SPOTLIGHT -
‘Tremendous financial strain’ – Physicians struggling after Change Healthcare cyberattack
AMA poll shows effects on processing claims linger weeks after announcement of major computer hack.
Health care organizations ponder impact of Baltimore bridge collapse
Lack of supply chain visibility raises concerns
Feds launch probe into Change Healthcare cyberattack
Investigation will focus on possible HIPAA violations
IVF, cancer, prescription drugs among health care issues in president’s State of the Union 2024 address
Abortion and AI also in the mix at the national level.
New rule on prior auths leaves many problems untouched, critics say
Despite some gains, rule doesn’t cover prescription drugs and allows payers too much time to respond to requests
Rock ‘n’ roll ‘n’ health care price transparency
Foo Fighters to perform at benefit for Power to the Patients advocacy group.
Cancer screenings lag pre-pandemic levels
Largest declines found among Black, Asian, and Hispanic adults
Hospitals, medical groups urge CMS to reconsider information blocking penalties
They say proposed penalty structure would harm small hospitals and medical groups, call for greater clarity on what would trigger penalties
Med school applicants down for second year, but enrollees increase
Hispanic students increase, Black student total dips slightly.
Remote patient monitoring spending forecasted for growth in 2024
Health care execs see technology benefitting patients and their own bottom lines
Diversity in research: How to improve representation in clinical trials
Medical researchers have largely gone to white men to participate in studies. Health care leaders outline ways to cast a wider net, which will lead to better research and treatments for patients.
Health systems benefit from growing demand for outpatient procedures
Orthopedic services see major spike in volume
Hospital mergers on track to outpace 2022
Financial need is driving activity, analysts say
Consumer enthusiasm for telehealth waning, report finds
But virtual visits remain popular for behavioral health
Cyberattacks on health care industry growing
Hackers prey on “fear, uncertainty and doubt,” expert says
AI vs. EHR: Oracle aims to reduce stress on physicians
Medical tech company leader says electronic health records 'should be a provider’s best ally' for patient care.
Kaiser Permanente employees threaten strike
Up to 85,000 workers could hit the picket lines, union says
Proposed bill would bring more analysis to impact of health care consolidation
Legislation requiring annual reports to Congress has bipartisan support
Hospital patient satisfaction scores plummeted during pandemic
Study finds “unprecedented decline” in scores nationwide
Data breaches are down, but number of people affected is rising
Cybercriminals growing more savvy about their strategies, report finds
Community service, strongarm collections, lax oversight: Senators demand answers about nonprofit hospitals
Lawmakers say they are ‘alarmed’ as hospitals get $28 billion in tax breaks, but millions of Americans struggle with medical debt.
Costs of health care data breaches continue to soar: report
Industry trails most others in fending off cyberattacks
When it comes to care delays, consumers blame insurance companies
Doctors and nurses also blame payers for making their job harder
Think a patient needs a follow-up visit? See them in person first
Office visits with specialists more likely than telehealth visits to result in follow-ups
Majority of Congress wants Biden to address prior authorizations in Medicare Advantage
Far more men than women are dying of drug overdoses
NIDA study shows significant gender difference, but reasons are uncertain
About 1.5 million patients dropped from Medicaid, AP analysis finds
States are determining some recipients are no longer eligible. Hospitals are providing more charity care, an indication that some have lost coverage.
Women, minority groups face mistreatment in academic medicine
Study finds pervasive verbal and cyber harassment, other forms of incivility
Nurses face widespread bias, study finds
Patients are the biggest offenders, but many also encounter racism from colleagues and supervisors
Patients warm to billing reminders via text messages
Survey also reveals preference for online payment options
