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.

UnitedHealthcare drops most prior authorizations in rural areas as part of improvement initiative
The insurance giant has been piloting a program to speed up reimbursement to hospitals in 10 states, reducing delays by roughly 50%. Now, the company said it will work to lift prior authorization barriers on patient care delivery. The intent is to roll out these changes nationwide by the end of 2026, UnitedHealthcare confirmed.
Healthcare administrators: Need help holding PCPs accountable? Here it is from focus-group research
Family physicians and other primary care providers don’t mind being held to account for care quality by healthcare administrators. The rub is that multiple other stakeholders often demand similar levels of answerability, pulling the doctors in different directions at once.
Prescription drug commercials anger some, please others
Pharmaceutical companies are spending close to $10 billion per year on direct-to-consumer advertising in the U.S. Only the entertainment industry spends more. Is that a good thing?
California Democrats propose new corporate tax to offset Medicaid cuts
The idea was floated as part of a proposed budget for the state released by Democrats in the Senate. If passed, only the top 2% of corporations in California would be impacted. The levy would generate $5 billion to $8 billion annually for Medicaid.
Cardiology practice launches walk-in clinic in Pennsylvania
The new clinic wants to keep patients out of hospital EDs when possible and provide care at a lower cost.

Ascension Health in 'advanced talks' to buy Amsurg from private equity for $3.9B

The acquisition would allow Ascension—a nonprofit health system—to expand its outpatient surgery network, as Amsurg operates 250 centers nationwide. Sources said a final deal could be mere weeks away.

Number of physicians working for small practices drops below 50% for the first time, AMA says

A new report from the American Medical Association reveals that doctors are increasingly likely to work for larger provider groups and hospitals, as single specialty practices slowly disappear.

Cigna, CVS sue to block Arkansas' PBM regulation

The newly signed law, known as Act 264, bans pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies in the state. It's scheduled to go into effect beginning in 2026.

Healthcare AI newswatch: MAHA’s AI stumble, OpenAI’s healthcare offensive, Mayo’s AI startup support, more

Mayo Clinic is looking to give promising medtech startups a seriously running start. Toward that end, the august institution has launched the new Mayo Venture Partner program.

Walmart launches AI tool to steer Medicare Advantage members toward ‘healthy’ foods

Walmart is highlighting food and products eligible for purchase using Medicare Advantage supplemental funds through its app, while also using AI to algorithmically help enrollees build diet-appropriate shopping lists.

Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, MPhil, associate director of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and an associate professor of health policy and management, Harvard School of Public Health, explains the impact of private equity ownership of hospitals and private practices.

Private equity's influence continues to rise in cardiology—what does that mean for patient care?

Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, MPhil, a cardiologist who also specializes in healthcare policy, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about the good, the bad and the unknown when it comes to private equity's role in cardiology.

Q&A: Universities, tech collaborate to predict opioid overdose with wearables

The Digital Medicine Society has partnered with organizations such as Duke University and Google Fitbit to leverage wearable technology and smartphone data in reducing opioid relapse and overdose deaths. As the pilot study gets underway, HealthExec speaks with Candice Taguibao, associate program director at the Digital Medicine Society, to learn more about the initiative.

openAI united arab emirates UAE artificial intelligence

AI newswatch: OpenAI goes to the UAE, patients get cyberchondria, more

Like remoras hitching a ride on a shark, private businesses are capitalizing on President Trump’s AI-aggressive trip to the Middle East.

Business Intelligence

UnitedHealthcare drops most prior authorizations in rural areas as part of improvement initiative

Healthcare administrators: Need help holding PCPs accountable? Here it is from focus-group research

Prescription drug commercials anger some, please others

California Democrats propose new corporate tax to offset Medicaid cuts

Cardiology practice launches walk-in clinic in Pennsylvania