Erica Cerutti

A new study commissioned by the American Hospital Association has found patients treated in hospital outpatient departments typically are sicker and require more medically complex treatment than those seen in independent physician offices.  The study, published in September and conducted by KNG Health Consulting, is based on Medicare data for…

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Corewell Health has reported measurable improvements in chronic disease outcomes through its virtual lifestyle medicine partnership with Nudj Health. Launched in 2023, the partnership has supported more than 3,000 Corewell Health patients using a model that combines the system’s clinical expertise in nutrition, physical activity, stress management…

Becker’s has reported on eight hospitals or health systems that have opted to outsource finance jobs or other revenue cycle functions in 2025: 1. Great Falls, Mont.-based Benefis Health System on Sept. 3 struck an end-to-end revenue cycle partnership with Ensemble Health Partners.  2. Jonesboro, La.-based Jackson Parish Hospital on…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will expand access to catastrophic health plans beginning Nov. 1 through new hardship exemption guidance, the agency announced Sept. 4. The expanded eligibility may reduce uncompensated care burdens for hospitals and health systems by bringing more low-income patients into coverage — particularly…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will increase enforcement against healthcare organizations that block access to electronic health information, citing the need to improve patient engagement and protect data rights. Here are six things to know: The effort, announced in a Sept. 3 press release, directs…

Note: This page was created Jan. 10 and was updated Sept. 4. Aug. 18-Sept. 2 1. Terence Farrell exited his role as president of a three-hospital regional system in Ada, Okla., part of Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy, and was named CEO of West Plains, Mo.-based Ozarks Healthcare. 2. Denise Schepici plans…

Tucson, Ariz.-based Banner-University Medicine named Beth Draves, RN, chief nursing officer. Ms. Draves has been serving as interim chief nursing officer for the past year, according to a Sept. 2 system news release. She joined the academic medical center in 2018 and has held leadership roles in the emergency department,…

A commonly available nasal spray may significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections, according to clinical trial results.  Researchers from Saarland University Hospital in Germany led the study, the results of which were published Sept. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine. They found that regular use of azelastine, an over-the-counter antihistamine…

Florida will move to scrap all vaccine mandates in the state, including routine immunization requirements for children entering kindergarten, state officials said Sept. 3.  Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, the state’s surgeon general, shared plans to eliminate vaccine requirements during an event alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis that highlighted the state’s alignment…

California, Oregon and Washington are forming a health alliance that would coordinate vaccine recommendations for their residents, according to a Sept. 3 joint news release. Here is what to know: 1. The West Coast Health Alliance is intended to provide residents with scientific data on vaccine safety and efficacy, as…

A urine-based biomarker panel detected prostate cancer in 91% of specimens with a diagnostic accuracy of 78.6% to 85.7%, according to a study published Sept. 2 in eBioMedicine.  Led by a team from Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, researchers developed…

Researchers have successfully used repurposed cancer drugs to target dormant breast cancer cells, aiding in the delay or prevention of recurrence, according to a study published Sept. 2 in Nature Medicine.  Researchers from Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center and Perelman School of Medicine enrolled 51 breast cancer survivors…

As the number of COVID-19 cases begin to increase, there have been shifts in the vaccine landscape, especially regarding updated COVID-19 shots. Through the week ending Aug. 23, 11.2% of the 37,732 tested were positive for COVID-19, an increase from 9.9% the previous week, according to the CDC’s latest data. …

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint against Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica Health System for providing “non-existent, grossly substandard skilled nursing facility care or services” between 2017 and 2023.  The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the False Claims…

Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital is planning to expand its clinical team significantly through the end of the year, according to a local ABC 13 News report. CEO Greg Lowe said in an email last month that the hospital was “going all out” to recruit 200 nurses and specialty techs in…

Federal lawmakers have introduced a bill to extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries and CMS’ hospital-at-home waiver. The Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025 would prolong the telehealth program through Sept. 30, 2027, and CMS’ reimbursement of acute hospital care of home through 2030. “Telehealth is a vital part of our…

HHS announced prescription drug reforms are set to take effect Oct. 1, designed to give patients and physicians real-time access to prescription drug costs, insurance coverage details and prior authorization requirements.  The rule was issued in July as part of CMS Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective…

President Donald Trump’s imposed tariffs on foreign nations have been ruled unlawful by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The court ruled he went too far by declaring national emergencies to justify the duties, CBS News reported Sept. 1.  Here are six things to know:  The 7-4…

Healthcare chaplains, also known as spiritual care providers, can play a key role in advancing hospitals’ and health systems’ strategic priorities. These professionals typically support organizations in three areas: workforce well-being, patient experience and access to care. Jason Lesandrini, PhD, assistant vice president of ethics, advance care planning, spiritual health…

The FDA has approved Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi for injection to treat individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.  The drug can now be administered as a once-weekly injection using an autoinjector device, compared to the previous method of IV infusions every two weeks, according to an Aug. 29…

Novant Health is supporting career advancement for its workforce by addressing one of the most significant barriers: the cost of education. The Winston-Salem, N.C.-based health system on Aug. 18 launched Novant Health Future Forward, a debt-free education initiative. Through the program, the system covers up to $5,250 in annual prepaid…

In May, Holyoke (Mass.) Medical Center became one of 10 hospitals selected in Massachusetts to participate in an initiative, dubbed the Healthy Work Environment Academy, that aims to empower frontline nurses to lead workplace culture and retention efforts. “Nurses are sort of leaving the profession, and the ones at the…

“First, do no harm” may be the most well-known adage in the medical profession, but it’s far more than an admonishment. Preventing harm by investing in patient safety is a smart business strategy that returns incalculable direct and indirect financial benefits. I’ve recently heard accounts of large health systems shrinking…

President Donald Trump demanded that pharmaceutical companies release data for “success rates” of their COVID-19 medications to clear up what he called a “discrepancy mess.”  In a Sept. 1 Truth Social post, President Trump said he had been shown “extraordinary” results from Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies that had not…