Not only did the number of data […]
Addressing the missing link in value-based care: Timely, contextualized data in the workflow [Sponsored]
In an interview, Holon Solutions CEO Jon Zimmerman shared some insights on his 40-year career and how his experience aided the development of Holon’s approach […]
Rural Hospital Remains Entrenched in Covid ‘War’ Even Amid Vaccine Rollout
Editor’s note: KHN wrote about St. James Parish Hospital in April, when it was experiencing its first surge of covid-19 patients. Ten months later, we […]
Report: 40% of chronically ill Americans delayed care during pandemic
As of September 2020, about a third of Americans said they delayed or avoided medical care due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new […]
Leveraging RPM to remove barriers and ensure veterans receive the care they need
Of all populations, our veterans need—and deserve—the best quality care available. Virtual care technology and remote monitoring devices are easy to implement, cost-effective solutions that […]
Report: Fewer, but sicker, patients came to the ED during the pandemic
A recent report from the Epic Health Research Network shows that amid a steep drop in emergency department visits during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was […]
14 major health systems launch data insights company
In an unusual move, 14 major providers — including Trinity Health, CommonSpirit Health and Tenet — have come together to launch a data analytics company. […]
Behind the scenes of Beaumont’s Covid-19 vaccination scheduling breach
Beaumont Health’s CIO Hans Keil spoke with MedCity News about the incident where an unknown user publicly shared a link to access its Covid-19 vaccination […]
An expanding role for healthcare CIOs [Sponsored]
The Chief Information Officer of LifeBridge Health talks about how CIOs are redefining digital access for consumers and why it’s important that CIOs have a […]
Mercy, Anthem ink agreement to enhance care, drive down costs
The Missouri-based health system and payer have entered into a new cooperative care agreement that aims to reduce costs while improving both outcomes and patient […]
Paging Dr. Burnout: How to alleviate physician administrative burden and still reach value-based care goals
Engaging and listening to physician leadership early and often can make the VBC transition smoother and less complex over time for both providers and payers.
La pandemia genera abuso de alcohol, y récord de hospitalizaciones por enfermedad hepática
La pandemia ha hecho recaer a miles de alcohólicos en recuperación, y los hospitales del país informan de un aumento espectacular de ingresos relacionados con […]
Pandemic-Fueled Alcohol Abuse Creates Wave of Hospitalizations for Liver Disease
This story also ran on Los Angeles Times. It can be republished for free. As the pandemic sends thousands of recovering alcoholics into relapse, hospitals […]
What providers need to know about OIG’s plans to audit telehealth services
The Office of the Inspector General will audit Medicare Part B telehealth services to detect potential vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. To prepare, […]
Handoff fumbles: Why healthcare needs a universal workflow
We need health systems to improve teamwork and communication by implementing clear processes that are supported by user-friendly platforms.
Data breaches at UPMC, Nebraska Medicine affect 250,000+ individuals
Providers are the most common targets for cyber criminals attacking the healthcare industry, and now, two major health systems have added their names to the […]
10 patient communication tips for hospitals in the age of Covid-19 [Sponsored]
A new playbook from WELL™ Health offers hospitals a roadmap during this public health crisis for providing efficient and timely patient communication including appointments, virtual […]
How can hospitals weather the financial storms of 2021?
Patient volumes were uneven in 2020, and a new report shows volumes will likely remain below pre-pandemic levels in 2021. This indicates challenges for hospitals […]
UPMC Enterprises’ latest spinout uses natural language processing to enhance care quality
Astrata, a spinout of UPMC’s innovation arm, has developed natural language processing tools that can help providers and payers adhere to quality measures. This can, […]
Tenet ordered to pay $10M+ to fired physicians, restore medical privileges
Two cardiologists claimed they were fired from Tenet’s Detroit Medical Center for raising concerns about patient care, though the medical center says they were let […]
Surprise Medical Bills: New Protections for Consumers Take Effect in 2022
This summarizes key provisions of the No Surprises Act, enacted in December 2020 to address the problem of unexpected medical bills, and issues that could […]
Kaiser Permanente joins forces with Accenture, Microsoft to improve cloud capabilities
The California-based healthcare organization will work with Accenture and Microsoft to grow and strengthen its cloud capabilities. The enhancements are expected to help Kaiser provide […]
MultiCare physician exec: The good news is we have tech on our side to manage hospital capacity
Amid unrelenting surges of Covid-19 cases, healthcare organizations like MultiCare Health System had to reconfigure their operations to manage capacity. In an interview, Dr. Michael […]
Beaumont shuts down Covid-19 vaccination scheduling for nearly 24 hours after breach
An unknown user publicly shared a link to access Beaumont’s Epic-enabled vaccination scheduling services, which resulted in 2,700 people making unauthorized appointments for a Covid-19 […]
How a Bounty of Vaccines Flooded a Small Hospital and Its Nearby College
This story also ran on Daily Beast. It can be republished for free. When administrators at Hillsdale College, a conservative liberal-arts school in Michigan, heard […]
How Mount Sinai is using tech to support cancer patients amid the pandemic
The New York City-based health system implemented Current Health’s remote patient monitoring solution to enhance its cancer care services. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, cancer care […]
If This Self-Sufficient Hospital Cannot Stand Alone, Can Any Public Hospital Survive?
In America’s health care system, dominated by hospital chain leviathans, New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, is an anomaly. It is a […]
Mass General Hospital Doc on MedCity Pivot podcast: In some cases, virtual care is better than in-person care
Dr. Ami Bhatt, a cardiologist at Mass General Hospital, says there are situations in which virtual care alone may work better than in-person care, but […]
The provider’s IT playbook for efficient, equitable Covid-19 vaccine distribution
The vaccine distribution process has begun and providers are figuring out how to make sure the doses are administered quickly, equitably and in a coordinated […]
EHR vendors, health systems frequently engage in information blocking, study shows
According to a national survey of health information exchanges, EHR vendors and health systems commonly engage in information blocking. Insights from the survey can help […]
AMA Innovations, Onyx to develop tool linking providers, social services
The solution will connect providers with social services organizations, enabling the secure exchange of messages, referrals and personal health information. The FHIR-based technology can help […]
California’s Top Hospital Lobbyist Cements Influence in Covid Crisis
SACRAMENTO — As intensive care units filled and coronavirus cases surged over the holidays, Carmela Coyle invoked a World War II-era quote attributed to British […]
Mount Sinai CIO: Resilient teams key to Covid-19 pandemic response
In a wide-ranging interview, Mount Sinai Health System CIO Kristin Myers shared key lessons learned in 2020, plans for the year ahead and what she […]
Aneesh Chopra: It’s the people problem that remains at the core of cyberattacks
Cybersecurity will continue to be a major issue for providers in the year ahead. According to CareJourney President Aneesh Chopra, the most common factors putting […]
MD Anderson doesn’t have to pay $4.3M HIPAA penalty, court rules
An appellate court lifted a $4.3 million HIPAA fine imposed on the Texas-based cancer care center two years ago for losing the personal health information […]
Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, Cerner join coalition to provide digital access to Covid-19 vaccine records
A group of organizations have come together to work on a solution that will provide digital access to Covid-19 vaccination records. As the country eyes […]
YouTube teams up with providers, healthcare groups to combat health misinformation
The video-sharing giant is partnering with providers and groups, like Mayo Clinic and the American Public Health Association, to create evidence-based health content. YouTube has […]
Epic v Cerner v Meditech v Allscripts: Who is winning Canada’s EHR Battle?
Meditech continues to hold the largest EMR market share in Canada, but it is losing customers — mostly to Epic, which has seen a rapid […]
Analysis Examines the Implications of Price Transparency for Providers and Patients as New Rules Go into Effect
A new KFF analysis examines how new federal rules on price transparency for health services may affect patient decision-making and market pricing. As of January […]
Price Transparency and Price Variation in U.S. Health Services
A new Peterson-KFF analysis examines the potential impact of new federal price transparency rules on patient decision-making and market pricing for health services. The brief […]
Feeling Left Out: Private Practice Doctors, Patients Wonder When It’s Their Turn for Vaccine
Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than […]
Hospitals’ Rocky Rollout of Covid Vaccine Sparks Questions of Fairness
Use Our Content It can be republished for free. Last week, after finishing inoculations of some front-line hospital staff, Jupiter Medical Center was left with […]
Andy Slavitt at JPM: Biden unlikely to pick ‘divisive’ fights on healthcare
In a wide-ranging discussion at J.P. Morgan’s Annual Healthcare Conference, former CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt talked about the future of the ACA, telehealth and Medicare […]
Kaiser Permanente to analyze CDC’s Covid-19 vaccine data, identify bad reactions
The CDC has engaged the California-based health system’s Vaccine Study Center to conduct an analysis of its Covid-19 vaccine data with the aim of pinpointing […]
Health Workers Unions See Surge in Interest Amid Covid
This story also ran on NPR. It can be republished for free. The nurses at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, declared on March 6 […]
An Urban Hospital on the Brink Vs. the Officials Sworn to Save It
Illinois and Chicago officials are trying to figure out how to stop a private company from closing a money-losing urban hospital in a poor, underserved […]
Northwell offers Whole Foods employees access to primary care services through new partnership
A subsidiary of Northwell Health is partnering with Whole Foods Market to offer its New York-based employees access to seven primary care locations. The supermarket […]
One Ambulance Ride Leads to Another When Packed Hospitals Cannot Handle Non-Covid Patients
This story also ran on U.S. News & World Report. It can be republished for free. Keely Connolly thought she would be safe once the […]
