Proposed tariffs threaten medical device supply chain
Editor's Note Analysts say proposed tariffs on imported goods could increase costs for approximately 75% of medical devices marketed in the United States, 69% of which are manufactured solely abroad, according to a January 20 article in Medical Product Outsourcing. Valued at $197.8 billion in 2023, the US medical device…
Providers push back on insurance cost-cutting hurdles
Editor's Note Escalating administrative hurdles from insurers are heightening tensions between healthcare payers and providers who criticize the measures for threatening patient care, Modern Healthcare reported January 22. According to the article, policies attracting criticism include stringent prior authorization rules, claims denials, and new fees for appeals. For their part,…
HHS report highlights cost, access, quality concerns with private equity in healthcare
Editor's Note Growing consolidation and private equity investments in healthcare are driving up costs, reducing access, and raising quality concerns, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to HHS’ January 15 announcement, the report stems from a tri-agency effort by HHS, the…
HIPAA security standard update sparks debate over cost, feasibility, patient safety
Editor's Note The first federal overhaul of the HIPAA Security Rule in over a decade aims to address modern cybersecurity threats but has drawn sharp criticism from health systems over its cost and feasibility, according to a January 13 article in Axios. According to the article, the proposed changes require…
Health data inaccuracies cost millions, threaten care quality
Editor's Note Healthcare data inaccuracies occur at rates as high as 26.9% in hospitals, with related inefficiencies costing providers up to $20 million annually, HealthLeaders reported January 8. According to the article, these inaccuracies stem from factors such as data entry mistakes, outdated information, inconsistent data standards, and system integration…
Hospital M&A trends report reveals financial distress, market reorganization
Editor's Note The US hospital industry continues to face significant financial and structural challenges despite signs of stabilization in 2024, according to a January 9 report from Kaufman Hall. Despite improved operating margins and stable credit outlooks from major rating agencies, a surge in transactions involving financially distressed organizations and…
Study: Patient care experience declined after private equity hospital acquisitions
Editor's Note Patients fared worse in the wake of private equity acquisitions of US hospitals, according to research published January 9 in JAMA Network. Over a decade-long analysis of 73 acquired hospitals and 293 matched controls, declines became more pronounced in the years following acquisition, researchers wrote. Key findings include:…
Proposed tariffs, stricter immigration policies threaten healthcare workforce, supply chain
Editor's Note Immigration and trade policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump could exacerbate challenges with healthcare staff and medical supply chains, according to recent reporting from Modern Healthcare and The Hill. As detailed by Modern Healthcare, stricter immigration policies could impede efforts to recruit skilled international workers, exacerbating gaps in…
Why active implants demand proactive management
What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…
Antitrust guideline withdrawal could dampen M&A, boost uncertainty for provider joint ventures
Editor's Note In a move that could hinder provider-led joint ventures and increase regulatory uncertainty, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department have withdrawn antitrust guidance issued in 2000. Modern Healthcare reported the news on December 16. Passed in a 3-2 vote, the decision eliminates previously relied-upon safe…
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