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.

Optum Rx outlines changes to PBM business model, promising price transparency
The company made the changes after its manufacturer rebates for insulin were challenged by the Federal Trade Commission. Among other shifts, Optum said 100% of all rebates will be distributed to customers by 2028.
Heartflow reports significant revenue growth as CCTA sees wider adoption
The company keeps gaining momentum thanks to the success of its AI-powered imaging software.
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.

Quantum healthcare computing coiled for liftoff on US soil

The first quantum computer set up to support healthcare research in the United States has been delivered.

Cardiologists received $1.1B in industry payments in 6 years

Diving deeper into the data, researchers noted that 40.8% of the payments were tied to speaker fees. Another 19% were from consulting fees.

California partners with Civica Rx for affordable insulin

The state of California and Civica Rx have penned a 10-year deal to deliver insulin at a reduced rate. The medicines will be available in vials and prefilled pens under the CalRx label.

Venerable medical journal spawns AI-focused offspring

The 211-year-old New England Journal of Medicine has birthed an online-only monthly journal that will take on “some of the most pressing questions in medicine through the application of AI in the clinic.”

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Startup focused on heart failure monitoring raises $25M with help from Novo Holdings, Medtronic

The round was led by two new investors, Novo Holdings and Andera Partners. Several existing investors, including Medtronic, also participated.

venture capital corporate suit business corporatization

Medtronic, Edwards among the healthcare organizations chosen as World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2023

The annual list, now in its 17th year, was designed to celebrate companies that make ethical business practices a high priority.

QTrobot (left) and Misty. Photos by Hatice Gunes/University of Cambridge.

Toylike robot pleases counseling clients where humanoid counterpart struggles to connect

When human counselors are unavailable to provide work-based wellness coaching, robots can substitute—as long as the workers are comfortable with emerging technologies and the machines aren’t overly humanlike.

Google ups activity in 4 reaches of healthcare AI

Along with expanding research into large-language models to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPC, the search-engine king is working on AI for improving maternal care, ultrasound access and tuberculosis screening.

Business Intelligence

Optum Rx outlines changes to PBM business model, promising price transparency

Heartflow reports significant revenue growth as CCTA sees wider adoption

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