COVID-19

Outside of the loss of human life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years have greatly affected hospitals, health systems and the way providers deliver care. Healthcare executives are grappling with federal monetary assistance, growing burnout rates, workforce shortages and federal oversight of vaccines and testing. This channel is also designed to update clinicians on new research and guidelines regarding COVID patient treatment strategies and risk assessments.

DEA wants to permanently anchor some COVID-era prescription regulations
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the adoption of some COVID-era prescription practices around certain controlled substances. The agency published a framework to guide any such changes Jan. 17.
Monitoring acute heart patients at home linked to considerable cost savings
The new report could go on to help guide decisions made by CMS and hospital leadership teams for years to come.
Brazen marital healthcare scheme ends with guilty pleas
A former Alabama doctor and her wife faced a slew of charges related to healthcare billing fraud, misuse of PPE loan funds and illegal distribution of opiates.
CityMD agrees to $12M settlement over alleged COVID claims fraud
The company cooperated with a DoJ investigation into COVID-19 tests being erroneously billed to the federal government.
Q&A: Cardiologist Karen Joynt Maddox on why new healthcare policies are not improving outcomes
Healthcare's ongoing shift toward value-based care is a good thing, Joynt Maddox explained, but its implementation has been far from ideal. She also discussed population health, the pandemic, health disparities and the rising influence of private equity investments.

DEA wants to permanently anchor some COVID-era prescription regulations

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the adoption of some COVID-era prescription practices around certain controlled substances. The agency published a framework to guide any such changes Jan. 17.

Monitoring acute heart patients at home linked to considerable cost savings

The new report could go on to help guide decisions made by CMS and hospital leadership teams for years to come.

Brazen marital healthcare scheme ends with guilty pleas

A former Alabama doctor and her wife faced a slew of charges related to healthcare billing fraud, misuse of PPE loan funds and illegal distribution of opiates.

CityMD agrees to $12M settlement over alleged COVID claims fraud

The company cooperated with a DoJ investigation into COVID-19 tests being erroneously billed to the federal government.

physician tracking patient data and reporting on outcomes

Q&A: Cardiologist Karen Joynt Maddox on why new healthcare policies are not improving outcomes

Healthcare's ongoing shift toward value-based care is a good thing, Joynt Maddox explained, but its implementation has been far from ideal. She also discussed population health, the pandemic, health disparities and the rising influence of private equity investments.

Does Covid-19 raise risk for cancers—including rare ones?

A growing set of anecdotes has some physicians suspecting a link.

FDA panel recommends new COVID-19 booster

Booster uptake rates remain low. To date, only 22.5% of Americans received an annual COVID-19 shot from 2023.

Worries rise over bird flu in cows

Infectious disease experts are ratcheting up their watchfulness of the H5N1 influenza virus. That’s because the strain of “bird flu” has continued turning up in domestic livestock.

Around the web

AI in Healthcare

4 ways HHS plans to help shape a national strategy for healthcare AI

HHS has thought through the ways AI can and should become an integral part of healthcare, human services and public health. Last Friday—possibly just days ahead of seating a new secretary—the agency released a detailed plan for getting there from here.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA announces recall after Philips heart monitor software failed to send alerts—multiple deaths reported

Philips is recalling the software associated with its Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry devices after certain high-risk ECG events were never routed to trained cardiology technicians as intended. The issue, which lasted for two years, has been linked to more than 100 injuries.

Cardiovascular Business

Why electrophysiologists needed a champion in Washington

Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, detailed a new advocacy group focused on improving EP reimbursements, patient care and access. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu," he said.