A new alliance of powerful associations representing providers, payers, hospitals and employers has formed to push U.S. healthcare toward universal coverage.

Drug prices in the U.S. are significantly higher than those in peer countries, according to new research from RAND. In fact, compared with 32 other countries combined, drug prices in the U.S. are 256% higher.

The Biden-Harris administration is planning to sign two executive orders to provide healthcare relief for those needing insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as undo some Trump administration policies that undermined the Affordable Care Act.

Another quick field check has found the federal rule requiring hospitals to show their prices for shoppable services meeting with only spotty compliance since it went into effect Jan. 1.

Fifteen-hospital McLaren Health Care has agreed to pay $7.75 million for illegally distributing prescription painkillers. 

If the hospitals of America’s most populous city are any sort of bellwether, CMS is going to have its hands full trying to enforce compliance with the Trump Administration’s executive order on price transparency.

Hospitals required by state laws to offer healthcare workers flu shots can expect significantly reduced flu and pneumonia mortality compared with hospitals in states forgoing such mandates.

Is your organization ready to meet the new federal requirements on hospital price transparency? The policy is set to go live on New Year’s Day.