Business Intelligence

Providers utilize business intelligence to monitor referral patterns and collaborate with clinicians who order their services. Such analytics tools have also been deployed in the specialty to improve productivity, track patient satisfaction and bolster quality.

Bill in Congress would rein in PBMs, force divestment from pharmacies
The Patients Before Monopolies Act was introduced into both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with bipartisan support. If it passes, pharmacy benefit managers would be required to divest from retail stores.
CMS pauses new Medicare hospice and home health provider entries for six months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it’s issuing a nationwide moratorium on new providers entering the spaces until it has a chance to look into allegations of fraud, waste and abuse. It confirmed investigations of various organizations are pending.
Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time
The days when most doctors worked in independent practice settings are fading from memory like old photoprints in a musty scrapbook.
Investor-bought PCPs carry on like nothing much has changed—with caveats
Private-equity acquisitions of primary-care provider practices neither alter hospitalization rates nor affect acute-care outcomes, according to new research out of Brown University.
12 of the top technology vendors serving children’s hospitals
Epic makes the list with its enterprise inpatient EHR and related platforms. So does PCC, aka Physician’s Computer Company, which supplies pediatric-specific ambulatory EHR and practice-management products and services.

Physicians are quitting sooner, younger and for different priorities than in years past

Physicians who walk away from medicine before reaching their 25th year of practice tend to quit mainly due to the stress and hassles of the job.

UnitedHealthcare looks to reduce prior authorizations by 30% before end of 2026

The insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group said the shift is part of its ongoing effort to eliminate the barriers between care delivery and medical coverage. The full list of services exempt from prior authorizations includes diagnostic tests and many outpatient surgeries.

Atrium Health looking to scoop up smaller nonprofit health system in $2B deal

WakeMed, a three-hospital system in the North Carolina capital region of Raleigh, would become part of Advocate Health, Atrium’s parent company, if the deal goes through. Advocate is one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the U.S.

Johnson & Johnson becomes the latest pharmaceutical company to sign on to TrumpRx

The New Jersey-based drug developer joins AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk and Pfizer in offering products directly to patients at a discounted rate. Johnson & Johnson is currently listing four medications on the platform.

overweight patient seeking health advice

FDA moves to restrict compounded versions of popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs

The agency said it is seeking to exclude semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide from the 503B program based on a lack of clinical evidence. Unless there’s a shortage, the pharmaceuticals would be barred from being compounded by third-parties for the purpose of treating diabetes or obesity. The FDA is seeking public comment on the proposal.

Virtual nursing staff may help save cardiology departments from burnout

The idea is spreading thanks to a new startup focused on providing support for cardiologists.

Michigan has become the 20th state to opt out from federal regulations that require physician supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The move was made to ensure access to value-based, high-quality care across the state, but it is being opposed by the Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) and several other physician groups. Image from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA)

FTC settles antitrust lawsuit against private equity-backed anesthesiology chain

Federal regulators alleged that U.S. Anesthesia Partners—a portfolio company of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowes—engaged in a “roll-up scheme” in Texas that effectively eliminated the competition. The company denies the allegations, but has agreed to undisclosed terms that would see the lawsuit resolved.

Hackers say they breached Medtronic's servers—the company confirms access from an 'unauthorized party'

Multi-national device manufacturer Medtronic confirmed on Friday it was the victim of a cyberattack. Details such as the scope and method of the data breach are still unknown

Business Intelligence

Bill in Congress would rein in PBMs, force divestment from pharmacies

CMS pauses new Medicare hospice and home health provider entries for six months

Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time

Investor-bought PCPs carry on like nothing much has changed—with caveats

12 of the top technology vendors serving children’s hospitals