CVS' bottom line sags after Aetna takeover
CVS Health reported higher revenue but a net loss in the fourth-quarter—the first period for reporting some contribution from its newly acquired health insurer Aetna.
Healthcare spending will hit 19.4% of GDP in the next decade, CMS projects
By Harris MeyerHealthcare spending growth will rise at an annual average of 5.5% over the next decade, slightly faster than in the past few years, due to the aging of the baby boomers and healthcare price growth, the CMS reported Wednesday.
Nearly a quarter of rural hospitals are on the brink of closure
Twenty-one percent of rural hospitals are at high risk of closing, according to a new report. That equates to 430 hospitals across 43 states that employ about 150,000 people and generate about $21.2 billion in patient revenue.
Research
New Justice Dept. policies, new AG may mute False Claims Act whistleblowers
Healthcare industry groups have new hope that whistleblower cases will dwindle or even go away under new Attorney General William Barr.
Providers
CMS lost $84M in two years for ineligible nursing home stays
The CMS pays millions of dollars a year to nursing homes for taking care of older adults who do not qualify for coverage, according to an investigation by HHS' inspector general.
Insurance
Insurers, hospitals agree in telling CMS to keep 'silver-loading'
Insurers, hospitals and state regulators are wary of the CMS ending "silver-loading" on Affordable Care Act plans.
Government
House lawmakers to investigate measles outbreak
A key congressional health committee will launch an investigation into the measles outbreak next week, as FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb warns federal action may be required because of lax state vaccination laws.
Finance
Dignity Health saw rocky end to 2018 as revenue and investments tumble
Dignity Health weathered investment losses in the latter half of 2018, but its revenue also took a hit.
Technology
IT leaders looking for meaningful data-exchange regs
Industry stakeholders were generally optimistic about proposed data-exchange rules, but they want regulators to ensure the information is useful to patients and clinicians.
Transformation
Integrating security officers into the clinical team to prevent violence
St. Louis-based SSM Health implemented an initiative that encourages security officers to be a more active part of the care team in order to spot potentially violent incidents with patients before they escalate.
Safety & Quality
Report: 85% of Tennessee maternal deaths preventable
An overwhelming majority of all Tennessee's maternity deaths in 2017 could have been prevented, according to a new report released Tuesday that was commissioned to address the state's high maternal deaths.
People
Top 25 Women Leaders
The executives named to this year's listing of the Top 25 Women Leaders illustrate how a more diverse leadership team can improve performance, both clinically and financially.
Surveys
Largest health systems, hospital-owned insurers included in new resource guide
Modern Healthcare's 20th annual resource guide features a list of the largest healthcare lobbying organizations and fuller information on lists of vendors and suppliers.
