On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released $2 billion in COVID-19 relief to 7,660 providers. The total phase 4 general distribution has now awarded $11 billion to providers, with $4 billion remaining for distribution. There were 109 Arizona providers who received a total of about $6.9 million in this...National News
The pandemic put a damper on merger and acquisition (M&A) activity among hospitals. Now, looking forward, the question is whether such activity is a lifeline for a reeling industry or a greedy practice bad for everyday patients.
The consulting firm Ernst & Young’s (EY) Global Capital Barometer found global M&A...
On Wednesday, September 29, there were 3,388 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Arizona and 39 new COVID-19-related deaths. Deaths are reported by actual date of death. For intensive care unit beds, only 8% remain available statewide, with 30% of ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
This information can be found on the Arizona...
A new analysis released by the American Hospital Association finds that higher expenses, sicker patients, and fewer outpatient visits over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to negatively impact the financial health of hospitals and health systems throughout 2021.
The analysis, prepared by Kaufman, Hall &...Open
Last Thursday, President Joe Biden announced new vaccine requirements for the American public, mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for 100 million Americans including all healthcare workers.
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has been directed to develop a rule that will require all employers...
On Monday, August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will now be marketed under the name Comirnaty and will be available to prevent the disease in individuals 16 years and older. For now, the vaccine will remain under emergency use authorization (EUA) for...
Across the board, medical groups, hospitals and health care personnel are requesting institutional vaccination mandates for healthcare workers as the Delta variant spread increases case counts and hospitalizations nationwide.
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) were joined by 58 other...National News
Last Friday, President Joe Biden issued a broad-sweeping executive order to address issues of corporate consolidation across U.S. industries. One of the industries cited was hospitals, drawing criticism for "misguided intentions" from industry stakeholders.
President Biden directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...Arizona News
The nation's largest health insurer by membership announced a new policy to deter patients from seeking care in hospital emergency departments. UnitedHealthcare announced the change would take effect on July 1, and it would evaluate emergency room claims using "a number of factors" to determine whether or not the issue was truly an...National News
Health inequities result from circumstances stemming from socioeconomic status, living conditions and other social, geographical and environmental determinants that are modifiable.
These actions have been made even more urgent by the disparities identified early in the COVID-19 pandemic as data show significant variances in the rate...Arizona News
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it will extend the Medicare Care Choices model until December 31, 2021 and will provide supportive services for the duration of the program. This model allows participating hospices to provide services that are otherwise unavailable if billed under Medicare Parts A, B and D...National News
Tuesday's ruling from the U.S. District Court takes effect January 2021 and requires hospitals to publicize the rates they negotiate with individual insurers for all services, including drugs, supplies, facility fees and care by doctors who work for the facility.
A President Trump appointee, Judge Carl Nichols, delivered the...Arizona News
On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced funding relief for providers that rely exclusively on Medicaid reimbursements following months of pleading by providers, industry professionals and politicians.
Organizations like the American Hospital Association, America’s Essential Hospitals and the American Health...News
Three major hospital groups penned a letter, addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging Congress to suspend the mandated Medicare sequester for the duration of the pandemic.
Established by the Budget Control Act in 2011, the federal sequester cuts government spending by more than $1 trillion for the 2021 fiscal year and it would...National News
The Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR) proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is closed for comments and the nation's Medicaid directors, along with governors, hospital and nursing homes are expressing concern.
According to the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD), MFAR in its...National News
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a notice on Thursday informing hospitals of its plans to survey facilities to collect information on their acquisition costs for certain covered outpatient drugs included in the 340B Drug Discount Program.
The notice follows a July proposed rule from the Trump...National News
On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) followed up on President Trump's June 24th executive order which directed a slew of federal agencies to start working on healthcare transparency issues.
Trump's executive order directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose a regulation to require...National News
This week House lawmakers focused on certain vulnerable populations within Medicaid who need food, housing and transportation - the first such federal proposal on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH).
According to reporting by Modern Healthcare, the targeted populations include the homeless, elderly nursing home residents and women...National News
The powerhouse lobby is putting pressure on the U.S. Justice Department to look into whether the merger will reduce competition in Medicaid managed care and Medicare Advantage markets.
In an eight-page letter, AHA cites the DOJ's injunction to block Aetna's acquisition of Humana and other recent forced divestures by UnitedHealth...Arizona News
Various insurers, hospitals, and state regulators are encouraging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to continue a practice dubbed "silver loading" in fear that ending the rule would destabilize Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges.
Health insurers typically raise premiums on silver-level exchange plans to recover the...
