Care Delivery

This channel includes news on cardiovascular care delivery, including how patients are diagnosed and treated, cardiac care guidelines, policies or legislation impacting patient care, device recalls that may impact patient care, and cardiology practice management.

UnitedHealthcare looks to reduce prior authorizations by 30% before end of 2026
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.
Blame towering market power for soaring hospital prices: Healthcare affordability specialist
“When hospitals that were once competitors merge, prices go up—often by double-digit percentages—with no measurable improvement in patient outcomes.”
5-year checkup shows ‘hospital at home’ healthy but siloed
Hospital-at-home inpatient care is no worse than its traditional counterpart at facilitating good clinical outcomes for reasonable overall costs. In fact “HaH” is sometimes considerably better on both those scores.
Study: As fathers protect children, fatherhood protects dads
Becoming a father seems to make a man less likely to die young. What’s more, when a father passes away within the first five years of his child’s life, the cause is usually non-natural and thus preventable.
AHA launches three-year initiative to scale AI and telehealth adoption at hospitals
The American Hospital Association is working with the West Health Institute throughout the duration of the program, which will give health systems access to a digital platform packed full of resources to support technology upgrades.

artificial intelligence kaiser permanente

AI alone won’t save lives or improve health: Kaiser Permanente AI exec

Imperfect algorithms. Resistant clinicians. Wary patients. Divisive disparities. The plot ingredients of a flashy techno-thriller coming to a cineplex near you? No—just a few of the many worries that provider organizations take on when they move to adopt AI at scale.

Industry Watcher’s Digest

Buzzworthy developments of the past few days.

Healthcare AI: Welcome to our generation’s ‘great Gold Rush’

It’s more critical for U.S. healthcare to get medical AI right than to get it adopted far, wide and ASAP.

Geriatrician gives 3 reasons older Americans should get the latest COVID jab now-ish

Early May will mark the first anniversary of the officially declared end of the COVID-19 public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nevertheless ...

Pandemic-era struggles fading from relevance, healthcare CFOs optimistic about the fiscal future

December 2023 brought the 10th consecutive month with balance sheets in the black—and most healthcare financial leaders believe the momentum will have some legs.

Industry Watcher’s Digest

Buzzworthy developments of the past few days.

private equity corporatization business consolidation

Most physicians think private equity is bad for healthcare

Just 10.5% of U.S. physicians said they view private equity ownership in healthcare in a positive light.

The Protego Radiation Protection System by Image Diagnostics can potentially reduce radiation exposure in the cath lab.

Cardiologist urges cath labs to adopt radiation shields: ‘It is time to protect ourselves’

The shields can significantly reduce radiation exposure, according to cardiologist David G. Rizik, MD. He said they also allow cardiologists, nurses and other cath lab employees to provide care without wearing lead aprons.

Care Delivery

UnitedHealthcare looks to reduce prior authorizations by 30% before end of 2026

Blame towering market power for soaring hospital prices: Healthcare affordability specialist

5-year checkup shows ‘hospital at home’ healthy but siloed

Study: As fathers protect children, fatherhood protects dads

AHA launches three-year initiative to scale AI and telehealth adoption at hospitals