Health Care Quality Digest

ACOs led by independent physicians save Medicare ‘substantially’ more money, CBO says

Health Care Dive

APRIL 17, 2024

Independent practices have clearer financial incentives to lower medical spending than hospitals participating in accountable care organizations, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Accountable Care

Accountable Care Medicare Accountability Hospitals

Envision Healthcare names permanent CEO

Health Care Dive

APRIL 17, 2024

Jason Owen took on the leadership role this week, months after the physician staffing firm emerged from bankruptcy restructuring.

Healthcare

Over 20% of healthcare bankruptcies last year were linked to private equity: report

Health Care Dive

APRIL 17, 2024

Another wave of private equity-backed bankruptcies is expected this year, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project.

Healthcare

Lawmakers raise healthcare consolidation concerns after Change cyberattack

Health Care Dive

APRIL 16, 2024

Legislators also slammed UnitedHealth Group, which acquired Change Healthcare nearly two years ago, for not sending a representative to the House subcommittee hearing.

Healthcare

Steward bankruptcy likely as massive debt remains, with few options left

Health Care Dive

APRIL 16, 2024

Steward Health Care’s forbearance period ends in less than 15 days. Analysts say this time, creditors are unlikely to extend the embattled company another lifeline.

Steward to sell physician group to UnitedHealth’s Optum Care

Health Care Dive

MARCH 27, 2024

The proposed deal could face regulatory scrutiny, Massachusetts officials say.

Medicare’s GLP-1 spending is skyrocketing, even without weight loss coverage: KFF

Health Care Dive

MARCH 27, 2024

Gross Medicare spending on the pricey drugs rose from $57 million in 2018 to $5.7 billion in 2022, according to a new analysis from the health policy group.

Medicare

Healthcare companies expand perks to recruit talent: report

Health Care Dive

MARCH 27, 2024

The increase stands in contrast to other industries, which have cut back on extra offerings year over year.

Healthcare

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receive fewer home health visits, study finds

Health Care Dive

MARCH 5, 2024

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were also less likely to improve self-care and mobility function, according to research published in JAMA Health Forum.

Medicare

Trinity Health cuts operating losses by 85% in first half of 2024

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Revenue from acquisitions and outpatient services helped the Catholic health system trim losses.

R1 RCM receives takeover offer from New Mountain

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

The private equity firm’s offer represents a 24% premium to R1’s closing price on Friday, but could be undervaluing the company, analysts said.

False claims settlements in healthcare reached $1.8B in fiscal year 2023

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

According to the Department of Justice, enforcement in Medicare Advantage is of “critical importance” as the number of beneficiaries in the privatized insurance program swells.

Medicare

Medicare Healthcare

4 steps for successful implementation of AI-powered technology in healthcare

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Learn about four things to consider for successful implementation of ACI within a health system.

Healthcare

How SDoH data impact telehealth access and how payers can use it to improve outcomes

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Removing barriers to care and improving care access through analyzing social determinants of health (SDoH) data is a key strategy.

CMS finalizes rule to cut Medicaid DSH payments for some hospitals

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Under the new definition, hospitals can only receive disproportionate share hospital Medicaid reimbursements for beneficiaries who are primarily insured by the safety-net program.

Medicaid

Medicaid Hospitals

Medicare Advantage plans provide less intensive post-acute care, study finds

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

The research found no differences in 30-day hospital readmissions or mortality, but the study’s authors said more analysis on patients’ long-term functioning was needed.

Medicare

Medicare Hospitals

Teladoc still looking for tech investments, M&A amid operational review

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

The telehealth vendor is trimming expenses, but it could pursue deals with strategically or financially attractive companies.

House subcommittee grills VA, Oracle over pharmacy issues amid EHR rollout

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Rollout of the new electronic health record has been rocky, with system reliability and safety concerns plaguing the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Telehealth services during pandemic largely compliant with Medicare, OIG finds

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

The latest audit from HHS’ Office of Inspector General comes as some Medicare flexibilities for telehealth are set to expire at the end of this year.

Medicare

5 dynamics shaping healthcare’s digital evolution

Health Care Dive

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

New research surfaces what’s driving healthcare organizations' digital strategies and investments.

