News
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New England Journal Study Questions Merits of Hospital Mergers
Opinion -The national debate over the benefits of hospital mergers flared up anew over a new study showing the growing trend of consolidation has led to “moderately worse patient experiences and no significant change in readmission or mortality rates.” -
Psychiatric Urgent Care Exceeds Expectations, Says Hospital
Opinion -One of the nation’s first psychiatric urgent care centers has attracted nearly 3,000 patients since it opened six months ago, according its operator, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. -
West Virginia Takes Step Approach at CON Repeal
Opinion -The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that eliminates a $1,000 fee charge that is most often refunded when seeking Certificate of Need (CON) approval. -
HHS Urged to Update HIPAA to Protect Patient Medical Records
Opinion -The data sharing deal between Google and Ascension Health raises patient privacy concerns. -
Physician Group Sues Adam Schiff for Attempting to Censure Vaccine Debate
Opinion -The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) and a New York state resident are suing U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) for trying to suppress what he deems “inaccurate” vaccine information on the internet. -
Feds Take Action Against Doctors Who Fail to Provide Patient Records
Opinion -The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has started enforcing a provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that has been in effect since 1996. -
Congressional Resolution on Physician Assisted Suicide Gets Bipartisan Support
Opinion -A congressional resolution to block the legalization of physician assisted suicide is receiving bipartisan support as states continue to legalize “death with dignity.” -
Investors Clamoring to Advance Kidney Care, Says HHS Deputy Secretary
Opinion -President Donald Trump’s kidney care initiative has energized investors and innovators, Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan told The Heartland Daily Podcast, -
New Medicare Payment Model to Incentivize At-Home Kidney Dialysis
Opinion -The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is finalizing rules for a mandatory payment model meant to improve kidney care and reduce costs. -
Presidential Politics Taking Toll on Young Doctors, Study Finds
Opinion -Young physicians are increasingly aligning with left-of-center political viewpoints, according to results of a recent survey by BMJ, an international medical journal. -
Feds Nix Wyoming’s Plan to Regulate Air Ambulances Through Medicaid
Opinion -The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) denied Wyoming’s request to expand Medicaid so it can control the price and distribution of its air ambulance service. -
Too Many Regulatory Silos in Patient Care, Says HHS Deputy Secretary
Opinion -Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Director Eric Hargan says his agency is trying to eliminate regulatory barriers to health care in a way that would improve delivery and maintain “safeguards to patients.” -
Kansas Lawmakers Bow to Pressure to Expand Medicaid
Opinion -Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) and Republican State Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning (R- District 8) announced a compromise proposal that would expand Medicaid to 150,000 Kansans, a step towards Kelly’s campaign promise to expand Medicaid eligibility in th -
CMS Approves Utah’s Medicaid Work Rules After Rejecting Partial Expansion
Opinion -The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a work requirement for enrollees in the state’s expanded Medicaid program. -
Physicians Lose Jobs to Nurse Practitioners at Suburban Health Clinics
Opinion -On April 1, the Edwards-Elmhurst Hospital Health system will replace fifteen physicians at seven immediate care clinics in the Chicago suburbs with lower-cost nurse practitioners (NPs). -
House, Senate Bills Would Expand Health Savings Accounts
Opinion -In the midst of a national health-care debate over surprise billing, Medicare-for-All, the public option, and drug price transparency, a new front has been opened on Capitol Hill: expansion of health savings accounts (HSAs). -
Doctors’ Salaries Are Up, But Specialists Outpace Primary-Care Physicians, New Data Show
Opinion -America’s doctors and advanced practitioners are taking home fatter paychecks, but the earnings of primary-care physicians continue to lag well behind those of their specialist colleagues, -
Pacific Research Institute Warns Americans of Dangers of Socialized Medicine
Opinion -If there is a robust discussion on the dangers of socialized medicine in the United States, chances are the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) is front and center. -
Health Care Reform Takes New Direction in Virginia
Opinion -A change in power in the Virginia legislature will put reforms of the state’s fiscally challenged Medicaid program on the back burner, say minority party opponents. -
Pelican Institute Serves as a Louisiana Health Care Policy Watchdog
Opinion -Editor’s note: Each month, Health Care News will be profiling a national and state-based public policy organization working to advance freedom in the health care market so that consumers and providers can all be winners. -
Galen Institute Takes on Socialized Medicine, Promotes Health Care Choices
Opinion -Editor’s note: Each month, Health Care News will be profiling a national and state-based public policy organization working to advance freedom in the health care market so that consumers and providers can all be winners. -
FDA Faces Challenges Recruiting Scientists, Analysts
Opinion -Stephen Hahn was sworn in as FDA Commissioner December 17, 2019. Competing for a limited pool of talent could be a top challenge. -
Hospitals Supply Chain Inefficiencies Are Wasting Billions of Dollars, Study Finds
Opinion -Hospitals across the United States are wasting money through poor supply chain management, with the total amount increasing by nearly 12 percent over the most recent year to $25.7 billion, a study by the consulting firm Navigant found. -
Poll: Millions Know People Who Died Because Health Care Was Unaffordable
Opinion -A new poll shows more than 13 percent of American adults believe someone they know died because they did not receive needed medical treatment or could not pay for it.
