The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Capacity and staffing challenges from ongoing COVID surges are creating a domino effect, delaying access to other medical care and backing up emergency departments. Dr. Gregg Miller, Chief Medical Officer of hospital staffing company Vituity, says that these compounding factors are bringing sicker patients into overwhelmed and understaffed emergency departments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As vaccine mandates go into effect hospitals and nursing homes worry staffing shortages will get worse. There are renewed calls for more oversight over Medicare Advantage plans. And the FDA recommends seniors and adults with underlying medical conditions should get COVID booster shots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HCA Healthcare expands into fast-growing Utah. The official American death toll from the COVID pandemic has now surpassed that of the 1918 flu pandemic. And with seniors spending hundreds of dollars on dental and hearing care out-of-pocket, expanding Medicare to cover these benefits is hugely popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid booster shot limbo, decisions are falling to doctors. With insurers rolling back COVID waivers patients are getting big bills. And Walgreens acquires a majority stake in specialty pharmacy company Shields Health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intermountain Healthcare plans to merge with Colorado-based SCL Health. Pfizer says its vaccine elicited a strong immune response in 5-to-11-year olds. And health apps need to tell consumers if their data was exposed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although the center of excellence model has been around for years, it has been mainly used by mega-employers. San Francisco-based Carrum Health is making this more accessible to smaller companies through its digital marketplace that connects self-insured employers with a network of providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As booster debate intensifies in the US, the UK moves forward with its rollout. Hospitals are under pressure to add psychiatric beds. And Buzzfeed News traced the ivermectin as a covid treatment craze back to a questionable study out of Argentina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As COVID becomes endemic, we need to learn to live with the virus. The federal government accuses Aetna of operating ghost networks to secure Medicaid contracts. Medicare Advantage plans support adding dental, vision, and hearing benefits to traditional Medicare as long as they get higher payments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospitals continue to postpone non-emergent surgeries to preserve capacity for COVID patients. Stimulus dollars and government programs helped keep Americans out of poverty last year. And top vaccine regulators say there’s not enough evidence for booster shots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospitals react to Biden’s new vaccine requirement for healthcare workers. New transparency rules are released for air ambulance companies and insurers. And nursing homes prescribe antipsychotic medications to far more residents than reported. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden Administration plans to release another $25 billion in provider relief funding. Spreading false information about covid vaccines could cost physicians their license. And physician groups in Texas say the state’s new abortion law interferes with their ability to practice medicine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden extends COVID vaccine mandates to cover 100 million Americans. And the Biden Administration's plan to reduce prescription drug prices backs top Democratic policy plans, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As kids go back into the classroom, COVID cases rise. The FDA is set to decide which e-cigarette products can stay on the market. And as state vaccine requirements for healthcare workers go into effect, there are concerns it could wrosen staffing shortages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British digital-first value-based care company Babylon went from being virtually unknown in the US to managing the cost of care for more than 100,000 lives in a year. Babylon's Chief Business Officer Paul-Henri Ferrand discusses how the company is partnering with health plans, medical groups, and health systems to expand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A judge approves Purdue Pharma’s controversial bankruptcy settlement and some states vow to appeal. What is more effective at encouraging vaccination: full vaccine approval, mandates, or incentives? And adding dental to Medicare could take years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two of the FDA’s top vaccine regulators are leaving as the COVID booster decision looms. Nurses are getting higher pay and more favorable contracts as hospitals are desperate for staff. And Apple is working on health tools that can track your fertility and blood pressure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a troubling trend, a few judges have ruled hospitals need to treat COVID patients with ivermectin. Sutter Health settles an antitrust lawsuit and Medicare Advantage fraud suit. And telehealth giant Amwell completes its acquisition of two smaller digital health companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new study in The Lancet finds the Delta variant may actually cause more severe disease than previous strains. Jury selection starts in the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. And CVS and Walmart’s latest move into care delivery is offering mental healthcare in store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oregon hospitals are struggling to handle the influx of COVID patients, partly because the state has the fewest hospital beds per capita in the nation. In this episode, we'll hear how National Guard troops are helping one Oregon hospital inundated with COVID patients and short on staff. To take the 5 question survey go to Gisthealthcare.com/survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this Delta surge, more pregnant women are ending up severely ill with COVID and physicians urge vaccinations. Religious groups and affiliated hospitals require the COVID-19 vaccine. And insurers expand marketplace offerings. To take the 5 question survey go to Gisthealthcare.com/survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doctors beg people to get their first vaccine doses, while companies ask for booster shot approval. Mental health apps Ginger and Headspace merge. And desperate for staff, places in Nebraska say no COVID vaccine necessary. To take the 5 question survey go to Gisthealthcare.com/survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The House advances the $3.5 trillion social spending package. Despite job losses from the pandemic, the uninsured rate stayed about the same. And the US Preventive Task Force is lowering the recommended age for Type 2 diabetes screening. To take the 5 question survey go to Gisthealthcare.com/survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the FDA gave full approval for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, a flood of new requirements followed. Google and Apple’s health initiatives struggle. And the latest groups to fight price transparency are businesses and pharmaceutical benefit managers. To take the 5 question survey go to Gisthealthcare.com/survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More companies are mandating COVID vaccines every day, but not all mandates are created equal. Just as patients were returning to hospitals the Delta wave hit. And Anthem strikes a partnership with senior-focused primary care company CareMax. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health officials now say everyone needs COVID vaccine boosters. Clinical staffing shortages are leading hospitals to pay as much as 20 percent more than previous surges for travel nurses. And Verily Life Sciences gets deeper into clinical trials with a new acquisition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden Administration is set to roll out a plan to give most Americans COVID vaccine booster shots. National Medicare Advantage spending continues to rise. And UnitedHealth launches its direct-to-consumer play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immunocompromised Americans can now get COVID vaccine boosters. More insurers decline to cover the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. And a new study challenges our long-held assumptions about metabolism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This latest Delta surge is putting public health officials and hospitals on their heels as beds fill up and hospitals struggle to find enough staff. Gist Healthcare co-founders Chas Roades and Lisa Bielamowicz discuss how hospitals are dealing with the fourth wave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biden throws his support behind giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. Costly health system cyberattacks are at an all-time high. And as the Delta variant surges across the US, consumers' confidence in traveling and other public activities is falling. According to a Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock survey, nearly a third of consumers said they are less likely to seek non-emergent in-person care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some employers are considering charging unvaccinated employees higher premiums or the cost of testing. CVS Health launches its virtual first primary care offering to companies. And patients in Western North Carolina sue HCA Healthcare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As more companies mandate COVID vaccines, a law prevents hospitals from doing so in Montana. While ICUs fill up in Texas, the governor asks hospitals to postpone elective care. And with the infrastructure bill behind them, Democratic Senators move onto their $3.5 trillion budget resolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As kids make up a larger share of covid cases, pediatricians implore the FDA to move quickly to approve the shots for young kids. Morgan Health makes its first investment. And rising COVID cases combined with patients returning for delayed care dampen health insurer profitability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Passon, CEO of data strategy consulting firm Ancore Health discusses recent trends his firm has been watching in physician compensation. He outlines the need to update physician pay approaches to keep pace with the changing economics of health system medical groups. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vaccinated Americans are most concerned about the Delta variant while many unvaccinated think the shot is riskier than the disease. Enhanced federal subsidies caused individual insurance premiums to drop by 40 percent. And nursing homes start to mandate vaccines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WHO says hold off on booster shots, but some Americans are already finding ways to get them. Medical boards start cracking down on physicians spreading vaccine misinformation. And the FTC says it can’t keep up with merger filings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A growing number of hospitals, companies, and even local governments announced more COVID vaccine requirements. Hospitals in the states with surging COVID cases are overwhelmed and can’t give adequate care. And CMS nixes a transparency requirement for hospitals and Medicare Advantage plans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Missouri Supreme Court rules the state needs to provide coverage to the Medicaid expansion population. Leaders of some of the country's biggest health systems are calling on Congress to support gun violence prevention funding. And spas are popping up to treat long COVID patients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States reach a $26 billion settlement with three opioid distributors and Johnson and Johnson. As new daily COVID cases rise, the pace of vaccinations slows. And patients have been coming back for care they delayed because of the pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMS scales back plans to move more procedures to outpatient settings. As the Delta variant spreads and more breakthrough cases are reported, Nephron Research shares an outlook for the COVID testing market heading into the fall and winter. And a new study finds nearly a fifth of Americans have medical debt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Calls for vaccine mandates for healthcare workers intensify. Microsoft is integrating Teladoc’s virtual visit platform into its Teams software. And fines for hospitals not publishing prices could go up to $2 million per year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To explore the impact of a “Medicare at 60” policy on health systems, Gist Healthcare Analyst Patrick Grant discusses how he modeled the revenue implications for health systems if a large portion of their commercially insured patients aged 60 to 64 switched to Medicare coverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare plans to keep paying for telehealth services through next year. Two large health systems announce they won’t offer Biogen’s new Alzheimer’s drug. And in attempts to drive down prescription drug prices, states target the industry middlemen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Expanding Medicare benefits and Medicaid to holdout states are all part of Democrats' $3.5 trillion-dollar budget package. Tennessee’s top vaccine official was fired and outreach efforts halted amid rising COVID cases. And hospitals sue Intuitive Surgical alleging it’s abusing its monopoly power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare starts the process of deciding how to cover Aduhelm. As insurers and employers sign on, teletherapy gains momentum. And two states with similar COVID case rates took different paths - one resulted in a lot more deaths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pfizer meets with top health officials about a booster shot. Missouri’s Medicaid expansion case goes before the state’s highest court. And President Biden supports price transparency but still many hospitals aren’t complying. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden signed a sweeping executive order aimed at increasing competition. Funding for digital health companies continues to break records. And the FDA chief calls for an investigation of the agency's approval of Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pfizer plans to seek approval for a COVID booster shot. 15 states have come to a settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma. And Biogen updates prescribing recommendations for its new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dollar General makes a play at healthcare. A health system executive is tapped to lead Medicare. And researchers used birthday parties as a proxy for the role small gatherings played in spreading COVID. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Delta variant fuels COVID surges in poorly vaccinated parts of the US. New rules prohibit most surprise medical bills when patients get care from out-of-network providers. And healthcare, much like other industries, is struggling to find workers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Missouri finds itself in the grip of another COVID surge as the state struggles with low vaccination uptake. Dr. Davin Turner, Chief Medical Officer of St. Joseph, MO-based Mosaic Life Care says if vaccinations don’t increase, he expects ongoing surges to become the new normal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.