Teladoc's Livongo program focuses on sustainable behavioral changes that improve glycemic and HbA1c metrics for patients.
Telehealth provider Teladoc Health is teaming up with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to improve remote disease management for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Starting July 1, Wexner patients can enroll in Teladoc's Livongo for Diabetes Program, a patient-centric customized wellness program designed to improve hemoglobin A1c and other metabolic markers that reduce diabetes complications and ultimately reducing the use of healthcare resources.
The Livongo program focuses on sustainable behavioral changes that improve glycemic and HbA1c levels for patients. The program relies on real-time feedback, live coaching, curated educational content, health nudges, and five-day mini challenges for patients. The system eases data sharing with patients' physicians, allowing them to monitor their patients' progress.
Livongo patients will get a cellular-connected blood glucose meter, unlimited test strips, 24/7 interventional support, and ongoing access to Teladoc clinicians.
"With the prevalence of diabetes growing nationwide and in Ohio, patients are faced with ever-increasing challenges to manage this disease," Hal Paz, MD, executive vice president and chancellor for Health Affairs at The Ohio State University and CEO of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, said in a media release.
"This partnership with Teladoc Health's Livongo disease management and chronic care unit is a complementary platform to deliver high quality care to our patients living with diabetes while advancing our commitment to digital health and innovation," Paz said.
It's the second time in four years that Kindred has been sold.
LifePoint Health has entered a "definitive agreement" to buy specialty and long-term care provider Kindred Healthcare, the two for-profit health systems announced jointly on Monday.
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
LifePoint said it will provide details of the transaction in "the near future," but stressed that the acquisition is not funded by money received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other federal legislation.
The sale is expected to be finalized by the end of 2021.
It's the second time in three years that Louisville, Kentucky-based Kindred has been sold.
In 2017, Humana Inc. and private equity firms TPG Capital and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe aquired Kindred and split the company in two, with Humana becoming a minority investor in the Kindred at Home business, and the private equity firms acquiring the long-term care and rehab hospitals.
"Kindred's focus on healing and hope, provided through its long-term acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers and most recently its behavioral health services – an important and growing need across the country – is highly complementary to the current LifePoint network," Dill said.
Kindred CEO Benjamin A. Breier called the sale "a validation of Kindred's success."
"Over the last several years, we have transformed Kindred into the nation's leading specialty hospital company, known for improving outcomes and providing compassionate care for the most medically complex patients," Breier said. "LifePoint’s investment in Kindred underscores the outstanding reputation our team has built upon a foundation of innovation, and clinical and operational expertise."
Brentwood, Tennessee-based LifePoint operates 89 community hospitals in 29 states.
Kindred operates 62 long-term acute-care hospitals, 27 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, and two behavioral health hospitals in 16 states.
The deal more than doubles Steward's Florida hospital footprint, and cuts Tenet's Florida hospital stake in half.
Steward Health Care System, LLC will buy five hospitals and their physician practices in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area from Tenet Healthcare Corporation for $1.1 billion, the two for-profit health systems announced jointly Thursday.
The hospitals are Coral Gables Hospital, Florida Medical Center, Hialeah Hospital, North Shore Medical Center and Palmetto General Hospital. The acquisition halves investor-owned Tenet's hospital stake in Florida, with five of the 10 hospitals remaining with Tenet all located in nearby Palm Beach County.
Tenet's Conifer Health Solutions subsidiary will provide revenue cycle management for the five hospitals after the deal is finalized. Tenet will keep its ambulatory facilities operated by United Surgical Partners International in these markets.
Steward's Florida operations will be directed by Sanjay Shetty, MD, president of Steward North America.
Steward Founder Ralph de la Torre, MD, who grew up in Florida as the son of Cuban immigrants, said the physician-owned health system was "eager to offer both patients and healthcare providers in South Florida the full support of the Steward network as we all seek to emerge stronger and healthier from the pandemic."
"As a Floridian with close family ties to the area, I am proud of Steward's significant investment in the people of South Florida, whose tight-knit communities and vibrant diversity have always represented the very best of American culture," de la Torre said.
When the deal is finalized, Steward will more than double its footprint in Florida as the five new hospitals join Melbourne Regional Medical Center, Rockledge Regional Medical Center, and Sebastian River Medical Center on Florida's Treasure Coast and Space Coast.
Spectrum Health President and CEO Tina Freese Decker will lead the unified system when the merger is completed.
Michigan's Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health have signed a letter of intent to "explore creating a new health system," the two health systems said Thursday in a joint announcement.