Some much-needed help: HHS doles out $22B for testing, vaccines
States will get some much needed support to roll out a coronavirus vaccine. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services shared it would […]
Amid ongoing PPE crisis, doctor-led efforts focus on needs of smaller healthcare entities
The lack of access to personal protective equipment is an ongoing issue in the U.S., particularly among smaller, non-hospital facilities. But doctor-led PPE collection and […]
Report: Vast majority of data breaches reported to HHS occur among providers
A new report, from cybersecurity firm Fortified Health Security, shows that nearly 200 more data breaches occurred in the first 10 months of 2020 compared […]
How UCLA Health incorporated telehealth into its triage protocol
In response to the spike in demand for virtual care services amid the Covid-19 pandemic, UCLA Health developed telehealth-specific triage protocols to ensure their patients […]
In Los Angeles and Beyond, Oxygen Is the Latest Covid Bottleneck
As Los Angeles hospitals give record numbers of covid patients oxygen, the systems and equipment needed to deliver the life-sustaining gas are faltering. It’s gotten […]
Push for better patient outcomes drives new standard of care [Sponsored]
In this webinar on Feb. 10,healthcare experts from Desert Oasis Healthcare and iRhythm Technologies will discuss how Zio monitors, designed to be worn for longer duration than […]
States threaten to crackdown on providers amid Covid-19 vaccine distribution
In an effort to ensure the efficient and orderly distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine, governors from New York, California and Florida are warning that they […]
Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Wave of Mental Illness
Use Our Content It can be republished for free. Krissy Williams, 15, had attempted suicide before, but never with pills. The teen was diagnosed with […]
Hospital Prices Just Got a Lot More Transparent. What Does This Mean for You?
Hospitals face the new year with new requirements to post price information they have long sought to obscure: the actual prices negotiated with insurers and […]
46 hospitals file suit to reverse HHS bad debt policy
A group of hospitals have sued HHS Secretary Alex Azar, arguing he should reverse a policy that prevents hospitals from getting reimbursed for Medicare-related bad […]
Behind the scenes: How health systems, EHR vendors will give patients unprecedented access to their data
Health systems and EHR vendors have been working for months to comply with the ONC’s final rule on interoperability and information blocking that goes into […]
Children’s Hospitals Are Partly to Blame as Superbugs Increasingly Attack Kids
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A memory haunts Christina Fuhrman: the image of her toddler Pearl lying pale and listless in a hospital bed, tethered to an […]
‘Last Responders’ Brace for Surge in Covid Deaths Across US
Funeral director Kevin Spitzer has been overwhelmed with covid-related deaths in the small city of Aberdeen, South Dakota. He and his two colleagues at the […]
Report: Covid-19 hospitalizations spiked amid falling operating margins in November
The financial futures of U.S. hospitals remain shaky, as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations surge with alarming speed nationwide. Though vaccines are being distributed, the coming […]
Hospitals lose appeal to block CMS’ price transparency rule
A federal appeals court has ruled against hospital groups in their legal challenge to the CMS regulation that would require hospitals to make pricing information […]
Opening up real-time access to data via APIs could help streamline Covid-19 vaccination programs
An API-first approach supports low-code solutions, and that is of immense value to healthcare facilities right now.
How Cerner plans to bolster rural hospitals’ telehealth efforts amid the pandemic and beyond
In a wide-ranging interview with MedCity News, Cerner CommunityWorks President Mitchell Clark discussed the healthcare challenges facing rural communities amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the […]
Healthcare’s next act: More connections, stronger relationships
Covid-19 made an already challenging healthcare system even harder to navigate. If we want the industry to come back stronger than before, then we must […]
5 trends that could improve healthcare in 2021
AR tools will see a massive boost in 2021 after a year in which its star grew. Here are some more trends that are poised […]
NHS doctors ‘scrabbling’ to get vaccine amid alarm at Covid variant
Many medics ‘frustrated’ about low priority given to frontline staff at high risk of infection Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Frontline […]
How 2020 has shaped the future of healthcare
Covid-19 provided everyone with a rare example of why it is so vital to communicate end-of-life wishes in a clear and easily accessible way.
Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
Antibody treatments have shown promise, but tens of thousands of doses are sitting unused in hospital refrigerators.
Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
Antibody treatments have shown promise, but tens of thousands of doses are sitting unused in hospital refrigerators.
Provider groups, hospitals file motion to stop CMS from enforcing price transparency rule
The American Hospital Association and several other entities, including some hospitals, filed an emergency motion to block CMS from enforcing the hospital price transparency rule […]
Covid Antibody Drugs Go Unused as Need Soars
While such treatments are promising, their use has been slowed by testing lags, overwhelmed hospitals and a perception the therapies are only for well-connected people.
Why Covid Antibody Drugs Go Unused as Need Soars
While such treatments are promising, their use has been slowed by testing lags, overwhelmed hospitals and a perception the therapies are only for well-connected people.
Why Covid Antibody Drugs Go Unused as Need Soars
While such treatments are promising, their use has been slowed by testing lags, overwhelmed hospitals and a perception the therapies are only for well-connected people.
Pandemic drives down hospital referrals to skilled nursing facilities
The pandemic has slowed referrals to skilled nursing facilities as Covid-19 concerns result in longer transfers. An analysis by CarePort Health found that referrals to […]
As the Terror of COVID Struck, Health Care Workers Struggled to Survive. Thousands Lost the Fight.
This story also ran on The Guardian. It can be republished for free. Workers at Garfield Medical Center in suburban Los Angeles were on edge […]
UPMC launches EMS training program for low-income individuals
The initiative, called Freedom House 2.0, will provide emergency medical services training to people from economically disadvantaged communities. It aims to address social determinants of […]
Catching up on care post Covid-19 requires ‘digital compassion’
In addition to human empathy, we are also seeing a new “digital compassion” emerging as healthcare providers work to support patients in need during this […]
Inside the First Chaotic Days of the Effort to Vaccinate America
One tray of COVID-19 vaccine from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer contains 975 doses — way too many for a rural hospital in Arkansas. But with the […]
Hospital CEO pay
How much are hospital CEOs getting paid? A paper by Mulligan et al. (2020) provides the answer: Between 2010 and 2015, mean hospital CEO compensation […]
New stimulus bill to axe surprise billing practices
Congress finally reached an agreement on a $900 billion stimulus package, which includes a ban on surprise medical billing. A previous, but very similar version […]
‘Nine Months Into It, the Adrenaline Is Gone and It’s Just Exhausting’
USE OUR CONTENT It can be republished for free. In March, during the first week of the San Francisco Bay Area’s first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order, KHN […]
Financial strain, new modes of care delivery to drive provider consolidation through 2030
As a result of rapid consolidation, the 10 biggest health systems controlled 24% of market share based on patient revenue by 2018. The trend is […]
2020: The Phenomena and personalities in the year that was
Here is our attempt to capture this bewildering and memorable year by highlighting the phenomena and personalities who made it so.
Oregon Health & Science University, GE set up state’s first virtual ICU program
The academic medical center collaborated with GE Healthcare to set up the first virtual intensive care unit program in the state, which will help the […]
No more ICU beds at the main public hospital in the nation’s largest county
Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, a 600-bed public hospital on L.A.’s Eastside, has no more ICU beds available as the Covid-19 tears through Southern California.
No More ICU Beds at the Main Public Hospital in the Nation’s Largest County as COVID Surges
USE OUR CONTENT It can be republished for free. She lay behind a glass barrier, heavily sedated, kept alive by a machine that blew oxygen […]
Intermountain, UnitedHealthcare create ACO for Medicare Advantage members
The health system and payer will coordinate care for eligible Medicare Advantage patients through the ACO, with the aim of improving health outcomes and reducing […]
F.D.A. Panel Endorses Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine
An advisory group’s recommendation will mean millions more Americans can be inoculated, extending protection against Covid beyond big urban areas into rural and suburban regions.
Correcting the record: Biopharmaceutical companies remain committed to the 340B program and helping patients
The New York Times recently ran a story that paints an inaccurate picture of the 340B program, contract pharmacy participation in the program and the […]
Highmark strikes six-year contract with Google Cloud
The insurer, which also owns Allegheny Health Network, struck a six-year strategic partnership with Google Cloud, which includes building out a new platform to help […]
Why healthcare orgs are joining an effort to create 1M jobs for Black Americans
The newly created organization, dubbed OneTen, aims to create 1 million jobs for Black people over the next decade. Its founders include some big names […]
Hospitals sue drug companies over discount program
The lawsuit follows action by at least a half-dozen drug companies to rein in what they see as waste and abuse in the program, overseen […]
Readers and Tweeters Defend Front-Line Nurses and Blind Us With Science
Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names. […]
