UnitedHealth Group plans to end its contracts with Mednax physicians in four states, beginning as early as March, the physician staffing group said Feb. 20. 

While major technology companies continue to throw significant resources behind fighting misinformation about the coronavirus and developing a vaccine, their business operations are also being severely impacted by the outbreak.

As of 10 a.m., Feb. 21, the coronavirus has sickened 76,787 and has resulted in 2,248 deaths. Globally, 18,864 people have recovered from the illness. 

Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health has moved up the closure date for Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland, Ky.

CMS issued a proposed rule Feb. 20, which includes a three-year extension of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.

Hospital software provider NRC Health is notifying its affiliated hospitals that it was targeted in a ransomware attack Feb. 11, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. 

Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health will transition from its Cerner EHR to an Epic system, a health system spokesperson confirmed to Becker's Hospital Review on Feb. 20.

Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport, N.C., has named two interim leaders after the CEO's resignation.

The effectiveness of the current season's influenza vaccine is about 45 percent, according to a new CDC report.

Devicemakers Abbott, ResMed and Teleflex all announced high-risk medical device recalls Feb. 19. 

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

"We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves." My colleagues in healthcare may relate to those words, written by author Tom Robbins. They apply to any leader in any sector of healthcare. As the CEO of New York's largest health system, I see all too clearly how the decisions we make each day can either push the industry forward or set it back.

Shares of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems surged Feb. 20, the day after the company released financial results for the fourth quarter of 2019 and provided guidance for 2020.

Amy Frieman, MD, is a 10-year veteran of Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health, and she recently took on a new role as chief wellness officer for the organization.

After temporarily only accepting walk-in patients, ambulances are once again bringing patients to Jellico (Tenn.) Community Hospital. However, the hospital is still facing payroll problems, according to WVLT News.

A Canadian woman who was denied access to Vertex Pharmaceuticals' breakthrough cystic fibrosis drug, Trikafta, died of the disease Feb. 19, CTV News reported. 

The drug industry has long had enormous lobbying power in Washington, but that power may be fading amid more bipartisan efforts to lower drug prices, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

One in 5 — or an estimated 50 million — Americans said they or someone in their household contributed to a crowdfunding campaign like those on GoFundMe to help pay for medical bills, according to a new survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.

Hospitals recognized for high-quality cardiovascular care are more likely be penalized under federal value-based programs, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology.

Providers are concerned a new national policy from Aetna involving evaluation and management services will result in inappropriate down-codes.