Clinical outcomes for undocumented immigrants receiving emergent dialysis show higher death rate, greater length of stay and poorer quality of life.

Many healthcare workers are now 9 months past the first round of vaccines, says AHA CEO and president.

The insurer expects the move will expand access to care to include members of its Medicare Advantage HMO plans.

The U.S.

The long-term care sector is in the midst of a worsening labor shortage, but it’s not the only part of healthcare struggling.   

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has awarded $15 million in planning grants to 20 states to support expanding community-based mobile crisis intervention services for Medicaid beneficiaries. The goal is to connect people who are experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder […]

A new report examining Medicare Advantage plans released by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General found that some MA plans are leveraging chart reviews and health risk assessments to drive up to $9.2 billion in payments.

A second dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine provides 94% protection against moderate to severe infection in the U.S.  

HRSA has given a 60-day grace period to come into compliance but still strongly encourages providers to meet the deadline.

Mergers enable access to financial resources, clinical expertise and new technology plus increased market power.

Reconciliation bill's addition of vision, hearing and dental to original Medicare should not come at the cost of MA plans, BMA says.

Hospitals are treating sicker patients and spending more for labor, supplies and equipment as people continue to put off care.

The building will provide space for core instruction and laboratories to extend advances in medicine and healthcare.

Prime's New Jersey hospitals will continue to honor the rates and services in the agreements until the end of the cooling off period.

Land and building owner Medical Properties Trust will lease the hospitals to HCA Healthcare.

COVID-19 cases among children are becoming more common, heightening the need for vaccines, CEO says.

CDC said the funding will help personnel prevent infections more effectively, support rapid response and enhance laboratory capacity.

Vote does not go far enough in addressing boosters for healthcare workers, some committee members say.

In an effort to expand health coverage and access, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is extending regular open enrollment by 30 days, which will now run from November 1 to January 15, 2022, giving consumers more time to review and choose health plans. The former enrollment period was […]

The vaccination program will kick off in New Jersey.   

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has blocked four Medicare Advantage plans from enrolling new members in 2022 because they didn't spend the minimum threshold on medical benefits, with three UnitedHealthcare plans and one Anthem plan failing to hit the required 85% mark three years in […]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that it will not take enforcement action against certain payers for the payer-to-payer data exchange provision of the May 2020 Interoperability and Patient Access final rule until future rulemaking is finalized. The agency's decision to […]

Pending approvals, the merger will form a 33-hospital system that employs 58,000 caregivers and provides insurance to roughly one million people.   

Certain safety net hospitals are charging insurers an average of 3.8 times more than the acquisition costs for oncology drugs, although depending on the drug, the markup can be much higher – up to 11 times the purchase price, a new report has found.

Health plans hire ConsejoSano to create culturally appropriate content, but the company can’t reach members by text.

Aetna says it wrongly denied requests to cover fertility treatments for certain individuals and that it would rectify its mistake.

The DOJ alleges the entities submitted inaccurate information about the health status of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

The organizations are exploring a retail health clinic collaboration throughout the tristate area.

Due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Intermountain Healthcare is postponing all nonurgent surgeries and procedures requiring a hospital admission in its trauma and community hospitals. Staff are needed for the ICUs and acute care units, Intermountain said.

Between June and August, unvaccinated COVID-19 patients racked up $5.7 billion worth of preventable hospital care. 

The model moves beyond traditional medical care to address social issues like housing, employment, legal aid, transportation, food and childcare.

Affordable housing, social isolation, low wages, health problems, high medical costs and other issues can all lead to food insecurity.

There are a record-breaking 12.2 million people enrolled in the federal and state marketplaces, HHS says.

The lawsuit claims that Aetna is in violation of Section 1557 of the ACA, a section that has undergone regulatory contention over recent years.   

This is the 20th investigation of HIPAA Right to Access by the Office of Civil Rights.

A commissioned survey from Modern Health and Forrester Research shows a disconnect in perceptions of offerings.

CMS is exploring a new rule due to concerns raised and operational challenges.

Retail pharmacies are increasingly becoming a one-stop shop for consumers' health and wellness needs.  

Applications for the relief distributions open up on September 29.   

Surprise bills due to out-of-network air ambulance services would be banned and out-of-pocket costs limited.

High prescription drug prices have important implications for the American healthcare system, driving up overall costs.

The organizations recommended HHS build in flexibilities and payment for APM participants to strengthen their focus on addressing inequities.

The underlying principles behind the plan, according to HHS, are competition, innovation and transparency.

President Biden today took steps to increase the number of Americans who are vaccinated by mandating shots for healthcare workers and also for the private sector. Biden's plan requires all employers with 100-plus employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated or get tested weekly. Employers are […]

The federal government wants SB8 declared invalid and the court to issue a preliminary and permanent injunction.

Hospitals need to focus on digital investment to compete with other hospitals and retail and technology companies.

Hospital outpatient departments perform routine procedures and surgeries such as colonoscopies and cataract removals for commercially insured individuals at substantially higher prices than Ambulatory Surgery Centers, according to new findings published by UnitedHealth Group.

The APM achieved statistically significant Medicare gross spending reductions at both the ACO and state levels.

More than 73% of those ages 12 to 18 have received one shot, while 92.4% of those older than 65 have received at least one dose.

States with 1332 reinsurance waivers will have more pass-through funding to implement the waivers.

If passed, the proposal would reduce revenue of the pharmaceutical industry by 40%, according to PhRMA.

AHIP is concerned about the timeline for an interim final rule on surprise billing and has asked the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies for safe harbor for insurers to implement provisions in the rule through 2023, rather than the scheduled start date of 2022.

Major insurer Centene said Thursday it will consolidate all of its Medicare Advantage brands under its wholly-owned subsidiary, WellCare. Centene acquired WellCare Health Plans in January 2020 for about $17 billion. Centene said the move will better align with the company's strategy and build […]

The funding is expected to decrease stress on hospital staff, increase hiring opportunities and decrease the risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Central line infections increased by at least 46%, compared to 2019.

Initial data shows that a third dose of its vaccine boosted antibody levels to a higher degree than the previous round.

The ANA cited the Delta variant of COVID-19 as a complicating factor that has exacerbated workforce shortage challenges.

Powered by data analytics, the new offering will pinpoint union members' need to proactively manage their care.

Hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi were already overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients before Ida hit.

Aetna has agreed to team up with Autism Comprehensive Educational Services to establish an Institute for Quality targeted toward individuals and families impacted by autism spectrum disorder, among other special needs. Through the new national agreement, effective August 1, Aetna members now have […]

Idaho Governor Brad Little said the real solution to the crisis is more Idahoans choosing to receive COVID-19 vaccine.

In its first year, the health system treated more than 16,000 patients through Virtual ExpressCare. The service, launched at the peak of the pandemic, was crucial in preserving New York City's emergency care system.

In addition to having to pay millions, Sutter Health must adopt a number of new business practices to encourage transparency and restore competition in the area.   

The caregivers had authorized a strike last month to improve staffing, pay, benefits and COVID-19-related health safeguards.

Patient volume increases and cost reduction measures led to significant revenue increases, which were hampered in 2020 by COVID-19.

Coinciding with Hurricane Ida hitting the Gulf Coast and on the 16th anniversary when Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana, the Department of Health and Human Services has tied global warming to a health and equity issue and formed the new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity.

The appeal comes after a federal judge granted the FTC an injunction to halt the acquisition until it could complete an internal investigation.

Access to mental healthcare and on-site medical clinics are also top-of-mind as employers anticipate future struggles.

More patients is resulting in a self-induced postponement of non-emergent surgical cases, resulting in lower hospital revenues.