October, 2024

article thumbnail

Widespread IV fluid shortages have providers starting to cancel procedures, survey finds

Fierce Healthcare

Intravenous fluid shortages appear to be affecting the majority of the nation’s healthcare providers, who as a result are already beginning to cancel procedures, survey data published Thursday show | Premier said 86% of its provider members are reporting shortages, and more than half have less than 10 days supply on hand. Respondents also said they were beginning or considering procedure cancellations, and have begun receiving solicitations from "unapproved, gray market suppliers.

article thumbnail

Microsoft unveils new healthcare AI tools

Health Care Dive

The products include a service that helps healthcare organizations build their own AI agents that could be used for appointment scheduling, clinical trial matching and patient triage.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Roundup: Health systems embracing AI imaging tools

Healthcare It News

Health systems that embrace artificial intelligence tools can not only improve radiology operations and quality but patient follow-up as well, which can result in greater staff efficiencies, higher patient completion rates and better access and outcomes for patients. A collaboration between East Alabama Medical Center, Inflo Health and the American College of Radiology Learning Network began using machine language models and advanced natural language processions to extract data from radiology re

article thumbnail

Direct to Patient Healthcare

Healthcare Success

Struggling with burnout while maintaining high-quality healthcare services that patients love? Tune in to our latest podcast as Lee Aase, founder of HELPCare, LLC, shares how he transitioned from his pioneering social media work at Mayo Clinic to lead an innovative membership-based direct-to-patient healthcare business. This podcast is a must-listen for healthcare leaders and primary care practitioners seeking innovative ways to enhance patient access, optimize care delivery, and address challen

article thumbnail

From Diagnosis to Delivery: How AI is Revolutionizing the Patient Experience

Speaker: Simran Kaur, Founder & CEO at Tattva Health Inc.

The healthcare landscape is being revolutionized by AI and cutting-edge digital technologies, reshaping how patients receive care and interact with providers. In this webinar led by Simran Kaur, we will explore how AI-driven solutions are enhancing patient communication, improving care quality, and empowering preventive and predictive medicine. You'll also learn how AI is streamlining healthcare processes, helping providers offer more efficient, personalized care and enabling faster, data-driven

article thumbnail

Code Red: Healthcare Cybersecurity in a Post-Chevron World

HIT Consultant

Ty Greenhalgh, Principal of Healthcare at Claroty In light of the recent Supreme Court decision overturning the Chevron deference, the regulatory landscape, especially concerning cybersecurity in healthcare, faces significant changes. The ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which reversed the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council precedent, alters how federal agencies can interpret and implement laws.

article thumbnail

Microsoft rolls out new healthcare AI tools in partnership with Epic, Paige.ai, major health systems

Fierce Healthcare

Microsoft recently unveiled several new artificial intelligence capabilities for healthcare organizations designed to help analyze diverse medical data, streamline nursing documentation and enable | Microsoft recently unveiled several new AI capabilities for healthcare organizations designed to help analyze diverse medical data, streamline nursing documentation and enable companies to build their own healthcare AI agents.

More Trending

article thumbnail

‘I’m another statistic. I feel let down’: How HIV prevention stays out of reach for many

Fierce Healthcare

This story was reported in partnership with Uncloseted Media, a nonpartisan, investigative, LGBTQ | Ending the HIV epidemic hinges on both treatment and prevention, particularly through access to PrEP. For at-risk individuals living in the U.S. South—where HIV is a daunting reality—PrEP use is very low compared to the number of new HIV cases.

article thumbnail

HLTH 2024 recap: 5 notable trends spotted by reporters and key takeaways from executives

Fierce Healthcare

Fierce Healthcare reporters returned from Las Vegas on Wednesday after four days packed with meetings, interviews and on-stage conversations all focused on healthcare innovation. | From AI (of course) to PBMs to women's health, here are some topics that got our attention at HLTH 2024.

article thumbnail

Survey: Employers fear rising health costs could force trade-offs with wages, salaries

Fierce Healthcare

Employers are concerned that rising healthcare costs could force them to rethink salary or wage increases, according to a new study. | Employers are concerned that rising healthcare costs could force them to rethink salary or wage increases, according to a new study.

article thumbnail

Senate report slams Medicare Advantage insurers for using predictive technology to deny claims

Health Care Dive

UnitedHealth, CVS and Humana used technology to increase MA prior authorization denials for post-acute services, boosting profits, according to a report from a Senate subcommittee.

