CMS redesigns controversial Medicare direct contracting model
The decision to retain the direct contracting model — albeit with numerous changes and a new name — was met with mixed reactions from stakeholders.
For-profits focus more on outpatient care as inpatient volume remains depressed
Inpatient volumes for non-COVID-19 care have flagged throughout the pandemic, leading some operators to focus more heavily on outpatient service lines like ambulatory surgery centers and freestanding emergency departments.
Healthcare sector on alert for cyber threats in wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
AHA is especially concerned that some hospitals were collateral damage after Russia targeted Ukraine in a 2017 cyberattack that quickly spilled beyond Ukraine.
HHS sets out plans to make medical device, diagnostics supply chains pandemic-proof
The department wants to shore up the public health supply chain by investing in personal protective equipment, durable medical equipment and testing.
A battle on two fronts: Fighting to end stigma and the obesity epidemic
It’s not just about research. Battling misconceptions is key to advancing obesity care and improving the lives of people living with the disease.
FTC seeks public comments on pharmacy benefit managers’ impact on patients, pharmacies
After a failed bid to launch a formal inquiry into PBMs, the FTC now says it wants to collect comments from the public to study a wide array of PBM practices.
DOJ moves forward with suit to block UnitedHealth’s acquisition of Change
The lawsuit alleges that if UnitedHealth acquired Change, the payer would be able to gain a competitive advantage be seeing “very competitively sensitive” data from other insurers.
Moderna bets on booster demand, advancing new ‘bivalent’ COVID-19 shot
The biotech will start trials in the U.S. and U.K. of a vaccine that targets both the original coronavirus strain and the omicron variant.
Rhode Island’s largest health systems abandon merger after FTC sues to block union
Lifespan and Care New England’s boards decided “not to pursue litigation,” according to a joint statement released Wednesday.
Texas judge throws out piece of surprise billing rule in win for providers
The ruling tosses out the part of the rule that instructs arbiters must begin with the presumption that the qualifying payment amount, or median in-network rate, is the appropriate out-of-network amount to be paid to providers.