If the merger of the cross-state, not-for-profit providers is consummated, the unified health system -- temporarily named "BHSH System" -- will operate 22 hospitals and 305 outpatient locations, with more than 64,000 employees, including more than 7,500 physicians, more than 3,000 advanced practice clinicians, and more than 15,000 nurses, the health systems said.
"Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health are leaders in our respective markets, and by bringing together our organizations to create a new system, we have the opportunity to deliver greater value in high-quality and affordable health care to our communities," said Spectrum Health President and CEO Tina Freese Decker, who will lead the unified system when the merger is completed.
"Together, we can provide a more personalized experience that prioritizes individuals’ health while also attracting and retaining great talent to our vibrant communities," she said.
Beaumont Health President and CEO John Fox will leave the health system after the merger, and a new president will be hired for as president of BHSH Beaumont Health.
The new system will operate dual headquarters in Southfield and Grand Rapids, the current headquarters of Beaumont and Spectrum, respectively. Freese Decker and senior leaders will spend time on both sides of the state.
A 16-member board will include seven seats appointed by each system, Freese Decker, and a new Board member to be appointed when the merger is finalized. The board will include at least three physicians. The temporary legal name of the new organization will be "BHSH System."
The first board chair will be Julie Fream, the board chair of Beaumont Health.
Harmon replaces outgoing AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD, an allergist from Fort Worth.
Gerald E. Harmon, MD, a retired Air Force major general and a family medicine physician from Pawleys Island, S.C., was sworn in Tuesday as the 176th president of the American Medical Association.
The ceremony was remote during the virtual Special Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, where the ongoing pandemic and its exposure of systemic problems in the healthcare system were the center of attention.
Harmon replaces outgoing AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD, an allergist from Fort Worth.
During his one-year term, Harmon has pledged to focus on the agenda put forward by the AMA in recent months, including ongoing efforts to promote vaccinations and improve the public health infrastructure, addressing systemic racism as a public health issue, and improving care access and equity, especially in areas such as telehealth, which is often hamstrung in rural and underserved areas by lack of broadband.
"The COVID pandemic has revealed enormous gaps in how we care for people and communities in America, demonstrated in the disproportionate impact of this pandemic on communities of color and in the weaknesses of our under-funded and under-resourced Public Health infrastructure," Harmon said in his inaugural address.
"During such times of struggle and heartbreak, it is important for us to 'remember our why.' Why did we enter medicine? Why do we continue to struggle against overwhelming administrative and regulatory burdens? Why are we risking our health and our families during this global pandemic," Harmon said. "I would submit that the education, the training, the years of experience and sacrifice we have gone through has prepared us for such a time as this."
Harmon served 35 years in the U.S. Air Force, before retiring as a major general. He has been practicing family medicine for more than 30 years, currently in his hometown of Georgetown, S.C. He has been an AMA board member since 2013 and was board chair from 2017 to 2018. He has also served in several leadership roles at the physicians' association, including the AMA Council on Medical Service. He has also served in several leadership roles at the South Carolina Medical Association, including chairman of the board and president.
Harmon is a clinical professor at two South Carolina medical schools, and a member of the clinical faculty for the Tidelands Health MUSC Family Medicine residency program. He is also an adviser to the board of trustees of a community health system and vice president in a multispecialty physician practice. He is also a medical director for several organizations including a non-profit hospice, and volunteers as medical supervisor for his local school district’s 23 schools.
Harmon received his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from the University of South Carolina and his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed a residency training program in family medicine with the U.S. Air Force at Eglin AFB, in Florida.
Noblesville, Indiana-based IDS provides cloud-based video communications platforms for business, healthcare, and government.
Tech sector private equity firm Berenson Capital said Monday that it has acquired Interactive Digital Solutions, a cloud-based, telehealth and video conferencing platform.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Noblesville, Indiana-based IDS provides a cloud-based video communication platform for healthcare systems, government, and the private sector, and features a proprietary virtual patient observation platform called MedSitter.
IDS developed MedSitter in 2017 to help healthcare systems address patient falls by using two-way video and audio observation tools and virtual patient monitoring.
"More so than ever before, this past year has highlighted the importance of strategically leveraging best-of-breed video solutions to foster communication and collaboration both internally and externally across organizations," Tracy Mills, CEO and Founder of IDS, said in a media release.
"IDS has thrived by continuously helping clients across all segments overcome a variety of challenges. We look forward to the partnership with Berenson Capital as we continue to invest in our portfolio of next-generation solutions," Mills said.
