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.

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92% of rural Nebraska hospitals report financial hardship caused by Medicare Advantage plans

Members of the Nebraska Rural Health Association overwhelmingly expressed concerns that Medicare Advantage plans could jeopardize patient health. Some are considering dropping their contracts with the plans altogether. 

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UPMC expensed $50M private jet, despite laying off 1,000 workers

Pittsburgh Medical Center CEO Leslie Davis used the jet to travel around the world, flight logs show. 

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HHS awards $75M for addiction and maternal health services in rural areas

The funds will be used to expand services and improve the financial stability of existing healthcare organizations located in underserved regions of the South. 

The FreeClimb 70 reperfusion system with Tenzing 7 delivery catheter. Image courtesy of Route 92 Medical.

Stroke specialists raise another $50M thanks to late investment from Novo Holdings

California-based Route 92 Medical previously announced a funding round worth more than $31 million in November. Now, however, a massive addition from Novo Holdings makes the round worth closer to $82 million. 

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Most recalled cardiovascular devices gained FDA approval with little to no clinical evidence

Why are so many cardiovascular devices involved in Class I recalls? One possible reason could be the large number of devices hitting the market without undergoing much premarket clinical testing. 

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Atrium Health forgives patient debts, withdraws liens on 11,500 homes

The nonprofit hospital system stopped suing patients in 2022 and called debt cancellation the “next logical step.”

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FTC sues PBMs and GPOs for insulin price collusion

In a statement announcing its lawsuit, the FTC said Caremark, Optum RX and Express Scripts benefit from manufacturer rebates and ignore lower-costing drugs as a way to artificially increase prices. 

Study ranks US health system dead last among wealthy nations

Low rankings for accessibility and outcomes earned the country the overall lowest ranking in an analysis of healthcare systems across 10 nations.

Around the web

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.

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. 

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.