Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL 55% of rural hospitals don’t offer obstetric care: Report Academic health systems are scooping up hospitals AHA says Medicare payments to long-term care hospitals are inadequate AHA Warns Hospitals of IT Help Desk Social Engineering Scheme Amazon Pharmacy connects with One Medical Biden administration reinforces reproductive health obligations for payers, providers Cash bonuses... READ MORE

NATIONAL 13 major health systems partner with high schools in $250M Bloomberg initiative Acute Hospital Care at Home data released AI can help identify social determinants of health American Hospital Association Sues Over Updated HIPAA Guidance Bill aims to push price transparency to ASCs Billing for patient messages to clinicians is increasing, study finds... READ MORE

NATIONAL 60% of health systems considering ASC joint ventures 9% of hospitals had ‘vulnerable’ cash on hand levels in 2022 $3.7B acquisition shakes up urology business AHA comments on proposed Medicare Advantage policies for 2025 Amazon expands healthcare reach with Omada partnership Analysis: 91% of hospitals posting machine-readable price transparency data Biden administration replaces... READ MORE

NATIONAL 12 healthcare trends and issues we are following for 2024 AHA comments on proposed rule to discourage health information blocking Physician acquitted of $15M Medicare fraud conviction Bright Health finalizes MA sale to Molina, amends credit facility Cigna, HCSC in talks for Medicare Advantage deal: WSJ ‘Every hospital that does pediatric care is... READ MORE

NATIONAL 4 largest healthcare data breaches of 2023 Anesthesia practices sue CMS over reimbursement method Antitrust enforcements hit a high in 2022, with health deals impacted ASCs face leadership exodus CMS floats appeals process over observational stays CMS proposes additional Medicare appeals processes FTC eyes healthcare mergers, report shows Hospital merger activity to increase... READ MORE

NATIONAL 5 of Amazon’s most disruptive moves in 2023 A Fifth of US Hospitals Have Been Warned Over Secretive Prices CMS announces Medicaid maternal health grants CMS asks health plans, PBMs to ease up on independent pharmacies CMS Model Aims to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, Access to Care CMS reopens No Surprises Act dispute... READ MORE

NATIONAL AHA pushes back on HHS proposal to penalize hospitals for cyberattacks AHA urges Congress to oppose H.R. 5378 unless site-neutral cuts eliminated Bipartisan Congressional Caucus Addresses Payments to Rural Hospitals Cigna ends Humana merger talks, plans $10B stock buyback: WSJ Cigna still exploring Medicare Advantage sale: Report CMS: May take 3 years to... READ MORE

NATIONAL 8.5M Records Impacted By Welltok Data Breach Stemming From MOVEit Hack 60% of employed physicians required to sign noncompetes 6.9 Million 23andMe Users Affected by Data Breach American Hospital Association debuts national patient safety initiative AHA voices ‘deep concern’ in restricting provider-based Medicaid funds AHA-supported bill would prohibit HHS from finalizing long-term care... READ MORE

NATIONAL 340B drug discount program yields mixed evidence on how hospitals use funds 3 in 5 Patients Accessed Health Records Online or Via Apps in 2022 Acute hospital care at home gets good grades from CMS research AHA-supported bill would ban health plan fees for electronic fund transfers AHA-supported bill would extend Medicare programs... READ MORE

NATIONAL 2024 outlook: Health IT investment, M&A and AI AMA ‘disappointed’ after Congress leaves physician pay fix out of bill to avert shutdown American Hospital Association: Medicare Advantage denials jump 56% CMS awards second batch of new Medicare-funded residency slots to hospitals CMS issues proposed notice of benefit and payment parameters for 2025 CMS... READ MORE