Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

New cholesterol medication can save lives, but costs remain considerable

The FDA recently approved a cholesterol-lowering drug capable of preventing significant amounts of deaths, nonfatal MI and strokes. Unfortunately, most patients can’t afford it.  

Midwest healthcare startups raise more than $1 billion in first half of 2016

Midwest healthcare startups are booming so far this year, according to a new report from Cleveland-based BioEnterprise.

Mass.-based Baystate Health to lay off 300 employees

Some 300 jobs will be eliminated at Springfield, Massachusetts-based Baystate Health, a decision the health system blamed in part of CMS's decision not to adjust one hospital’s mistakes that will cost facilities across the state millions in reduced Medicare reimbursements.

Ruling on Anthem-Cigna merger won’t come until Jan. 2017

Anthem can expect a ruling on the antitrust case against its proposed $54 billion takeover of Cigna sometime in January 2017, past the end-of-year timeframe it had requested.

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Economic reports show increases in healthcare spending, prices, new jobs over past year

Spending on healthcare throughout the U.S. grew 5.2 percent between June 2015 and June 2016, outpacing the 2.3 percent growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to new economic reports from the Altarum Institute.

Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute kicks off third accelerator program

More than 11 medical device startups will head to Texas for the third installment of TMCx, an accelerator program that helps startups partner with industry experts that can help turn entrepreneur’s device concepts into reality.

Doctors dish out $32,000 a year for heath IT

Entering the digital age offers plenty of potential for the healthcare industry like more access to care and less waiting time. But with the pros comes the con—and the implementation of health IT costs doctors more than $32,000 per year, according to Forbes.

Trial for Aetna-Humana merger set to begin Dec. 5

The antitrust lawsuit against Aetna’s proposed acquisition of Humana won’t be settled as early as the insurer had hoped. A federal judge set a trial date of Dec. 5, with the decision to come after the year-end deadline to close the deal.

Around the web

Updated compensation data includes good news for multiple subspecialties. The new report also examines private equity's impact on employment models and how much male cardiologists earn compared to females.

When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country. 

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation. 

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