The Gist Healthcare Podcast

The country has administered 200 million shots but in some places, demand is falling. Insurer Oscar Health launched its tech platform, called +Oscar, for payers and providers. And UVA Health says it will drop a long backlog of lawsuits against patients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some businesses are requiring proof of covid vaccinations, but government issued paper cards are easy to fake. A small number of drugs account for a large part of Medicare’s spending. And the Biden Administration is considering lowering the nicotine level in cigarettes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All adults are eligible for COVID vaccinations. The federal government rescinds the Medicaid waiver for Texas that covers uncompensated care. And insurers are launching virtual first primary care plans with low premiums. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medically Home CEO Rami Karjian and oncology division president Patty Brown discuss how the hospital-at-home trailblazer is now treating cancer patients at home. As the popularity of “care anywhere” grows in the wake of the pandemic, disruptors are expanding the breadth of conditions that can be treated at home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC is studying some reports of breakthrough covid infections among fully vaccinated Americans. UnitedHealth Group’s growth is being led by its rapidly expanding Optum division. And beyond COVID relief bills Democrats haven’t yet fully revealed their health agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A CDC panel decides to continue the pause on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine while it gathers more information about the rare cases of blood clots. President Biden signs a bill delaying the Medicare sequester cuts. And a health system is locked in a legal battle with a travel nurse staffing firm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal health agencies are calling states to pause the Johnson and Johnson vaccine rollout. Another startup health insurer Bright Health snaps up a telehealth company. And for the second year in a row insurers are on track to return a lot of money to beneficiaries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC declares racism is a serious public health threat. Pfizer asks the FDA to clear its COVID vaccine for kids 12 and older. And Microsoft is acquiring speech recognition company Nuance Communications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first part of our conversation with healthcare futurists Jeff Goldsmith and Ian Morrison, they said it’s time to reconsider the social impact of hospital systems because of the vital role they played during the pandemic. In this episode, Ian and Jeff discuss how large health systems should be leveraged as the country rebuilds its public health infrastructure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quarter of American adults are fully vaccinated, but public health experts are concerned an increase in cases could lead to another surge. Missouri lawmakers are refusing to fund the state's Medicaid expansion. And a bunch of companies in the physician practice space are planning to go public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than half a million people signed up for health insurance during the special enrollment period. The American College of Physicians is recommending providers prescribe shorter courses of antibiotics. And 60 percent of frontline workers say their mental health suffered during the pandemic according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation and Washington Post poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden moves up the deadline for states to open vaccinations to all adults to April 19. Investors poured a record-breaking $6.7 billion into the digital health sector last quarter. And while nursing homes struggle to keep patients and health systems invest in-home care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospitals and nursing homes debate whether to require COVID vaccinations for employees. An anesthesia group is taking UnitedHealthcare to court. And more than 40 Oregon insurers and providers pledge to move away from fee-for-service payment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare futurists Jeff Goldsmith and Ian Morrison say it’s time to reconsider hospital systems' social impact. In a recent Health Affairs editorial, the two write health system scale has been essential to procuring personal protective gear, expanding bed capacity, and quickly standing up telemedicine solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pfizer says its covid vaccine is 100 percent effective in kids over 12. The federal incentives weren’t enough for Wyoming to expand Medicaid. And some shake-ups at Walmart Health lead to questions about its healthcare strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FTC challenges its first vertical healthcare merger in years. President Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes large investments in home health. And some small businesses hard hit by the pandemic are struggling to afford health coverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health officials warn of a fourth COVID surge. Tensions between therapists and a virtual mental health app play out in Reno, NV. And more expensive outpatient care is driving spending growth in Massachusetts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Deborah Birx tells CNN a more aggressive COVID response could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Regulators are looking into UnitedHealth Group’s acquisition of Change Healthcare. And the JAMA’s editor-in-chief is on leave after a controversial podcast episode about racism in medicine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristen McGovern, a partner at healthcare consulting firm Sirona Strategies, discusses the next evolution of value-based payment: Medicare’s Direct Contracting model. The first group of participating organizations starts the demonstration this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Price transparency in New Hampshire didn’t lead consumers to get cheaper care, according to a Health Affairs study. Uber is expanding its pharmacy delivery business. And hospitals are struggling to balance patient care, staffing shortages, and higher expenses amid the pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic is accelerating medical schools' shift to virtual dissections. Epidemiologists say scaling up testing is the key to controlling the pandemic in the long term. And lawmakers agree on a plan to delay Medicare payment cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal officials say AstraZeneca released outdated information about its COVID vaccine trial. The Biden Administration is extending the special enrollment period through August. And some covid patients are doing smell therapy to recover the sense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so many seniors vaccinated the CDC reports, the percentage of Americans 65 and older going to hospitals for COVID-19 is lower than 26 to 45-year-old adults. The American Hospital Association is pushing for antitrust scrutiny of UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of Change Healthcare. And in Maryland, there’s legislation to prevent hospitals from taking some patients to court over unpaid bills. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gist Healthcare co-founders Lisa Bielamowicz and Chas Roades discuss how strategies around scale in healthcare have evolved over the course of the pandemic—and how payers and disruptors are doubling down on virtual and home-based care as they shift toward vertical integration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As more contagious coronavirus variants spread, cases inch up in some states. The FDA is trying to figure out how to regulate software as a medical device. And according to a new study in Health Affairs, the majority of hospitals are not being transparent about their prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amazon is expanding its virtual care service to employees and other employers around the country. The Biden Administration is expanding COVID testing. And as consumer confidence returns will people go back to the doctor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The vast majority of people are getting both doses of the two-shot COVID-19 vaccines on time. Grand Rounds and Doctor on Demand announce plans to merge. And continuous glucose monitor companies are trying to reach the millions of diabetics, even though evidence about efficacy for some patients is still limited. