Atrium Health, Big Collector Of Medical Debt, Stops Suing Patients

The Charlotte Ledger and North Carolina Health News: Atrium Halts Lawsuits For Medical Debt 
Atrium Health, the state’s top collector of medical debt in recent years, has quietly stopped suing patients for unpaid medical bills. The change was praised by critics ... [However,] the change won’t help hundreds of patients who still have judgments against them and liens on their homes. (Crouch, 10/16)

In other health care industry developments —

Minnesota Public Radio: Allina Health Doctors Vote To Unionize 
Hundreds of Allina Health physicians have voted to be represented by a union, becoming what’s believed to be the largest group of unionized private-sector physicians in the country. According to the National Labor Relations Board, the initial tally was 385-200 in favor of joining the Doctors Council SEIU Local 10MD. More than 150 nurse practitioners and physician assistants also voted in the election and are eligible to join the union. (Demry, 10/14)

Stat: UnitedHealth’s Q3 Profit Jumps As Medical Costs Rise More Slowly
UnitedHealth Group has made it clear that more people, especially older adults, are seeing their doctors and getting more medical care this year. But that is certainly not dragging down the company’s profits. In the third quarter of this year, UnitedHealth’s net profit increased by more than 11%, to more than $5.8 billion, the company reported Friday. (Herman, 10/13)

Boston Globe: Dana-Farber And Brigham Grew Apart Over Cancer Care Visions 
On the Southeast Expressway, at the edge of the city, two billboards advertising cancer care loomed on the side of the road — one advertising Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the other touting the work of Mass General Cancer Center. The advertisements, posted in January, were rare public evidence of the increasingly awkward relationship between two of the region’s most prominent cancer programs. Dana-Farber provides care in partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which has the same parent company as Mass General. (Bartlett, 10/15)

Modern Healthcare: The Top Diversity Leaders In Healthcare For 2023
Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in healthcare is a long-term commitment, requiring multi-pronged solutions. After putting a large amount of resources toward DEI initiatives a few years ago, some companies are slowing those efforts. Others, like the individuals and organizations honored in Modern Healthcare’s Top Diversity Leaders in Healthcare, are continuing their work, recognizing that big changes can’t be made overnight. (10/14)

Los Angeles Times: Prominent Physician Executive Returns To MemorialCare As CEO Of Its Expanding Ambulatory Enterprise
David Kim, M.D., an accomplished and respected physician leader, has been named to serve as CEO of MemorialCare Medical Foundation, MemorialCare Medical Group, and Greater Newport Physicians, and as Executive Vice President of MemorialCare Health System’s parent entity, effective August 21. ... His appointment follows the recent retirement of Dr. Mark Schafer, who served as Chief Executive Officer of MemorialCare Medical Foundation for nearly 10 years. Dr. Kim joins MemorialCare from the Providence health system, where he successfully served as chief executive of the Providence Clinical Network. (10/15)

Modern Healthcare: Hippocratic AI’s Munjal Shah Focuses Generative AI On Staffing
As Munjal Shah, CEO of generative artificial intelligence company Hippocratic AI, looks forward, he acknowledges things at his last company didn’t work out. Shah was the founder and longtime CEO of Health IQ, an AI-enabled life insurance startup that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in a Delaware federal court in August, listing $256 million in liabilities and $1.3 million in assets. Shah had stepped down as CEO seven months earlier, after 10 years in the role. (Perna, 10/13)