It’s Not Just Hospitals: 911 Emergency Systems, Testing Labs Overwhelmed

CNN: 911 Emergency Medical System In US 'At A Breaking Point,' Ambulance Group Says 
With the Covid-19 surge straining America's health care system, the 911 emergency call system has been stretched to "the breaking point," the American Ambulance Association says. Ambulance services are critical in getting sick patients to hospitals for care, and the American Ambulance Association, which represents all of the nation's ambulance services, said they are struggling to stay together. (Erdman, 12/3)

Detroit Free Press: It's Taking Labs About 3 Days To Process COVID-19 Tests In Michigan
Labs took an average of just under three days to process the nearly 900,000 COVID-19 tests performed in Michigan over the last two weeks, according to data the state began posting publicly last week. It’s the clearest look so far at how long it’s taking each provider, from massive commercial labs in California to small strip mall urgent cares, to go from collecting a sample to the results being logged by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (Wells, 12/2)

In other COVID developments —

The Hill: CVS Health Partnering With Government To Administer Coronavirus Antibody Therapy 
CVS Health will work with the Trump administration to administer a limited supply of a COVID-19 therapy to patients at risk for serious illness or complications from infection. The agreement is part of a pilot program that allows CVS Health to administer bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody therapy given through an IV, to patients in their homes or at long-term care facilities. (Hellmann, 12/2)

Reuters: The U.S. Has Spent Billions Stockpiling Ventilators, But Many Won’t Save Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across its shores earlier this year, the U.S. government in April announced orders for almost $3 billion of ventilators for a national stockpile, meant to save Americans suffering from severe respiratory problems brought on by the disease. But of the 140,000 machines added since then by the government to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile, almost half were basic breathing devices that don’t meet what medical specialists say are the minimum requirements for ventilators needed to treat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, the main cause of death among COVID-19 patients, according to a Reuters review of publicly-available device specifications and interviews with doctors and industry executives. (Bergin, 12/2)

In other health industry news —

Modern Healthcare: CMS Finalizes Physician-Owned Hospital Boost, End Of Inpatient-Only List
CMS on Wednesday moved forward with changes that could increase provider competition, including allowing physician-owned hospitals to expand if they treat large numbers of Medicaid patients, phasing out its inpatient-only procedures list and continuing cuts for 340B-acquired drugs. As part of the final outpatient prospective payment system rule, CMS will phase out its policy of paying for some procedures only if they're done in inpatient settings. Approximately 300 mostly musculoskeletal-related services will be cut first, followed by the rest of the inpatient-list by 2024. CMS will continue to pay for those treatments in either inpatient or outpatient settings and encouraged providers to use their judgment on the most appropriate venue of care. (Brady, 12/2)

Modern Healthcare: Primary-Care Spending Among Private Payers Declined In 2019
The report, released Wednesday from the not-for-profit coalition Primary Care Collaborative, defines primary care services in two ways and found a decline over the three-year period using both definitions. When only considering services rendered by physicians, primary care spending accounted for 4.67% of overall commercial insurance spending in 2019, a decline from 2017 when it accounted for 4.88% of spending. Similarly, when accounting for primary care services rendered by physician assistants and nurse practitioners in addition to physicians, overall spending in the specialty still dropped from 7.8% to 7.69% over the time period. The findings from the report are in line with other recent literature showing primary care spending in the U.S. has declined. (Castellucci, 12/2)

Modern Healthcare: Sutter, Aetna Select New CEO For Joint Venture
Sutter Health and Aetna selected Jeb Dunkelberger to lead their health plan joint venture, the organizations announced Wednesday. Dunkelberger, who led national sales and strategy for healthcare automation company Notable Health and has experience in the insurance industry, is tasked with coordinating the joint venture's expansion with employers across 16 Northern California counties. He replaced Steve Wigginton, who led the company through its first two-plus years. (Kacik, 12/2)