Healthy Muse Healthcare News.
Americans losing insurance.
An estimated 5.4 million Americans lost healthcare coverage during the Great Shutdown.
- Those individuals will most likely get new insurance through (1) Obamacare exchanges, (2) new jobs, or (3) just not get insurance at all.
Hospitals lose site neutrality appeal.
Hospitals lost their appeals court case challenging the legality of site neutral payments. This is a significant development – we’re one step closer to site-neutral payments. Historically, hospitals received a higher payment for the same type of healthcare service as compared to a freestanding site.
- Hospitals argue that they deserve higher payments because their operations require a higher level of overhead and expenses (big building, more administrative staff, etc.). Others think that all these higher payments do is drive up the cost of care while adding a layer of payor complexity.
- Read more about site neutral stuff here.
Amazon’s pilot push into primary care.
Amazon is teaming up with startup Crossover Health to create primary care clinics for its employees.
- The pilot is something to watch – while the clinics will only be available to employees at first, Amazon left the door open to expand the service to more people.
Multiplan goes public…weirdly.
In one of 2020’s weirder acquisitions, special purpose acquisition company (SPAC for short) Churchill Capital is acquiring Multiplan, a healthcare solutions provider that partners with managed care companies.
- The deal values Multiplan at $11 billion. Read the SEC presentation here and read the full article from the WSJ here. Basically, Multiplan is choosing to get acquired publicly rather than opting to IPO.
Some good coronavirus news: great vaccine progress.
This week’s vaccine news tops the list of positive COVID-19 developments. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is the closest one to market so far. It could be ready for emergency use as soon as October if things go well during its phase 3 trial.
Moderna’s vaccine is quite far along as well. The vaccine starts its final trial on July 27.
- Other vaccine candidates developing in China, as well as biotech giants like Pfizer and Novavax, are close too. JnJ is starting human trials later this week.
Fun fact: There are 197 vaccines in development worldwide, and 19 of them are currently in some stage of clinical trials. I find that stat pretty mind boggling.
A mix-up on COVID hospital reporting.
The big COVID story this week centered around the White House directing hospitals to report COVID data straight to HHS. Historically, hospitals would report COVID data thru state portals. States would then upload information to the CDC.
- Now, HHS is asking hospitals to report directly to national dashboards. The decision stirred quite a bit of controversy in the media, but HHS officials were quick to say that ‘no one is taking access or data away from the CDC.‘
Read these for more.
- Hospitalizations are rising.
- Fax machines are a huge obstacle to the U.S. coronavirus response. Lol.
- Russian spies are trying to steal coronavirus vaccine research.
- Key characteristics of COVID-19 patients from claims data – Fair Health
- There will not be a nationwide mask mandate.
Quick Hits
Biz Hits
- UnitedHealth posted its most profitable quarter ever. Its medical loss ratio dropped to 70.2%.
- Digital health funding shattered records with $6.3B raised in the 1st half of 2020
- Physician staffing firm Mednax is replacing its longtime CEO amidst its attempts to sell its radiology business line.
- Change Healthcare just unveiled a cloud-based patient records retrieval service.
- CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason Medical center are merging to create a 12-hospital system in the Seattle area.
Policy Hits
- Seema Verma (CMS chief) released an interesting read on telehealth vs. in-person care, pros and cons, and how to best expand access to Medicare beneficiaries
- The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to reinstate Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas this week. They’re big fans of the policy that has not held up in court.
- Georgia just signed into law one of the most complete surprise billing legislations to date.
Other Hits
- Health insurers are eyeing moves into dental plans.
- Is it time for a digital-only health system?
- From BCBS: Colon cancer risk factors are on the rise, especially among millennials.
Thought-Provoking Editorials
- Repealing the ACA just when people need it most. (TCWF)
- Price transparency deserves bipartisan support. (Forbes)
- Get your flu vaccine this fall. (ModernHealthcare)
Healthy Muse Top Picks
- I enjoyed this profile of Sarah Gilbert, the researcher leading the charge on the Oxford University COVID vaccine closest to market.
- This New Yorker article covers what was written during the bubonic plague and is an interesting read.
Thanks for reading.
Save yourself some time by subscribing to our all-in-one newsletter. Subscribers get the first edition – every Monday night.
About the Healthy Muse.
The Healthy Muse was created to educate people on the healthcare system. It’s one weekly e-mail updating you on all the major election news, broader trends, big stories, and policy updates. Learn more about our vision here.
Get smarter and sign up below today.