Healthcare

CVS names Tom Cowhey permanent CFO

Health Care Dive

JANUARY 5, 2024

CVS on Friday solidified what had been a temporary role for Cowhey, while sharing it expects enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans to exceed previous targets for 2024.

Medicare

‘Healthy pullback’: GSR Ventures’ Sunny Kumar on normalizing digital health funding, accelerating M&A in 2024

Health Care Dive

JANUARY 5, 2024

In part one of a three-part Q&A series, Sunny Kumar discusses digital healthcare investment, the landscape for M&A and when the public markets could open back up.

Healthcare

Ohio hospital, vendor hit with class action suit after data breach

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The suit alleges Salem Community Hospital and Perry Johnson & Associates waited months before informing affected individuals. The breach may have exposed the data of nearly nine million people across the country.

Hospitals

Antitrust enforcements hit a high in 2022, with health deals impacted

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The 2022 report comes after regulators finalized merger guidelines this week that could have a chilling effect on healthcare M&A.

Regulations

Regulations Healthcare

Predictions on 2024 healthcare M&A trends: What leaders need to know

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 22, 2023

A shift in funding sources, new regulatory policies in Medicare and technology advances may influence M&A in the sector next year, according to Samantha Prokop from law firm Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.

Law Firms

Law Firms Medicare Healthcare

Elevance, BCBSLA resurrect $2.5B merger

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Two months after the insurers shelved their plan to merge after public outcry in Louisiana, Elevance and BCBSLA are bringing a new plan to the table they think will assuage regulatory concerns.

Securing IoMT solutions for Telemedicine

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Connected devices are making real-time patient monitoring and advanced care possible; but as with every new technology, cybercriminals lurk waiting to take advantage of vulnerabilities.

Telemedicine

Digital Synergy: How televisions can power employee communication in healthcare

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Discover how the utilization of UPshow SHIFT, in collaboration with Google ChromeOS, leverages TVs to enhance employee communications and engagement.

Healthcare

CMS says states could lose funding over Medicaid redeterminations issues

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 5, 2023

The interim final rule, which is set to go into effect Wednesday, comes as nearly 11.8 million people have been removed from the safety-net insurance.

Medicaid

Nonprofits’ 2024 outlook still ‘deteriorating,’ Fitch says

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Next year will be another “make or break” year for the nonprofit sector, with success determined by hospitals' labor agenda.

Hospitals

BrainChild Bio spins out of Seattle Children’s to develop cancer drugs

Health Care Dive

DECEMBER 5, 2023

The company plans to develop CAR-T cell therapies to treat pediatric brain tumors.

Highmark Health’s insurance business boosts earnings

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

The insurance arm pushed the healthcare parent company to positive results during the first nine months of 2023 after its provider arm, Allegheny Health, reported an operating loss.

Healthcare

Lawmakers stress data privacy in health AI oversight

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Legislators expressed concern over patient data not protected under federal privacy law and said that Congress should take steps to regulate artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Regulations

Regulations Healthcare

Providence, struggling to rebound, posts more losses in Q3

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

The Washington-based nonprofit battled rising expenses despite having targeted recovery plans in place.

AstraZeneca creates digital health unit, with big-name partnerships already in place

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Called Evinova, the unit will operate as a separate business within AstraZeneca, which sees digital health solutions as a market primed for growth.

Mass General Brigham sued after hundreds potentially exposed to HIV, hepatitis

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Salem Hospital is offering free testing to about 450 patients who may have been exposed. However, a lawsuit filed Thursday says the hospital acted negligently.

Hospitals

FTC sues to block John Muir Health’s acquisition of Tenet hospital

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Regulators allege the $142.5 million deal to buy the remaining stake in San Ramon Regional Medical Center would further reduce competition and drive up prices.

Hospitals

Hospitals Regulations

For-profit hospital operators strained by physician fees, payer relations in Q3

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

With the exception of HCA, the biggest U.S. health systems all reported lower year-over-year profits in the third quarter.

Hospitals

Nonprofit hospitals upgraded to ‘stable’ outlook: Moody’s

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

The credit ratings agency expects nonprofit hospitals to start financially recovering next year on improving patient volumes, reimbursement rates and cash flows.

