Editor's Note Telehealth providers are divided over whether to continue serving Medicare patients after reimbursement expired alongside the federal government shutdown, Modern Healthcare October 9 reports. The impasse has forced organizations to weigh patient access against financial risk, with many issuing advance beneficiary notices warning patients they may be responsible…
Editor's Note The nursing shortage in California is deepening, with RN vacancies projected to grow from 3.7% in 2024 to 16.7% by 2033, HealthLeaders and KFF Health News October 8 report. The researchers cite inadequate training and retention pipelines, while nurses on the front lines say mismanagement, understaffing, and profit…
Editor's Note The government shutdown has halted operations at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), delaying the release of crucial economic data at a time when job growth is already faltering, Newsweek October 1 reports. The BLS confirmed it will suspend all data collection and reporting during the shutdown, including…
Editor's Note Following yesterday’s update on the impact of the federal government shutdown on telehealth and Affordable Care Act disruptions, the shutdown is also straining military health systems, biomedical research, and disease prevention programs, creating ripple effects for patient care and surgical innovation, Politico October 1 reports. While Medicare, Medicaid,…
Editor's Note A federal shutdown has halted critical healthcare programs, disrupted Medicare telehealth and hospital-at-home coverage, and escalated partisan conflict over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, multiple outlets report, including HealthLeaders October 1 and KFF Health News. The budget impasse reportedly is leaving both patients and providers in…
Editor's Note Innovation is transforming surgical care faster than most institutions can keep pace, but leaders must distinguish between investments that advance patient care and those that add cost without meaningful benefit. That is the central message from a September 8 Harvard Medical School article featuring insights from Jon O.…
Editor's Note Patient complaints against hospitals have skyrocketed, rising 79% in just 5 years and topping 14,500 in fiscal year 2024, HealthLeaders September 12 reports. The surge reflects not only mounting dissatisfaction with care experiences but also systemic oversight delays that leave concerns unaddressed, fueling mistrust in hospitals. The Centers…
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has partnered with Lifesaving Technologies to expand access to emergency response equipment and training across the US, the ACS announced on September 3. The collaboration builds on the ACS Stop the Bleed program, which has already trained more than 5 million people…
Editor's Note The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is set to reshape rural healthcare in ways that could destabilize already fragile systems. According to a September 3 JAMA Network article, the law is set to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over 10 years, cuts that…
Editor's Note The UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has received more than $2.2 million in Department of Defense funding for two research projects addressing bone health in prostate cancer and preventing arthritis after joint injuries, a UC Davis Health July 15 news release reports. The larger grant, $1.8 million,…