Veteran healthcare tech executive David Fetterolf will join IDS as executive chairman. Most recently Fetterolf was president of Stratus Video, a private-equity-backed healthcare video interpreting platform that was sold to AMN Healthcare for $475 million.
"IDS's portfolio of solutions is driving incredible value for their clients across all segments of the market," Fetterolf said. "In healthcare specifically, their proprietary MedSitter solution is revolutionizing how healthcare facilities address reducing patient falls within their facilities. I look forward to supporting the company as it continues providing best-in-class solutions into all markets."
Providers are urging UHC for a "full and permanent reversal" of the policy.
UnitedHealthcare has temporarily shelved its decision to retroactively deny emergency care claims after acknowledging withering blowback from major provider associations.
The American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the American College of Emergency Physicians had blasted UHC's decision to retroactive review claims. The policy was supposed to take effect next month, but UHC said it would delay implementation until at least the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Based on feedback from our provider partners and discussions with medical societies, we have decided to delay the implementation of our emergency department policy until at least the end of the national public health emergency period," UHC said in a statement.
In a letter to UHC's CEO Brian Thompson, urging him to reverse the decision, AHA President and CEO Richard J. Pollack said "patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency."
"Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care," Pollack said.
Pollack issued a statement after UHC announced the delay. He applauded the "temporary reprieve for patients" and pressed UHC for a "full and permanent reversal."
"If enacted, this policy would have a chilling effect on patients seeking emergency services, with potentially dire consequences for their health," Pollack said, adding that the policy "is also part of an unfortunate pattern of commercial health insurers denying care for needed services."
"Patients should have the confidence to seek the emergency care they need without worrying about coverage being denied," he said. "There is no justification for these restrictions now or after the public health emergency."
Like ACEP, the AHA points to the "prudent layperson standard," which requires health insurance plans to base reimbursement on a patient's presenting complaint rather than the final diagnosis, according to the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.
AHA is also asking United Healthcare to "confirm in writing that if the facility attests that a case met the prudent layperson standard that the services will be covered."
AHA says United Healthcare "acknowledges that this policy change is financially-motivated" and is skeptical of United Healthcare's argument that it would pass those cost savings onto consumers.
It says United Healthcare premiums and profits continue to rise even as it restricts coverage, noting that United Healthcare's parent company UnitedHealth Group posted a 35% year-over-year increase in operating profits in the first quarter of 2021.
"Despite earning $6.7 billion in a single quarter, UHC enrollees are being asked to pay more for their coverage," Pollack writes.
In addition to calling on United Healthcare to reverse its policy, the AHA also questions some of United Healthcare's other policies and guidance that appear to contradict its plan to retroactively deny emergency care claims.
For instance:
AHA cites United Healthcare's own online guidance for its members to that seems to contradict the new policy, which says: "Do not ignore an emergency. Take action if a situation seems life-threatening. Head to your nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number right away."
AHA says the new policy "raises significant questions about the criteria UHC will use to determine emergency services coverage."
AHA questions how United Healthcare is addressing the kinds of healthcare barriers that might push patients toward emergency care, such whether its enrollees have enough providers available during non-traditional hours; whether they help connect their enrollees with a primary care provider; whether its networks offer sufficient access to alternate sites of care, and whether it will cover the care provided at those sites without excessive administrative barriers.
AHA suggests other United Healthcare policies also restrict access—and therefore push patients to emergency departments even more. For instance, AHA cites a policy that "would reduce or eliminate coverage for certain hospital-based surgeries, laboratory and other diagnostic services, specialty pharmacy therapies, and evaluation and management services, including those provided in the emergency department, as well as those that constitute primary care."
HealthLeaders' Alexandra Wilson Pecci contributed to this report.
A Mayo Clinic program used in-home technology to monitor oxygen levels, vital signs and COVID-19 symptoms, and relied on a centralized virtual care team to manage patients.
Cancer patients with COVID-19 were less likely to need hospitalization if they received care from home using remote patient monitoring, than were cancer patients with COVID-19 who did not, a new Mayo Clinic study finds.
"We evaluated 224 Mayo Clinic patients with cancer who were found to have COVID-19 through standardized screening prior to receiving cancer treatment, or due to symptoms or close exposure," said study senior author Tufia Haddad, MD, a Mayo Clinic medical oncologist.
Researchers followed the patients March 18–July 31, 2020. The study results were presented on Friday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Mayo at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic built a remote patient monitoring program for its COVID-19 patients who were at risk for severe illness.
The program used in-home technology to monitor oxygen levels, vital signs and COVID-19 symptoms, and relied on a centralized virtual care team to manage patients. Haddad said the program had served more than 8,000 patients in rural and urban locations across 41 states by November 2020.
