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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Physician-founded Counsel Health said it will use the funds to hire more doctors as it expands the userbase for its AI, which allows patients to ask questions and get answers from a real doctor.
The division develops and manufactures knee and hip replacements, along with other surgical implants. J&J said it will separate DePuy within 18 to 24 months, at which point it will be the largest orthopedics company in the world.
According to the Wall Street Journal, insider sources said a major update to Microsoft’s AI chatbot could be released before the end of the month, designed to be more reliable at answering medical queries.
The Accountability Board has submitted an official proposal for UnitedHealth Group to separate its CEO and board chair positions, both currently held by Stephen Hemsley.
Qualtrics, which uses artificial intelligence to measure public satisfaction and consumer trends, is buying Press Ganey outright, citing the need for more healthcare-specific data to improve its technology.
The new contract was signed just ahead of the Oct. 20 deadline. The insurer and academic health system were in dispute over reimbursement rates. The exact terms of the new multi-year agreement are unknown.
The new "TrumpRx.com" will sell Pfizer drugs at a heavily discounted price, direct-to-consumers. However, details on the initiative are not entirely clear.