Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Data Show Thousands Upon Thousands Of Pros Leaving Health Industry
Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Professionals Fleeing Industry, New Data Show
More than 145,000 healthcare practitioners left the industry from 2021 through 2022, threatening access and quality, according to a report published Monday. Physicians accounted for roughly half of the healthcare workers who retired or changed professions over the two-year span, according to an analysis of all-payer claims data from Definitive Healthcare, a healthcare commercial intelligence company. More than 71,000 physicians left the workforce from 2021 to 2022. (Kacik, 10/16)
Stat: Is There Really A Nursing Shortage In The U.S.?
Hospitals are frustrated with a nationwide nursing shortage that’s only gotten worse since the pandemic. In 2022, the American Hospital Association quoted an estimate that half a million nurses would leave the field by the end of that year, bringing the total shortage to 1.1 million. At the same time, National Nurses United insists there isn’t a nurse shortage at all. There are plenty enough nurses for the country, they say — merely a shortage of nurses who want to work under current conditions. (Trang, 10/16)
In other health care industry developments —
Modern Healthcare: Prior Authorization Cuts From Cigna, UnitedHealth Meet Skepticism
Providers are lobbying Congress, investing in new technologies and renegotiating contracts with insurers in response to rising prior authorization demands—despite of some of the largest carriers promising to cut back on preapproval rules. Their tactics highlight provider skepticism of moves by UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and other insurers to lift some precertification requirements. Providers question whether these new policies will actually reduce administrative burden or if insurers are mostly engaged in a public relations campaign to forestall government intervention. (Tepper, 10/16)
The CT Mirror: Yale Wants $80M From CT For Prospect Hospitals Deal, Sources Say
Yale New Haven Health executives want the state to provide $16 million per year for five years, or $80 million total, to help support their acquisition of three Connecticut hospitals that recently were hit with a cyberattack, sources with knowledge of the request told The Connecticut Mirror Monday. (Carlesso and Altimari, 10/16)
Modern Healthcare: Aspirus Health, St. Luke's Duluth Acquisition Plans Move Forward
Aspirus Health and St. Luke’s Duluth signed a definitive agreement, with plans for Aspirus to complete its acquisition of St. Luke's next spring. In July, Wausau, Wisconsin-based Aspirus and St. Luke’s, a two-hospital system based in Minnesota, signed a letter of intent. Aspirus would invest at least $300 million over eight years in St. Luke’s as part of the definitive agreement announced Monday. Also, Aspirus said it would expand its health plan to St. Luke’s service area within two years of closing. (Kacik, 10/16)
Crain's Chicago Business: Silver Cross Hospital CEO Ruth Colby Dead At 69
Ruth Colby, president and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, died at age 69 from complications following a surgery, the hospital said in a statement. Colby passed away Sunday at an undisclosed Chicago academic medical center. She had been CEO of Silver Cross for six years. (10/16)
Also —
The Boston Globe: Boston Medical Center Uses Solar Panels For Patient Energy Assistance
Boston Medical Center has spent a lot of energy helping low-income communities. Now with actual electrical energy, it will do more. The health system announced Monday that it will use energy credits generated from a new solar array on its administrative building to help reduce patients’ electric bills. The program, called Clean Power Prescription, is in a similar vein to its long-operating food pantry, which gives patients access to healthy and locally-grown foods via a prescription. (Bartlett, 10/16)
