News Briefs
Medicare Proposal Would Require Hospitals to Report Emissions
Hospitals for the first time could be asked to report their greenhouse gas emissions to the federal health department. A new Medicare proposal to collect that data is a "game changer" for hospital efforts to fight climate change, the head of Health and Human Services' climate office told Axios.
(Source: Axios, 2024-04-22)
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FTC Prepares to Ban Noncompetes Impacting 45% of Physicians
It appears the Federal Trade Commission is ready to ban noncompete clauses that affect an estimated 45 percent of physicians, along with other clinicians and workers in other sectors of the U.S. economy. "The proposed final rule being considered would generally prevent most employers from using noncompete clauses," the FTC's official announcement said.
(Source: Medical Economics, 2024-04-17)
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AMA Warns Change Cyberattack Will Shut Down Many Small Practices
The ongoing impact of the February 21 Change Healthcare cyberattack and subsequent system outage threatens the sustainability of physician practices across the country, possibly resulting in closures. This could destabilize patient care in some areas, according to informal survey findings from the American Medical Association.
(Source: Healthcare IT News, 2024-04-22)
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Lawmakers Tackle Healthcare Security in Wake of Cyberattack
After the Change Healthcare cyberattack, federal lawmakers are considering ways to bolster the online security of healthcare organizations. The House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee convened the hearing, "Examining Health Sector Cybersecurity In The Wake Of The Change Healthcare Attack."
(Source: Medical Economics, 2024-04-16)
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More Hospitals Investing in AI Medical Scribes to Reduce Burnout
A growing number of hospitals and health systems are betting on advancements in AI as part of the cure for what ails physicians. Specifically, providers are investing in AI medical scribes and generative AI tools to help alleviate the drudgery of administrative work that takes up so much of clinicians' time.
(Source: FierceHealthcare, 2024-04-18)
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Physicians, Patients Seek Transparency as Generative AI Takes Off
In an online survey of 100 practicing physicians who work in a large U.S. hospital or health system and use clinical decision support tools, four in five providers -- 81 percent -- agreed that generative artificial intelligence can improve care team interactions with patients. The doctors surveyed by Wolter Kluwer also indicated high standards for selecting genAI tools -- with 89 percent reporting they need vendors to be transparent about the sources of CDS data and want to be sure it comes from practicing medical experts before they use it for their clinical decisions.
(Source: Healthcare IT News, 2024-04-19)
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White House Issues Final Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Ratio Rule
The Biden administration finalized the first-ever minimum staffing rule at nursing homes, Vice President Kamala Harris announced. The controversial mandate requires that all nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding provide a total of at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, including defined periods from registered nurses and from nurse aides.
(Source: CNN, 2024-04-22)
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Dispute Resolution Rule Has Providers, Drugmakers Bickering
Providers and drugmakers are once again at odds over the 340B drug discount program: this time, over a rule finalized by the Biden administration making changes to its dispute resolution process. The final rule, which will become effective in mid-June, is meant to make dispute resolution more accessible and efficient, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, the agency that oversees 340B.
(Source: Healthcare Dive, 2024-04-19)
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Federal Agencies Unveil Online Portal HealthyCompetition.gov
The federal government wants the public to join its campaign against anticompetitive practices in healthcare. The Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department, and the Department of Health and Human Services launched HealthyCompetition.gov, an "easily accessible online portal" that allows the public "to report healthcare practices that may harm competition."
(Source: HealthLeaders Media, 2024-04-18)
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Despite Labor Gains, Hospitals Still Have Staffing Shortages
The U.S. may be recovering from a physician shortage, but don't expect to spend less time in hospital waiting rooms this year. Healthcare worker numbers are steadily growing but remain below pre-pandemic trends, according to a Bank of America report published in April.
(Source: Business Insider, 2024-04-19)
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Drug Shortages Hit Record High in First Three Months of 2024
Drug shortages have reached a record high in the first three months of 2024. In the first quarter of the year, 323 drugs were running low, surpassing the 2014 high of 320, according to data provided by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service.
(Source: USA Today, 2024-04-17)
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