Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

Massive spending bill passes final vote in Congress with Medicaid cuts intact
The 940-page document passed the House of Representatives in a 218 to 214 vote, and now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk. It contains a 20% cut to federal Medicaid funding, something Trump said he opposes.
Doc groups say payer promises not enough to address care denials
MGMA and others who are part of the “Regulatory Relief Coalition” are urging Congress to continue pushing forward with the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.
Provider pay increased by 4.9% across specialties in 2024, survey finds
A survey from the American Medical Group Association found that physicians and advanced care providers are making more money when compared to hours worked. However, the complications of inflation and the rising cost of care could eat into gains.
PFA market heats up as medtech companies announce new investments
While Kardium raised $250 million in an oversubscribed funding round, Field Medical raised $35 million. Both companies are focused on designing and developing new pulsed field ablation technologies to help treat challenging arrhythmias.
Senate bounces spending bill back to House with 2.5% Medicare rad pay fix
In addition, there are no restrictions on pass-through entity taxes (PTET), which “benefits independent physician practices,” one expert notes.

FibroGen ‘deeply disappointed’ after FDA rejects new treatment for CKD-related anemia

The FDA has requested additional data before approving roxadustat.

Change Healthcare, UnitedHealth ink pact with DOJ pushing back proposed merger’s timeline

The two companies detailed their new “timing agreement” with the Department of Justice in a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Publicly traded imaging center operator Akumin forced to postpone its Q2 earnings release

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles-based law firm said Monday that it’s launching an investigation into the delay on behalf of investors.

‘Grave concern’: Radiologist reimbursement expected to plummet after CMS clinical labor wage update

The Society of Interventional Radiology said the proposed cuts represent a “perfect storm,” resulting from the feds’ failure to keep labor rates and product tables current with inflation.

Legal battle brewing over AI’s potential status as a ‘nonhuman inventor’

If humans and only humans can be named inventors on U.S. patent applications, some AI developers are going to be disincentivized from innovating.

Machine learning helps explain, quantify differences between men’s and women’s soccer

Women soccer players have either better ball-recovery skills than men or worse ball retainment. Either way, the result is a “more fragmented game” in women’s soccer.

Hit with a ‘tidal wave’ of merger filings in 2021, FTC rethinking how it reviews consolidation

M&A activity has been "astounding" in recent months and with the agency short on manpower, it may be forced to uncouple deals after appointed deadlines.

Radiologists among the most in-demand health workers, earning No. 5 highest starting salary

The specialty came in just below non-interventional cardiologists' $446K average and well-behind invasive heart docs' whopping $611K.

Economics

Massive spending bill passes final vote in Congress with Medicaid cuts intact

Doc groups say payer promises not enough to address care denials

Provider pay increased by 4.9% across specialties in 2024, survey finds

PFA market heats up as medtech companies announce new investments

Senate bounces spending bill back to House with 2.5% Medicare rad pay fix