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A New York Times investigation finds the CMS nursing home star rating system is broken. As telehealth providers cross state lines competition heats up. And Biden Administration is set to roll out a public relations campaign to encourage skeptics to get vaccines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two former competitors, a rural North Dakota critical access hospital and community health center, joined forces to rationalize care and better serve their community. We explore this unique collaboration and whether it can be replicated in other underserved communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden is directing states to make all adults will be eligible for the vaccine by May 1. The Supreme Court is no longer hearing a case challenging the legality of Medicaid work requirement case at the end of the month. And people are sharing their COVID vaccine status on dating apps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill heads to the President’s desk. A California judge approves the landmark antitrust settlement against Sacramento-based Sutter Health. And new recommendations suggest smokers get screened for lung cancer earlier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vaccine demand varies dramatically across the country. The new COVID relief bill includes a big boost in tax credits for individuals buying health insurance on the marketplace. And an article in the New Yorker investigates why COVID-19 has hit some more developed countries harder than lower-income countries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC says fully vaccinated people can gather together inside without masks. The federal government is offering big incentives to expand Medicaid. But will it convince the 12 holdout states? And new reporting finds New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s advisers altered reports to hide nursing home deaths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Traditional health systems are facing an increasingly competitive market, as retailers, payers, and telehealth providers are getting deeper into the care delivery business. Newport News, VA-based Riverside Health System is using patient outreach and care navigation platform Upfront Healthcare to build consumer loyalty and drive patients back to the health system for missed care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regulators are investigating OneMedical for letting people jump the vaccine line. The Senate COVID relief bill includes more money for rural hospitals. And nonwhite caregivers say they face more discrimination when trying to get care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that you’re fully vaccinated, what social gatherings are safe? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to release new guidance. Amazon Care looks like it’s laying the groundwork for a large expansion. And lawmakers say it’s time to make telehealth flexibilities for seniors permanent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden says by May there will be enough vaccines for all adults. When private equity firms buy nursing homes deaths increase, according to new research. Arkansas, the first state to implement Medicaid work requirements, now has a new plan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mass vaccination sites are popping up in several states and primary care doctors are getting few doses. Cigna is acquiring telemedicine company MDLive. And the FTC drops its challenge to a hospital merger in Philadelphia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bremerton, Washington-based Peninsula Community Health Services is working with church and other community leaders to connect with individuals who are hesitant to get the shot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospital giant HCA Healthcare is expanding into post-acute care and home health. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are going down but how will we know when the pandemic is over. And a new Kaufman Hall report projects hospitals could lose up to $122 billion this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FDA says Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccine is safe and effective. Insurers are making big investments in-home healthcare. And young adults are reporting feeling very lonely as they socially isolate during the pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pharmaceutical executives tell Congress vaccine supply will increase in March. Confirmation hearings are underway for Xavier Becerra, the nominee to lead HHS. And some telehealth companies aren’t just focused on direct patient care, but also partnering with health systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

500,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. IBM is reportedly considering selling its Watson Health business. And as Match Day approaches, there are still thousands of medical school graduates who struggle to find a program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Bela Patel, the division director of critical care medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, discusses lessons learned from the pandemic. Providers quickly adapted to emerging science because of local and international collaborations and Patel wants to carry that forward as hospitals move past this crisis and prepare for future ones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two Democratic senators are reviving their public option bill. Google is opening an office 10 minutes away from Mayo Clinic. And during the pandemic, medical research has moved into patient's homes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden has reportedly picked Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to lead CMS. The CDC is working to pick up the pace of sequencing COVID-19 tests to track variants. And about a third of people delayed or skipped care during the pandemic - will they come back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daily COVID-19 cases are down from record highs, but experts it's important to continue public health measures as more contagious variants spread. CVS Health’s insurance arm Aetna will start selling insurance on the marketplace next year. And the Biden Administration started unwinding Medicaid work requirements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic has hit struggling rural hospitals hard. Michael Topchik, national leader for rural health at healthcare consulting firm The Chartis Group discusses how although more hospitals are vulnerable, he's optimistic the Biden Administration’s focus on health equity could lead to new payment models that allow rural hospitals to focus more on emergency and outpatient care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 of the country’s largest health systems are joining together to create a company to capitalize on their valuable troves of health data. Starting Monday, millions of Americans will have another chance to buy health insurance plans on the individual marketplace. And an Ohio-based emergency medicine practice is buying out its minority partner, a private equity firm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a rare showing of unity, associations representing hospitals, physicians, insurers as well as business groups are backing President Biden’s plans to expand health coverage. The CDC is emphasizing how important mask fit is for protection. And pharmacies are hiring thousands to help administer vaccines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.