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.

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.
Weight loss drugs are hiking employer healthcare prices, with 87% saying they expect costs to only go up
In a survey, employers told the Business Group on Health that they aren’t yet seeing evidence of long-term health benefits from taking GLP-1s for weight loss, leaving them unsure how to manage costs while continuing to cover them.
Former healthcare CEO sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in $212M fraud conspiracy
Parmjit “Paul” Parmar, 55, from New Jersey has also been ordered to pay $125 million in restitution. The scheme to defraud investors was uncovered in 2017.
Analysis: The public may not be wrong to think of the ED as the ‘front door’ of the hospital
The perception is probably more pronounced in community hospital EDs than their academic counterparts.

CVS Health announces $10.6B acquisition of Oak Street Health

CVS agrees to pay $38M to resolve insulin over-distribution allegations, DOJ says

Authorities allege the pharmacy chain gave patients more insulin than prescribed and then billed Medicare and Medicaid for the full amounts. This allegedly occurred for more than a decade.

Semaglutide alters Alzheimer’s biomarkers but doesn’t slow the disease’s advance.

business partnership handshake merger acquisition M&A

Abbott acquires cancer diagnostic company Exact Sciences for $21B

The deal will not be finalized until approved by Exact Sciences’ shareholders. With it, Abbott gains control of new diagnostic tools, including a popular at-home test for colorectal cancer.

Trump’s former FDA commissioner joins board of UnitedHealth

Scott Gottlieb, MD, will take on the new position “effective immediately.” UnitedHealth Group did not say what, if any, steering committee the former FDA lead will sit on.

Cigna announces new copay-centric insurance model, backed by AI care coordination

Dubbed “Clearity,” the new health plans will have four tiers to choose from, allowing patients to select the provider and services that are right for them. The insurance is similar to a concierge care model, but backed by a potentially larger network.

Former COO of UnitedHealthcare subsidiary Optum Health promoted to CEO

Krista Nelson made the official announcement on LinkedIn. She replaces Patrick Conway, MD, CEO of the broader Optum, who had held dual roles. Nelson has been with UnitedHealthcare since 2017.

Apple has officially introduced the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which will provide notifications when it detects signs of chronic high blood pressure once the technology is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

U.S. International Federal Trade Commission reviews ban on new Apple Watch pulse oximeter

Masimo’s complaint over the new version of the Apple Watch could lead to an import ban if it is found that the technology infringes on its patents.

mergers and acquisitions M&A consolidation puzzle business deal

Fabric acquires UMC Digital Health to expand its virtual care customer base

The financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition adds 400 new payers, health systems and employers who offer virtual care benefits to Fabric's portfolio.

Business Intelligence

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

12 of the top technology vendors serving children’s hospitals

Weight loss drugs are hiking employer healthcare prices, with 87% saying they expect costs to only go up

Former healthcare CEO sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in $212M fraud conspiracy

Analysis: The public may not be wrong to think of the ED as the ‘front door’ of the hospital