February 2022

About 100 medical societies ask Congress to be involved in Congressional efforts to reform Medicare ()
Patient demand for telemedicine remains strong ()
Court blocks aspects of surprise billing rule ()
HHS allocating $560M in payments to healthcare providers impacted by COVID-19 pandemic ()
Mayo Clinic invests $432M in Florida hospital expansion project ()
Population growth drives new hospital construction in North Carolina ()
Quality care for geriatric patients lacking in emergency departments ()
Electronic health records susceptible to cyberattacks, HHS warns ()
Digital tools can accelerate the integration of physical, behavioral health services, AMA says ()
Cerner, Social Security Administration join forces to improve disability insurance claims process ()
Mortality odds increase in older, financially stressed patients following a heart attack ()
Rhode Island AG denies application for Lifespan, Care New England merger ()
Major pharmacy group criticizes FTC decision on PBMs ()
95% of doctors believe COVID-19 has exposed cracks in the medicine supply chain ()
MindMaze secures $105 million to expand commercial growth ()
M&A activity was down in 2021, but 'mega-mergers' spiked ()
Hospitals share top health IT vendors to work with in the Best in KLAS 2022 list ()
Specialty pharmacies offer more affordable drug prices than hospitals ()
AMA releases new toolkit with 5 steps to achieve racial, health equity ()
Health-tech companies back new legislation introduced to modernize ‘outdated’ health privacy laws ()
With patient safety slipping, CDC and CMS turn focus to more resilient approaches ()
Telehealth visits have declined since the onset of COVID-19 ()
HHS awards $55 million to expand virtual healthcare access ()
Number of primary care physicians associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination rates ()
Prior authorization adversely impacts patient care, workforce productivity ()
Nonprofit hospitals aren’t doing more for Medicaid patients than for-profits, despite taking taxpayer subsidies ()
Kaiser’s net income rose in 2021, operating income dipped ()
Computer-assisted cognitive behavior therapy reduces depressive symptoms better than usual treatment ()
FDA postpones meeting on Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for younger children ()
48 hospitals make Forbes’ list of best employers ()
Time to rethink how we compensate nonprofit hospital CEOs, think tank says ()
CVS seeks to relieve overworked pharmacists with new policy ()
CDC updates clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids ()
Most Americans live within an hour of a stroke center ()
Strategic partnership: Press Ganey acquiring Forsta ()
American Hospital Association responds to changing healthcare landscape with new strategic plan ()
HHS warns hospitals to safeguard against LockBit 2.0 ransomware ()
Small, rural hospitals struggle to retain staff lured away by big paydays ()
Proposed legislation would extend coverage of telehealth services through 2024 ()
Older adults receive less preventive care when doctors leave Medicare ACOs ()
Amazon Care announces plans to expand in-person services nationwide ()
More states considering legislation to help low-income patients pay high medical debt ()
Hospital CEOs say workforce shortages were more challenging than financials in 2021 ()
AHIP urges Congress to curtail price gouging on COVID-19 tests: ‘The problem has gotten worse’ ()
Mayo Clinic’s hybrid Care Hotel earns good grades from patients ()
Kaiser Permanente's 'secret' Medicaid deal with California raises eyebrows ()
Oracle’s $28.3B deal to buy Cerner facing antitrust scrutiny, additional lawsuits ()
UnitedHealthcare subpoenaed over data breach impacting 22,000 people ()
‘Cause for concern’: Physicians in the same health system make vastly different choices for identical patients ()
Medicare patients will have access to free at-home COVID tests starting this spring ()
Cardinal Health will pay $13M to settle kickback allegations ()
AI-based system affords physicians more flexible schedules, minimizes burnout triggers ()
Consumers struggle to understand quarantine guidance following at-home COVID test results ()