Fringe Hydroxy Doctor Arrested In Connection With Capitol Riot
Simone Gold, head of America’s Frontline Doctors, told the media she didn't regret being there. Reports are also on fewer ACOs participating in Medicare, rising hospital profits and HCA's plans to increase PPE products.
The Hill:
Doctor That Promoted False Hydroxychloroquine Claims Arrested In Connection With Capitol Riot
Federal officials this weekend arrested the head of a fringe medical group that has promoted false claims about vaccines and the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine in connection with the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department said in charging documents that it had charged Simone Gold, head of America’s Frontline Doctors, with violent entry, disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building. John Strand, the group’s communications director, was also charged in connection with the riot, with the Justice Department including images of both inside the building. (Budryk, 1/21)
In other health care industry news —
Modern Healthcare:
Medicare ACO Participants Fell In 2021
The number of accountable care organizations participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program dropped by about 7.7% in 2021. The long-standing Medicare program now has 477 ACOs participating, a decline from 2020 when 517 participated, according to new CMS data. Additionally, 500,000 less Medicare beneficiaries are currently assigned to the program compared to 2020 when 11.2 million beneficiaries were treated by providers in an ACO. Due to the pandemic, the Medicare Shared Savings Program didn't accept new applicants for 2021. Further, changes to the program under the Trump administration forces ACOs to take on downside risk sooner. CMS said the changes were made in part to encourage more savings for Medicare. (Castellucci, 1/21)
Modern Healthcare:
Profit Up Nearly 23% Across U.S. Community Hospitals In 2019
U.S. hospitals together generated more than $100 billion in profit in 2019, almost 23% more than in the prior year, according to a new American Hospital Association report. The more than 5,100 community hospitals operating in 2019 produced an aggregate total margin of 8.8%, up from 7.6% in 2018, when they drew $83.5 billion in profit. Those data come from the trade group's annual statistics book, which it shared exclusively with Modern Healthcare ahead of its public release. The book covers calendar 2019, so does not include the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has tightened the margins of many health systems despite federal government support. (Bannow, 1/21)
Modern Healthcare:
HCA Launches Joint Venture To Boost Domestic PPE Production
HCA has teamed up with A Plus International, a Chino, Calif.-based healthcare equipment manufacturer, to supply surgical and procedure masks in early 2021. The companies will equally fund the joint venture via the HCA Healthcare Mission Fund, which was created following HCA's acquisition of Mission Health to support healthcare-related businesses in Western North Carolina. "The recent surge in demand for PPE due to the pandemic has underscored how dependent we have been on supplies from overseas and the importance of working to diversify our supply chain," Dr. Jonathan Perlin, HCA chief medical officer and president of its clinical operations group, said in prepared remarks, noting that HCA's PPE expenses increased by nearly $200 million in 2020. (Kacik, 1/21)