Medicare 343
article thumbnail

How to Make The Best Benefits Decisions for 2025's Workforce: An HR and Total Rewards Guide

Speaker: Kaitlin Ruby Carroll

Retaining top talent in 2025 means rethinking benefits. In a competitive job market, fertility benefits are more than just offerings - they are a commitment to your team’s well-being. Gain critical insights into the latest fertility benefits strategies that can help position your organization as an industry leader. Our expert will explore the unique advantages and challenges of each model, share success stories from top organizations, and offer practical strategies to make benefits decisions tha

article thumbnail

Florida hospitals again evacuating patients ahead of second hurricane in 2 weeks

Fierce Healthcare

A rapidly intensifying Hurricane Milton has Florida and its healthcare providers gearing up for another severe weather event less than two weeks after similar preparations for Hurricane Helene. | Facing a second major storm within two weeks, some hospitals on Florida's Gulf Coast are again closing up shop and transferring patients across the state.

Hospitals 349
article thumbnail

Abridge, Wolters Kluwer Health ink partnership to integrate UpToDate with AI medical scribe

Fierce Healthcare

Wolters Kluwer Health, a big player in clinical decision support solutions, is teaming up with Abridge to integrate UpToDate into its AI-based medical note-taking tool. | Wolters Kluwer Health, a big player in clinical decision support solutions, is teaming up with Abridge to integrate UpToDate into its AI-based medical note-taking tool.

article thumbnail

US hospitals prep for supply chain constraints in wake of Baxter International plant closure

Fierce Healthcare

U.S. | U.S. hospitals are taking steps to conserve their supplies of intravenous (IV) fluids as one of the country's biggest manufacturers reduces shipments after Hurricane Helene flooded a major facility in North Carolina.

Hospitals 348
article thumbnail

CHAI floats draft framework to certify AI assurance labs as oversight efforts move forward

Fierce Healthcare

The Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) announced the completion of two draft documents on Friday that may have a big effect on the future of AI in healthcare. | After Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm announced that HHS will work with industry to develop a national network of quality assurance labs for AI, CHAI is releasing two draft documents that spell out how to certify those assurance labs and an AI "nutrition label" for healthcare decision-makers.

article thumbnail

Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

article thumbnail

PBM model is a ‘dead man walking.’ What comes next?

Health Care Dive

Executives from Amazon, Walgreens, Blue Shield of California and PhRMA weighed in on how to fix the much-scrutinized pharmacy benefit manager model during HLTH 2024.

339
339
article thumbnail

Blues plans agree to $2.8B settlement in provider class action suit

Fierce Healthcare

Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have agreed to a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve legal allegations from a slew of providers who claim the insurers colluded to prevent competition and lower reimburs | Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have agreed to a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve legal allegations from a slew of providers who claim the insurers colluded to prevent competition and lower reimbursements.

article thumbnail

UnitedHealth, CVS, Humana, increasingly deploy AI and deny post-acute care claims, Senate report finds

Fierce Healthcare

The country’s three largest Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers obstruct seniors’ ability to receive post-acute care, a scathing report from the U.S. | A report from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, found that the country's biggest Medicare Advantage insurers use artificial intelligence to control costs and deny prior auth claims.

Medicare 339
article thumbnail

Blue Cross Blue Shield to pay $2.8 billion to settle class action provider antitrust case

Health Care Dive

It's the largest antitrust settlement to date in the healthcare industry, according to law firm Whatley Kallas, which represented the plaintiffs.

Law Firms 339
article thumbnail

Best Practices to Streamline Compensation Management: A Foundation for Growth

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.

article thumbnail

DEA sends 3rd temporary extension of telemedicine prescribing rules to White House

Fierce Healthcare

The Drug Enforcement Administration is poised to extend pandemic-era telehealth prescribi | The third temporary extension is rumored to be for just one year, punting the deadline for the next administration to negotiate permanent rules to December 2025. Telemedicine companies, including those that prescribe Adderall, will be able to continue prescribing as they have since 2020.

article thumbnail

UnitedHealth, CVS push to remove FTC Chair Lina Khan from PBM case

Health Care Dive

Attorneys argue Khan and two other commissioners are biased against pharmacy benefit managers and should recuse themselves from an ongoing lawsuit against the middlemen.

340
340
article thumbnail

UnitedHealth Group, University of Minnesota partner to launch course on value-based care

Fierce Healthcare

Making true progress toward value-based care requires buy-in and understanding from physicians — and for them to be willing to find common ground with insurers for collaborating. | UnitedHealth Group partnered with the University of Minnesota's medical school to launch a four-week elective course that exposes fourth-year medical students to value-based care and has them working in person with Optum clinicians.

