Google disbands health unit as chief departs for Cerner
The dissolution of the health-specific division is the latest of a number of rolled back initiatives from tech giants in the space.
FDA grants full approval to Pfizer, BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine
The long-awaited decision could strengthen the case for vaccine mandates as public health officials seek to boost rates of immunization amid a wave of COVID-19 cases.
Mayo Clinic’s financials see sharp Q2 rebound
While the report was generally upbeat, the system warned “COVID-19 could still negatively affect the operating margins.” And results don’t include the late summer surge due to the delta variant that has hammered some regions.
Biden said to rule out Woodcock as permanent FDA chief
A news report indicated the agency’s longtime drug reviewer is no longer in consideration for the role, leaving the FDA’s top job in flux as key decisions near on coronavirus booster shots and vaccinations for children.
Google Health’s David Feinberg named Cerner CEO
The appointment ends a search the Kansas City, Missouri-based EHR vendor began in early May. Feinberg, 59, will succeed Brent Shafer, who was chairman and CEO for three years.
Many insurers are no longer waiving cost sharing for COVID-19 treatment
This may pose a new strain for providers as Americans are left to cover their out-of-pocket costs, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Hospital patient volumes match 2019 levels, will exceed them next year
Hospital executives surveyed by McKinsey also said they will focus on growing surgical volumes — which took a huge hit in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. — but will shift more of them to the outpatient setting.
FDA warns of BlackBerry cyber vulnerability in medical devices
The operating system is often deployed in devices such as cardiac and patient monitors, drug infusion pumps, imaging and surgical robots, according to Nick Yuran, CEO of security consultancy Harbor Labs.
AHA moves to shift cost blame to health plans in letter to antitrust regulators
The letter included an updated AHA-funded study on the benefits of hospital mergers, which was previously criticized by outside experts for cherry-picked data, among other methodological weaknesses.
SSM Health, insurer Medica to launch joint venture
Medica will invest an undisclosed sum in Dean Health Plan, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based SSM Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems.