Hospitals brace for omicron as margins weaken further, Kaufman Hall reports
New uncertainties raised by the variant will challenge hospitals as they grapple with a downturn in operating margins as a result of escalating labor costs.
FDA panel, after debate, narrowly backs Merck COVID pill
While agency advisers raised concerns over molnupiravir’s modest benefits and potential risks, a majority felt the antiviral drug is a needed option for COVID-19 patients at high risk of severe disease.
Jury finds UnitedHealthcare guilty of underpaying TeamHealth subsidiary in Nevada
The litigation is a case study into the perennial push and pull between provider groups and insurers over bills, a fight that often leaves patients caught in the middle.
Federal judge blocks healthcare worker vaccine mandate in 10 states
A key argument in the suit is how a mandate could exacerbate worsening labor strains as health systems grapple with widespread burnout and turnover, especially in rural areas.
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in 340B case with billions of dollars at stake
A lower court initially sided with the American Hospital Association, a decision that was later reversed by an appeals court, which AHA characterized as a “legal error.”
UPMC more than quadruples net income to $1.2B amid returning care and investment gains
Though patients returning to medical care delayed earlier in the pandemic helped its provider division, UPMC’s health plan margin shrank due to higher medical claims in the period.
Omicron variant not a problem for COVID-19 diagnostics, certain test makers contend
Testing manufacturers such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Qiagen and Lucira Health claim their tests are not impacted by the new strain, which has been designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization.
Vaccine makers move quickly to confront omicron threat
Several companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, are already at work adapting their coronavirus shots to the newly identified variant, which experts worry could more readily evade vaccine protection.
Banner Health posts turnaround as finances rebound
Banner Health’s finances are back in the black, though labor costs continue to challenge the Arizona-based system.
Accelerating outcomes amid healthcare’s digital transformation
New market research finds that while digital strategies are widespread in healthcare, execution challenges persist.