Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Adding Mental Health Care At Your PCP Isn't Costlier For Insurers: Study
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Penn Medicine, IBX Report Shows Savings From Mental Health Care In Primary Care
Research by Penn Medicine and Independence Blue Cross has found that a new model for providing and paying for mental health services at primary care practices doesn’t increase overall costs for insurers. The two institutions have been studying a new billing code created to help health-care providers address mental health issues since 2018. Their work previously showed that linking primary care and mental health services increased the number of patients receiving needed behavioral health care and led to mental health improvements. Researchers have long found strong ties between physical and mental health. (Brubaker, 10/18)
In corporate updates —
Modern Healthcare: Henry Ford Health, Ascension Michigan Plan To Combine
Henry Ford Health and Ascension Michigan plan to form a combined $10.5 billion health system with 13 hospitals in the Detroit area, the nonprofit health systems said Wednesday. Detroit-based Henry Ford and the Michigan division of St. Louis-based Ascension described the agreement as a joint venture, although the eight Ascension Michigan acute-care hospitals and an addiction treatment center involved in the no-cash deal would be rebranded as Henry Ford facilities and run by Henry Ford president and CEO Robert Riney. (Kacik, 10/18)
Stat: Dana-Farber CEO: Split From Mass General Will Benefit Patients
Laurie Glimcher trained at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her father was the chair of orthopedic surgery there, and her son is currently a thoracic surgeon at the hospital. But Glimcher, the CEO of the neighboring Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has no qualms about the contentious decision to sever a 30-year partnership with Massachusetts General’s parent organization. (DeAngelis, 10/18)
Modern Healthcare: VIllageMD Names Village Medical, Summit Health, CityMD Leadership
Walgreens-backed VillageMD is adding leadership roles to oversee its Village Medical, Summit Health and CityMD operations. The executive appointments come as Walgreens sees VillageMD as a main growth engine for the company. Dr. Rishi Sikka, formerly president of system enterprises at Sacramento, California-based Sutter Health, was named president of Village Medical, which offers primary care services at its clinics and via telehealth. (Hudson, 10/18)
Axios Cleveland: Cleveland Clinic Spent 1.5% On Charity, While Paying CEO $6.6 Million
Cleveland Clinic is once again in the spotlight for its limited investments in the community. The Clinic is one of 12 major nonprofit hospitals that dedicated less than 2% of their total revenue to charity care in 2021, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions recently found. (Allard, 10/18)
Becker's Hospital Review: Shuttered North Carolina Hospital Failed To Submit Compliance Reports For 5 Years
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health acknowledged that it failed to provide compliance reports to the state of North Carolina for shuttered Martin General Hospital for five years, local news outlet WITN reported Oct. 18.The Williamston, N.C.-based hospital closed Aug. 3 due to financial challenges. Quorum Health owns Williamston Hospital Corp., which operated Martin General. The revelations came about after an investigation from North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.(Schwartz, 10/18)
In other health care industry developments —
Fierce Healthcare: Wash. Hospitals Sue To Block Updated State Charity Care Policy
Washington hospitals are looking to take their state’s Department of Health to court over a September notice requiring certain providers to offer charity care to poor patients regardless of where in the world they live. (Muoio, 10/18)
Modern Healthcare: Hospital Price Transparency Data Helping Employers Negotiate Costs
Employers across the country are using price transparency data to tweak health plan benefits and push legislation to pressure hospitals to lower prices. Historically, employers have been reluctant to limit employees’ choice by cutting inefficient healthcare providers from their health plan networks. But that sentiment has changed as employers continue to see costs rise. (Kacik, 10/18)
Axios NW Arkansas: Mejo App Simplifies Medical Record-Keeping
Ryan Sheedy, the parent of a child with a rare genetic mutation, became fed up and fatigued by filling out repetitive forms for each new specialist's office. So, he built an app. (Sparkman, 10/18)
Modern Healthcare: Why Community Hospital Offers Onsite Child Care To Staff, Community
Lack of child care can limit employment opportunities for many parents, which also affects the overall workforce. The situation is especially troubling for industries like healthcare already struggling to find qualified staff. Community Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, addressed the problem head-on by opening its own early childhood education center on the campus. Tawny Espinoza, chief development officer at the hospital, explains how leadership got it done. (10/18)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Experts Want Nurses To Embrace AI In The Workplace
Artificial intelligence (AI) is slowly making its way into many professions, from personal training to marketing. It shows special promise in health care, but experts say buy-in from nurses and other clinical professionals is key. While AI has the potential to make work easier in many ways, many in health care — and other industries — worry about being replaced by the latest technology. But a recent article from Med Page Today argues that the risk to job security is far outweighed by the potential benefits of AI, and encouraged nurses to embrace the coming changes. (Williams, 10/18)