Hospitals

Senate subcommittee mulls guardrails for healthcare AI

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

The technology could reduce clinicians’ administrative work or speed drug discovery, but the rapidly evolving field may need more human oversight to prevent harm, lawmakers and witnesses said.

Healthcare

Healthcare Prevention

Medicare Advantage seniors have better health outcomes, study finds

Health Care Dive

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

New research from Harvard and Inovalon found MA beneficiaries had fewer hospital readmissions, fewer preventable hospitalizations and lower rates of high-risk medication use than those in traditional Medicare.

Medicare

Medicare Prevention Hospitals

GE HealthCare’s imaging AI will become ‘increasingly meaningful’ to growth: Moody’s

Health Care Dive

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Even if modestly accretive, AI could support longer-term revenue targets at GE HealthCare and its competitors, Moody’s analysts wrote.

Healthcare

Insurer prices vary widely by U.S. region, study finds

Health Care Dive

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Humana charged higher rates for the same services in the Upper Midwest and Southeast compared to the Central U.S. and Florida, according to new research published in JAMA.

Biden administration overhauls surprise billing resolution process amid controversy

Health Care Dive

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Regulators proposed a rule on Friday meant to make payment dispute resolutions more fair and efficient following more than a year of industry complaints.

Regulations

Health Care Dive

ACOs led by independent physicians save Medicare ‘substantially’ more money, CBO says

Envision Healthcare names permanent CEO

Trending Sources

Over 20% of healthcare bankruptcies last year were linked to private equity: report

Lawmakers raise healthcare consolidation concerns after Change cyberattack

Steward bankruptcy likely as massive debt remains, with few options left

Steward to sell physician group to UnitedHealth’s Optum Care

Medicare’s GLP-1 spending is skyrocketing, even without weight loss coverage: KFF

Healthcare companies expand perks to recruit talent: report

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receive fewer home health visits, study finds

Trinity Health cuts operating losses by 85% in first half of 2024

R1 RCM receives takeover offer from New Mountain

False claims settlements in healthcare reached $1.8B in fiscal year 2023

4 steps for successful implementation of AI-powered technology in healthcare

How SDoH data impact telehealth access and how payers can use it to improve outcomes

CMS finalizes rule to cut Medicaid DSH payments for some hospitals

Medicare Advantage plans provide less intensive post-acute care, study finds

Teladoc still looking for tech investments, M&A amid operational review

House subcommittee grills VA, Oracle over pharmacy issues amid EHR rollout

Telehealth services during pandemic largely compliant with Medicare, OIG finds

5 dynamics shaping healthcare’s digital evolution

CVS names Tom Cowhey permanent CFO

‘Healthy pullback’: GSR Ventures’ Sunny Kumar on normalizing digital health funding, accelerating M&A in 2024

Ohio hospital, vendor hit with class action suit after data breach

Antitrust enforcements hit a high in 2022, with health deals impacted

Predictions on 2024 healthcare M&A trends: What leaders need to know

Elevance, BCBSLA resurrect $2.5B merger

Securing IoMT solutions for Telemedicine

Digital Synergy: How televisions can power employee communication in healthcare

CMS says states could lose funding over Medicaid redeterminations issues

Nonprofits’ 2024 outlook still ‘deteriorating,’ Fitch says

BrainChild Bio spins out of Seattle Children’s to develop cancer drugs

Highmark Health’s insurance business boosts earnings

Lawmakers stress data privacy in health AI oversight

Providence, struggling to rebound, posts more losses in Q3

AstraZeneca creates digital health unit, with big-name partnerships already in place

Mass General Brigham sued after hundreds potentially exposed to HIV, hepatitis

FTC sues to block John Muir Health’s acquisition of Tenet hospital

For-profit hospital operators strained by physician fees, payer relations in Q3

Nonprofit hospitals upgraded to ‘stable’ outlook: Moody’s

Senate subcommittee mulls guardrails for healthcare AI

Medicare Advantage seniors have better health outcomes, study finds

GE HealthCare’s imaging AI will become ‘increasingly meaningful’ to growth: Moody’s

Insurer prices vary widely by U.S. region, study finds

Biden administration overhauls surprise billing resolution process amid controversy

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