In this podcast I review the week's coverage in mainstream and specialty media about how we spend trillions of dollars making intermediaries rich instead of making ourselves healthier. This week, I look at consolidation & monopolization trends in the hospital sector as well as the continuing massification of insurance/provider combos; the private equity invasion of healthcare; and important news on pharmaceuticals including state attempts to rein in drug prices. I also pass on news about a new billing scam known as the “facility fee.”
Access the whole digest at nypan.org/single-payer-news or get it free to your inbox by writing me at tfrasca@yahoo.com
Here are all the links to the articles mentioned:
Brett Kelman & Samantha Liss, “After Appalachian hospitals merged into a monopoly, their ERs slowed to a crawl,” KFF Health News/The Tennessean, Mar 25, 2024 https://bit.ly/4cT3VbI
Susanna Vogel, “Steward’s legal battles offer insight into pattern of mismanagement,” Healthcare Dive, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/3VEWui7
Dave Muoio, “Optum to buy struggling Steward Health Care’s physician group under proposed deal,” Fierce Healthcare, Mar 27, 2024 https://bit.ly/4alkqvj
Paige Minemyer, “Amedisys says Oregon regulators are reviewing its $3.7B acquisition by UnitedHealth,” Fierce Healthcare, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/499Gis9
Anna Claire Vollers, “Vets fret as private equity snaps up clinics, pet care companies,” Stateline, Mar 29, 2024 https://bit.ly/3POZYLf
Susanna Vogel, “Ascension will outsource Illinois hospitalist functions to PE-backed staffing firm,” Healthcare Dive, Mar 26, 2024 https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/ascension-outsource-private-equity-chicago/711372/
Phil Galewitz, “Hospitals cash in on a private equity-backed trend: Concierge physician care,” KFF Health News/ABC News, Apr 1, 2024 https://bit.ly/43MfbSV
Katheryn Houghton, “Some Medicaid providers borrow or go into debt amid ‘unwinding’ payment disruptions,” KFF Health News/Daily Yonder, Mar 27, 2024 https://bit.ly/3U429x1
Liz Seegert, “Is Medicare keeping pace with our aging population? Experts say ‘we need to double down and go faster,’” Fortune, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3xtBBw2
Paula Span, “When Medicaid comes after the family home,” New York Times, Mar 16, 2024 https://nyti.ms/3J3tau1
Nick Corbishley, “UK medicines regulator’s role as Pharma ‘enabler’ during pandemic comes under microscope,” Naked Capitalism, Mar 12, 2024 https://bit.ly/4aFuJdg
Lev Facher, “Switzerland had a drug overdose crisis. Then it made methadone easy to get,” STAT, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3POWZlY
John Ingold, “Pharmaceutical company Amgen sues Colorado over price-setting prescription drug board,” Colorado Sun, Mar 25, 2024 https://bit.ly/3J4kEuR
Mike Scarcella, “AstraZeneca sues Arkansas to block drug-discount program,” Reuters, Mar 26, 2024 https://reut.rs/3PPerXk
Jonathan Gardner, “FDA approves Merck lung disease drug acquired in $11B deal,” Biopharma Dive, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3J4vYXT
Daniel Payne, “Who pays when AI steers your doctor wrong?” Politico, Mar 24, 2024 https://politi.co/4avznL4
Melanie Evans, “Hospitals are adding billions in ‘facility fees’ for routine care,” Wall Street Journal, Mar 25, 2024 Hospitals Are Adding Billions in ‘Facility’ Fees for Routine Care
The Fat Shots Will Bankrupt Us -- But We Like Them! May 31, 2024
Hospitals go bankrupt, others merge, rural hospitals get couch lint
Why we are handling avian flu as badly as Covid (Do Not Resuscitate This System #347)
Good news at last! health insurers lose money and take heat from Congress
Khan's FTC bans non-compete agreements, hospital CEOs' panties in huge twist
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #344 Apr 19 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #343 Apr 12 2024
Do Not Resuscictate (This System) #341 Mar 29 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #340 Mar 22 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #339 Mar 15 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #338 Mar 8 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #337 Mar 1 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #336 Fe 23 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #335 Feb 16 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #334 Feb 9 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #333 Feb 2 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (ThisSystem) #332 Jan 26 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #331 Jan 19 2024
Do Not Resuscitate (This System) #330 Jan 12 2024
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