Insurer profitability remained strong in Q3 despite unexpectedly high COVID-19 costs
For most payers, higher-than-expected coronavirus costs were offset by patients continuing to delay nonessential medical care.
Pfizer pill for COVID-19 shows dramatic benefit in major study finding
The drugmaker, which last week won FDA clearance of its vaccine in younger children, plans to quickly ask the agency for emergency authorization of the drug in high-risk patients.
Catholic Health workers reach tentative agreement on day 35 of strike
The deal was reached on six contracts covering about 2,500 employees at Catholic Health, according to the New York hospital. The union was originally pushing for one master contract.
Democrats’ drug pricing plan, while scaled back, could still squeeze pharma top-sellers
Legislation backed by President Joe Biden and top Democratic lawmakers would allow for price negotiation on up to 20 older drugs, potentially impacting blockbusters from Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and others.
Kaiser healthcare workers to go on strike
The work stoppage could pose a significant challenge to operations in Kaiser’s southern California market, where the unions poised to strike represent about 37% of the system’s workforce in the region.
Iora boosts One Medical’s 50% revenue growth, but medical costs ding Q3 bottom line
Currently, at-risk membership makes up less than 5% of One Medical’s overall membership base. But Medicare revenue in the quarter made up more than a fifth of the primary care chain’s topline.
FDA issues long-awaited draft software guidance in overhaul of 16-year-old policy
Bradley Merrill Thompson, an attorney at Epstein Becker Green, said the new guidance is sorely needed by the medical device industry. “In the realm of software, [16 years is] an eternity,” Thompson said.
Healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 with no testing exception, CMS orders
Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, long-term care facilities and others that receive federal funding from Medicare or Medicaid will have to ensure employees are fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 before they provide any care to patients.
Controversial UnitedHealth-Change tie-up gets new deadline for DOJ review
Consummation of UnitedHealth’s $13 billion Change acquisition is now teed up for February at the earliest, though the deal could close even sooner if the DOJ unexpectedly drops its investigation — or later, if the agency challenges.
Adults support major changes to US healthcare system amid rising costs, survey finds
Those surveyed showed the widest support for policy changes that could lower drug costs, followed by measures limiting what both hospitals and doctors can charge for services, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.