HE news that drew views this week (Feb. 22–26)

Hospitals and health systems are facing an uphill battle for the foreseeable future when it comes to getting their finances back on track from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new findings from Kaufman Hall. 

Higher star ratings may be associated with better patient outcomes in Medicare Advantage plans, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

COVID-19 has caused or hastened the deaths of more than half a million U.S. residents, according to updated data from Johns Hopkins.

CVS Health, which owns health insurance giant Aetna, will return to the Obamacare marketplace to sell individual insurance plans in 2022, the company announced during a fourth-quarter earnings call.

Oscar Health, the technology-based health insurer co-founded by Josh Kushner, is preparing to launch an initial public offering.

The incoming HHS secretary will play an enormous role in the shape of the healthcare system in the U.S. after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the American Heart Association, which published a number of goals for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to achieve in its public health response.

A significant proportion of parents delayed or put off healthcare visits and care for their children during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The state has set the bar for regional health networks facing similar threats around the country.

Transitioning to fully electronic transactions could save the healthcare industry $16.3 billion, or about 42% of existing annual spend on administrative transactions.