Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Rise In Telehealth Use Also Increasing Demand For Medical Office Space
Modern Healthcare: Telehealth Referrals Boost Demand For Medical Office Space
Health systems have pared down their office space for their administrative teams as more back-office employees work from home. But the long-term impact on clinical real estate has been less definitive as providers figure out how much telehealth can safely substitute in-person care. (Kacik, 3/2)
In other health care industry news —
Salt Lake Tribune: U Of U Hospital Is Catching Up On 500 Surgeries. Now It’s Bringing In The Military To Help
With a backlog of about 500 surgeries that were delayed during the coronavirus pandemic, University of Utah Hospital is bringing in a U.S. Navy medical team to help catch up. “We’re going to be able to open hospital beds that have been closed because of staffing,” said Dr. Michael Good, hospital CEO. “We’re certainly not back to normal, but we’re trying to shift and get headed in that direction. Our colleagues from the Navy help us accelerate that pivot, that transition.” The Navy has deployed about 20 medical staffers, including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and administrators, Good said. (Alberty, 3/2)
Modern Healthcare: Judge Denies Clover Health's Bid To Dismiss Investors' Lawsuit
Clover Health will have to face investors who say the insuretech misled them ahead going public two years ago, a federal court ruled Monday. The plaintiffs allege that the insuretech didn't disclose it was under investigation by the Justice Department and misled them about its operations. Clover Health declined to comment on the litigation. Judge Aleta Trauger of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee rejected Clover Health's motion to dismiss the case, writing in her opinion that the plaintiffs have met the standard to allow the case to proceed. (Devereaux, 3/2)
Georgia Health News: The Piedmont Powerhouse: Health System’s Expansion Reaches Augusta
Piedmont Healthcare has added Augusta to its expanding hospital footprint. The Atlanta-based nonprofit system now contains 19 hospitals, with the announcement Tuesday that it has taken over University Health Care System, which includes University Hospital in Augusta. Other hospitals in the agreement are smaller facilities: University Hospital Summerville and University Hospital McDuffie. The two systems had announced in May that they had signed a letter of intent to seek an affiliation. (Miller, 3/1)
Houston Chronicle: Memorial Hermann, Blue Cross Blue Shield Terminate Contract, Forcing Estimated 100K Patients Out Of Network
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Memorial Hermann health system terminated their contracts after they failed to agree on its terms, forcing more than 100,000 Memorial Hermann patients to find care elsewhere or pay significantly more. The state’s biggest insurer and the region’s biggest health system were unable to resolve their differences on the status of independent physicians affiliated with Memorial Hermann before the contract expired Tuesday. Blue Cross Blue Shield wants the doctors to contract directly with the insurer rather than through Memorial Hermann, which negotiated rates for nearly 3,000 independent doctors in its system. (Carballo, 3/1)