Among cancer / COVID patients who did not need hospitalization, those monitored remotely were significantly less likely to require hospitalization, compared with those who were not monitored, the study found.
"After balancing the two groups of patients who were or were not managed by the remote monitoring program for factors known to impact COVID-19 outcomes, such as old age, male gender and obesity, there was a 78% reduction in the risk of hospitalization (a 2.8% risk for patients on the remote monitoring program, compared to 13% for patients not on the program) attributed to the remote monitoring program," Haddad said.
In addition, cancer patients in the remote care program who subsequently were hospitalized saw fewer hospitalizations of more than one week, and fewer ICU admissions and deaths.
"It is possible that our results were due to early detection of adverse symptoms and vital sign trends that enabled earlier care interventions to alter the trajectory of disease," Haddad said, adding that further research is needed to confirm the study's results.
Slipkovich had served as interim CEO since September 2020, shortly after the for-profit health system emerged from bankruptcy.
Quorum Health announced this week that "interim" has been removed from CEO Daniel Slipkovich's title.
Slipkovich, a veteran healthcare executive, has served as a board manager for the Brentwood, Tennessee-based for-profit health system since July 2020, as the company was emerging from bankruptcy. He was named interim CEO in September.
"Dan stepped up at a challenging time and impressed us with his strategic vision and execution," Board Chair Catherine Klema said in a media release. "He's focused the company on its core operations and mission and established a commitment to excellence that will serve both Quorum Health and its affiliated hospitals – clinically, operationally and financially – for years to come."
Quorum operates 22 general acute care hospitals and outpatient services in 13 states, primarily in rural and mid-sized markets. That's almost half as many as the 38 hospitals it owned when it spun off from Community Health Systems in early 2016. The company sold 16 hospitals since then as part of an effort to reduce about $500 million in debt.
Quorum on May 28 sold its QHR Health consulting and management company to private equity firms Grant Avenue Capital, Nashville Capital Network and Brentwood Capital Advisors, with Grant Avenue holding a majority stake. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"This transaction positions QHC to refocus on our core operations," Slipkovich said. "The capital generated by the transaction will allow us to accelerate certain high priority projects and capital investment to expand health services in our existing markets and invest in new market opportunities."
In 2005, Slipkovich founded and led Capella Healthcare until its 2016 merger with RegionalCare Hospital Partners. He was also president and COO of Providence Healthcare, a senior vice president and founding executive of LifePoint Hospitals, and served in several leadership roles at HCA Healthcare.
Quorum also announced that President and COO Martin D. Smith, an executive with the company since it was formed in 2016, will retire at the end of summer.
"Marty has served as a cornerstone of this company from our formative days more than five years ago through the most difficult moments during the height of the pandemic," Slipkovich said. "We understand and respect his desire to make a change and are grateful for his dedication and stewardship."
Scott Raplee, who joined Quorum Health this year after more than 20 years in leadership at LifePoint Health, was named executive vice president and COO.
"Scott will now lead the corporate operations team as we enhance services in our existing locations and pursue opportunities in new markets," Slipkovich said. "The continued refinement of our strategic focus, coupled with our strengthened capital position and commitment to performance excellence, makes us a partner of choice for community hospitals and physicians."
Ambulatory services accounted for 22,000 job gains while nursing homes reported 2,400 job losses.
The healthcare sector grew 22,000 jobs in May, nearly triple the 8,100 jobs the sector recorded in April, preliminary federal data show.
Hospitals created 2,900 new jobs, while ambulatory services accounted for 22,000 jobs. Nursing and residential care recorded 2,400 job losses, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday.
The healthcare sector has shed 476,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic in January 2020, with hospitals accounting for 84,000 axed jobs, and nursing homes accounting for 339,000 job losses. There were 15.9 million people attached to the healthcare sector workforce in May, BLS said.
The BLS report accounts for employment in mid-May and can be subject to considerable revision.
The larger economy saw healthy but unspectacular job growth in May, with 559,000 new jobs created. More than half of those jobs (292,000) were in the leisure and hospitality sector. State and local government hirings rebounded as well, with 53,000 new jobs reported, as school systems across the nation rehire teachers.
The nation's unemployment rate inched down by 0.3 percentage point in May to 5.8%, and the number of jobless people fell by 496,000 to 9.3 million.
BLS noted that the numbers are "down considerably" from April, but "remain well above their levels prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (3.5% and 5.7 million, respectively, in February 2020)."
