Hospitals Again Struggling With Influx Of Covid Patients

Crain's Detroit Business: Macomb County, Mich., Hospitals Reach Bed Capacity With Mix Of COVID-19 And Medical Patients
McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mt. Clemens has reached 100 percent bed occupancy capacity with all 68 rooms in its emergency department full of patients either waiting to be admitted or undergoing treatment. It is one of three hospitals in Macomb County at or exceeding inpatient capacity, according to data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on April 12. Statewide, four hospitals have reached 100 percent bed capacity — McLaren Macomb, Ascension Macomb-Oakland in Warren, Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City and Ascension Standish Hospital — and 15 more have exceeded 90 percent, said MDHHS. (Greene, 4/14)

The Oregonian: Oregon State Hospital Seeks Pause On Admissions As New Patient Numbers Spike 
As the Oregon State Hospital grapples with major staffing shortages because of the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators asked a judge on Tuesday to halt admissions for the next two weeks, saying they’re getting an influx of new patients faster than they can make room for them. Under state law, people accused of a crime who have severe mental illness may be sent to the state hospital for mental health treatment so they can become able to “aid and assist” in their own defense. (Ramakrishnan, 4/14)

In other health care industry news —

Modern Healthcare: Massachusetts To Crack Down On Highest-Cost Hospitals, Insurers
Massachusetts providers and insurers that have exceeded the state's cost-growth benchmark will receive more aggressive oversight, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission said during its board meeting Wednesday. Hospital executives urged the HPC to adjust the 3.1% cost growth benchmark in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the commissioners said they will take those considerations into account, they voted to hold the benchmark at 3.1% and double down on performance improvement plans, particularly for organizations that have repeatedly and egregiously exceeded the benchmark. (Kacik, 4/14)

Crain's Cleveland Business: UH Reports $54.7M Operating Income For 2020 Despite Significant COVID-Related Costs
Despite the significant stress that COVID-19 added to health system finances, University Hospitals was able to hit its adjusted budget for last year. UH rounded out 2020 with operating income of $54.7 million on $4.5 billion in revenue. The numbers are in line with the adjusted budget projections the system set as the pandemic took hold. Mike Szubski, UH chief financial officer, called the system's recovery "nothing short of amazing." (Coutre, 4/14)

The Advocate: Amedisys Inks Deal To Expand Home Health Operations In North Carolina
Baton Rouge-based Amedisys signed a deal to acquire the rights to conduct home health care visits in another North Carolina county. Amedisys expects to close on the deal for the expanded North Carolina network by acquiring 'regulatory assets' by April 30. Financial terms were not disclosed. The company will be able to operate as a certified home health business in Randolph County and any areas within 50 miles. At the end of the month Amedisys expects to open a care center in the region. “Expanding our footprint into this key market further establishes Amedisys as America’s solution for aging in place," said Teonie Aurelio, president of home health at Amedisys in a news release. (Mosbrucker, 4/14)

Modern Healthcare: Some Healthcare Associations Moving Full Steam Ahead With Conferences Starting In Summer
Some healthcare associations—eager to ramp up one of their most important revenue streams—are bringing back in-person events this summer. Trade groups that support healthcare providers pivoted to virtual events when the pandemic struck, but quickly learned they make far less money that way. Now that COVID vaccines are gaining momentum, some groups are betting their members will want to get together in person—with masks and plenty of space—as early as June. (Bannow, 4/14)

In pharmaceutical and biotech industry news —

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: $172,000 Worth Of Heart Stents Expire On The Shelf At Atlanta VA Health Care System
The Veterans Hospital in Decatur was recently forced to dispose of thousands of dollars worth of unused heart stents, despite a 2019 federal audit warning that the facility’s mismanagement of its medical supplies was contributing to waste. The audit says record keeping was so shoddy that it has been impossible to track which implants were being used. That could jeopardize patients, experts say. The hospital discovered $122,000 worth of expired heart stents on its shelves in December, according to internal VA documents reviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A year earlier, VA auditors discovered $52,000 in expired stents. (Quinn, 4/14)

Stat: Digital Health Startups Want To Bring Glucose Monitors To The Masses
For the 1.6 million people in America living with type 1 diabetes, a continuous glucose monitor can be a lifesaver. Since the first CGM was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999, the diabetes community has advocated for lower prices and better insurance coverage for the quarter-sized devices, which regularly sample a proxy for blood glucose levels and can sound an alarm when they swing too high or too low. But the cost-cutting has had an unexpected side effect: Today, glucose monitors are so cheap they’ve spawned a new crop of digital health startups selling the devices to consumers, many of whom don’t have diabetes. (Palmer, 4/15)

Boston Globe: Tango Therapeutics To Go Public In $353 Million SPAC Deal
Cambridge biotech Tango Therapeutics is going public through a $353 million deal with a special purpose acquisition company, the precision cancer medicine firm announced on Wednesday. The SPAC, called BCTG Acquisition Corp., is backed by Boxer Capital, one of the biotech’s investors. (Gardizy, 4/14)