Baxter to buy Hillrom for $10.5B in bid to expand connected care portfolio
Wall Street analysts and investors had thrown cold water on earlier reports of a deal, questioning the price and strategic fit.
Pandemic spurs rise of infections contracted at healthcare facilities
Bloodstream infections associated with central line catheters were responsible for the largest rise in hospital-acquired infections from 2019 to 2020, according to the CDC.
Pfizer, Merck launch large new trials of oral COVID-19 drugs
Both companies are racing to prove their oral antivirals as treatments for COVID-19. Key clinical results could come later this year.
Hospital lobby urges Congress for additional extension of Medicare cut relief
The cuts, if they go through, will result in an estimated loss of $36 billion in funding in 2022 alone, the Federation of American Hospitals said.
Medicare insolvency still expected by 2026, unchanged by COVID-19, trustees say
The forecast is a bit of a bright spot for the otherwise grim financial prospects of the program, as experts worried COVID-19 would result in the fund that finances Medicare Part A running out of money faster than previously expected.
Hospitals lose legal challenge over changes to DSH payments
A federal judge sided with HHS, pointing to a portion of the Medicare law that prohibits any administrative and judicial review of how the department arrived at its calculations.
Pandemic safety protections, wage increase key for nursing unions in new contracts
The nation’s largest nursing union has reached agreements on more than 50 contracts covering around 27,000 nurses across the country at major hospital chains since February.
Hospitals boost hiring efforts, sweeten employee benefits, survey finds
The findings from employment services firm Aon contrast sharply with this time last year, when widespread shutdowns of nonemergency care led systems to institute furloughs and other cost-cutting measures.
Sutter to pay $90M in largest False Claims Act settlement against health system for alleged MA fraud
The record payment comes on the heels of another massive settlement for the nonprofit, adding to the hit on its already stressed bottom line.
FDA restarts distribution of Lilly’s COVID-19 drug in 22 states
Use of the treatment had been halted due to weakened efficacy versus an early coronavirus variant. Now, with delta widely prevalent and demand for antibody treatments surging, Lilly’s therapy will be available again.