The Gist Healthcare Podcast

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.

Democrats propose bigger tax credits to make individual health coverage more affordable as part of the COVID relief package. Since COVID-19 vaccines have been so effective, some scientists are pushing for a pancoronavirus vaccine. And providers raise concerns about virtual care post-pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Africa halts the distribution of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine because of concerns it doesn't offer good protection against a variant, first identified in the country. Health insurance startup Oscar Health files to go public. And there have been almost no flu cases this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-founder and CEO of DispatchHealth Dr. Mark Prather discusses how the Denver-based company is expanding from its roots in on-demand urgent care home visits to provide home-based services across the full continuum of care, including hospital-level care through a new partnership with Humana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnson and Johnson is seeking emergency approval for its single-dose covid vaccine. There’s new reporting about who’s the top choice to run CMS. And Kansas wants to use revenue from medical marijuana to expand Medicaid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some insurers are paying pediatricians so little for rapid covid tests, some stopped offering them. British health officials are going door-to-door testing thousands to stamp out a coronavirus variant. And Manaus, Brazil is struggling with a COVID surge and a shortage of oxygen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senate Democrats take the first step to move President Biden’s coronavirus relief bill forward. Independent scientists confirm Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is more than 90 percent effective. And despite treating fewer patients, HCA Healthcare reports big profits in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospital programs to treat COVID long haulers grow as scientists try to figure out what’s causing prolonged illness. States are dumping a vaccine software the government spent millions on. And Uber is expanding its prescription delivery service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are airing an episode from the health policy podcast Tradeoffs titled “We Need You”. Nursing home workers and residents have been prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations because of how deadly the pandemic for both staff and residents. But in the first several weeks of the rollout, many workers have passed on getting the injection. The Tradeoffs team dug into vaccine hesitancy among nursing home staff—and found deep, longstanding challenges that extend well beyond the decision to take the COVID-19 shot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden takes more action to roll back Trump’s healthcare moves. People trying to get COVID-19 vaccines in many states struggle to get an appointment. And more non-smokers are getting lung cancer, we highlight a report from one of the disease victims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has chosen Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Rosalind Brewer to take over as CEO. President Joe Biden is expected to take more healthcare executive actions to expand insurance coverage. And Anthem reports continued Medicare Advantage growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden is giving states more vaccines and more time to plan. Israel is leading the world in COVID-19 vaccinations. And healthcare workers report the pandemic is taking a toll on their mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google, Amazon, and other large companies are offering help with COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As more transmissible coronavirus variants are identified in the US, vaccine makers are working to catch up. And President Biden says he’s willing to negotiate on the $1.9 trillion relief proposal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Price transparency and interoperability rules are continuing to make healthcare more consumer-driven. Kristen Valdes, founder and CEO of healthcare technology company b.well Connected Health and Board Member of the CARIN Alliance, believes the industry is shifting toward consumerism and early adopters of transparency will gain patient loyalty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exactly a year ago this week, the first case of the novel coronavirus was confirmed in the US. Since then there have been more than 24 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths. One year later, President Biden laid out a new detailed, fortified response guided by science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During President Biden’s first few hours in office, he took several COVID-19 actions, including a mask mandate on federal property and rejoining the World Health Organization. UnitedHealth Group is continuing to grow its care delivery business. And coronavirus vaccine trials in kids have started but are struggling to recruit participants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The country has reached another terrible milestone - 400 thousand lives lost to COVID-19. Lawmakers say the last minute attempt to extend Medicaid waivers is invalid. And President-elect Biden fills out his healthcare team and is expected to take immediate action on COVID. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amidst all the health news in 2020, a new defined contribution model started. The Individual Health Coverage Reimbursement Arrangement or ICHRA - is projected to shake up employer insurance and double the size of the individual market. Jack Hooper, CEO of Take Command Health discusses how small and large employers are expressing interest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President-elect Biden unveils his coronavirus relief proposal which includes injecting billions into the coronavirus vaccination effort. Democrats want to revive legislation to let Medicare negotiate drug prices. And payers and startups are seizing on the popularity of telehealth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare companies are joining the wave of corporations pausing political donations. Scientists say the coronavirus is likely here to stay. And billionaire Mark Cuban enters the generic drug market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal government announces sweeping changes to speed up vaccinations amid the deadly covid surge. West Virginia is one of the few states with the smoothest vaccine rollout to date. And the pace of provider mergers and acquisitions is likely to pick up in 2021 after health systems and physician groups took big financial last year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some within the transition are concerned about meeting Biden's 100 million vaccines in Biden’s first 100 days goal. CMS approves the first block grant for Tennesee's Medicaid program. And the doctor leading the health equity task force says we need to address not only access to testing and vaccines, but also social and financial challenges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first conversation of the year Gist Healthcare co-founders Chas Roades and Lisa Bielamowicz discuss the healthcare trends they're watching in 2021, including the coronavirus vaccine rollout, the healthcare policy agenda, and whether patient volumes will return to pre-pandemic levels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Fauci says the already bad COVID situation is going to get worse this month. A contract dispute leaves thousands of doctors out of network and surprise billing protections don’t start till next year. And healthcare jobs are returning slower for women than men. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospitals now have to publish previously secret prices negotiated with insurers. A study finds COVID cases and deaths are much higher than reported. Emergency departments have seen big drops in patients since the start of the pandemic, some of which may be due to positive lifestyle changes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.