The rule places financial burden on provider organizations and forces them to divert resources to purchase drugs necessary for patient care, the AHA said.

About half of those who said they want the shot as soon as possible know someone who has already gotten a dose, a much larger share than among those who said they'll get it only if required (29%) or will refuse to get it (36%).

As U.S. infections climb above 24 million, doctors with no other FDA-approved treatment options are now prescribing remdesivir to half the covid patients in U.S. hospitals.

COVID-19 relief was meant to give a lifeline to hospitals, especially the small, rural facilities that struggled to stay open before 2020. But in states like Oklahoma, problems created by confusing guidelines could cause harm long after the pandemic.

The Indianapolis-based insurer reported medical enrollment totaling 42.9 million members at the end of 2020, up 4.7% year-over-year.