Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Telemedicine Use, Popular During Height Of Pandemic, Is Tapering Off
Axios: Virtual Doctor Visits Shrivel
One pandemic-era phenomenon that may have peaked: virtual doctor visits. Nearly one-quarter of American adults had a virtual doctor appointment within the past month, according to the latest Census Bureau survey. The share has steadily eased — slightly, by a total of 1 percentage point — since the Census Bureau began asking the question in April. (Brown, 7/22)
Modern Healthcare: BCBS Kansas City Claims National COVID-19 Testing Lab Is 'Disaster Profiteering'
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City has sued a national COVID-19 testing facility, alleging GS Labs intentionally inflated its cash prices and performed unnecessary coronavirus tests in an attempt to fleece the not-for-profit insurer out of $9.2 million. The AHIP insurance lobbying group said BCBS Kansas City's suit represents the nation's first payer complaint against a coronavirus testing provider. (Tepper, 7/22)
KHN: After 18 Months, Sutter Antitrust Settlement Finally Poised For Formal Approval
More than 18 months after Sutter Health agreed to a tentative settlement in a closely watched antitrust case joined by the California Attorney General’s Office, the judge presiding over the case indicated she would sign off on the terms, pending agreement on attorney fees. The nonprofit health care giant, based in Sacramento, stood accused of violating California’s antitrust laws by using its market dominance to drive up prices. The settlement is expected to have nationwide implications on how hospital systems negotiate prices with insurers. (Gold, 7/22)
Axios: Turquoise Health Gets Seed Funding To Dig More Into Hospital Prices
Turquoise Health has raised $5 million in a seed funding round that will expand operations at the health care price transparency startup. Federal law requires hospitals to publish all of their various prices, but many hospitals don't comply or barely comply. Turquoise brings the data together and makes it easier to digest for patients, researchers and others in health care. (Herman, 7/22)
Modern Healthcare: Congress Eyes Bigger Incentives For Medicare ACO Participants
New bipartisan legislation aims to boost participation in Medicare's Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program by enabling healthcare providers to recoup a greater share of cost savings—and bear a smaller share of risk—resulting from their efforts. The bill aims to reverse modifications President Donald Trump's administration made the Medicare ACO program, which allowed providers to keep a smaller portion of cost savings and exposed them to a greater proportion of risk if savings weren't achieved. Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) unveiled the legislation Wednesday. (Hellmann, 7/21)
In local health industry news --
Oklahoman: Work-Based Degree Program Aimed At Helping Oklahoma's Nursing Shortage
Two hospitals are partnering with Oklahoma Christian University to offer work-based degrees to their employees as part of a continued effort to address the state’s nursing shortage. The school announced the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center and Mercy Oklahoma would begin the flexible degree programs once the Board of Nursing approved them. The programs are similar to a previous model from Oklahoma Christian and Integris Health called Integris University, in which students earn college credit online toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while concurrently providing part-time or full-time patient care for the hospital. (Christopher Smith, 7/22)
Modern Healthcare: CommonSpirit Mired In Another Contract Dispute With Blues Plan
A dispute between CommonSpirit Health's CHI Memorial Health Care System and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Tennessee could leave at least 38,000 patients left to foot the bill for services at the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based provider group. The disagreement marks at least the third CommonSpirit Health system-owned facility to publicly dispute a Blues contract so far this year. "Memorial has been a partner with Blue Cross for many years, and we're disappointed, and quite frankly, surprised to be at this point," a BCBS Tennessee spokesperson wrote in an email. (Tepper, 7/22)