326
326
article thumbnail

Optum Rx rolling out new initiatives aimed at supporting independent pharmacists

Fierce Healthcare

Optum Rx is rolling out a slate of new programs that seek to support independent pharmacies in managing costs and more complex patient needs. | Optum Rx is rolling out a slate of new programs that seek to support independent pharmacies in managing costs and more complex patient needs.

326
326
article thumbnail

How to Battle Layoffs: The Career Star Accelerator Bootcamp

Facing layoffs in your organization? Support your team members' career transition with Career Star Accelerator Bootcamp: Custom Resume & LinkedIn Revamp + 6 Weeks of Career Coaching. Our certified resume writers will create job search-winning resumes and LinkedIn profiles while they work with a career coach to learn unique strategies to stand out, attract the right employers, automate their job search, and land their dream job.

article thumbnail

Walgreens lays off 250 support center employees as part of cost-saving strategy

Fierce Healthcare

Walgreens is conducting another round of layoffs as the drugstore giant looks to significantly cut costs and improve its financial performance. It's the third round of cuts in 2024. | Walgreens is conducting another round of layoffs as the drugstore giant looks to significantly cut costs and turnaround its financial performance.

326
326
article thumbnail

MSSP ACOs saves Medicare $2.1 billion in 2023, the largest savings in program history

Fierce Healthcare

Accountable care organizations saved Medicare $2.1 billion, the largest yearly savings in program history, in 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revealed on Tuesday. | Accountable care organizations (ACOs) saved Medicare $2.1 billion, the largest yearly savings in program history, in 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed Oct. 29.

Medicare 326
article thumbnail

UnitedHealth beats the Street with $6B in Q3 profit

Fierce Healthcare

UnitedHealth Group kicked off another round of earnings calls for major health insurance companies Tuesday morning, when it

332
332
article thumbnail

Medicare Advantage plans received billions from Medicare for home visits. The feds are skeptical

Fierce Healthcare

Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers, namely industry titans UnitedHealth Group and Humana, could be using health risk assessments and chart reviews to inflate payments from Medicare through upcoding, | A federal watchdog is questioning whether UnitedHealthcare, Humana and other Medicare Advantage payers are either creating diagnoses out of thin air to inflate payments from Medicare or are not providing adequate care to sick members.

Medicare 313
article thumbnail

5 Essentials for Healthcare CIOs: A Provider Data Management Checklist

Complete and accurate provider data is essential for health organizations to operate effectively. A better understanding of your provider network helps to understand patients and consumers, identify gaps in care, and make the best possible decisions for your businesses. A modern provider data management solution should power a complete and accurate view of each of your providers, make this data easily accessible across functional groups, and be flexible and agile enough to scale. with your needs

article thumbnail

AI could be a game changer, but healthcare needs to be ‘exceedingly careful’

Health Care Dive

Artificial intelligence tools could help solve workforce challenges. Implementation, however, can be difficult, pushing organizations to consider less risky administrative and back-office tasks first.

article thumbnail

Wyden, Brown urge FTC to investigate PBM 'co-manufacturing' arrangements

Fierce Healthcare

Two key senators are urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate "co-manufacturing" arrangements that they fear pharmacy benefit managers may be using to stymie competition. | Two key senators are urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate "co-manufacturing" arrangements that they fear pharmacy benefit managers may be using to stymie competition.

332
332
article thumbnail

Biden administration launches pilot to mitigate pediatric cancer drug shortages

Fierce Healthcare

As President Joe Biden prepares to leave office at the end of this year, he is taking final steps to push one of his signature domestic priorities to accelerate the fight against cancer. | As President Joe Biden prepares to leave office at the end of this year, he is taking final steps to push one of his signature domestic priorities to accelerate the fight against cancer.

319
319
article thumbnail

New analysis points to troubling trends as U.S. healthcare costs rise, but health outcomes worsen

Fierce Healthcare

A new analysis points to troubling trends in the U.S. healthcare market as costs continue to rise but health outcomes are declining. | "The inputs of the U.S. healthcare system, as measured by cost, exceed the outputs, as measured by the actual value or benefits received by Americans," Sanjula Jain, Ph.D., Trilliant Health's chief research officer, said.

article thumbnail

A Guide to Improved Sepsis Detection & Compliance: 6 Areas You Should Address

This guide highlights key areas that your sepsis detection platform should address to minimize the impact of this leading, entirely preventable cause of in-hospital deaths, as well as how to increase compliance by 20% in 30 days. Download to learn more!