Care Coordination

UnitedHealth Group has its sights set on development through executive hires, sustainability initiatives and financial goals. 

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine's application to close the obstetrics and gynecology department at its McHenry, Ill., hospital, Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported Dec. 14.

The Howard R. Levine Foundation donated $25 million to Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health Foundation, which will go toward the new Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte coming in 2024.

Hospitals are increasingly using cryptocurrency to accept donations, but the method could pose some risks, Marketplace reported Dec. 14.

The Defense Department issued Optum a $172 million contract modification for its indefinite-delivery bridge contract, according to a Dec. 13 news release. 

Vermont's Department of Financial Regulation issued an emergency rule Dec. 8 that requires payers to fully cover over-the-counter COVID-19 antigen tests without cost-sharing, according to The Center Square. 

Massachusetts is ordering hospitals with limited capacity to reduce nonurgent procedures by 50 percent starting Dec. 15. 

COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising nationally — up 21 percent over the last 14 days — but remain below levels seen during last winter's peak, according to HHS data cited by The New York Times. 

Mayo Clinic is giving $500,000 to 80 nonprofits in communities it serves across the U.S. for its Season of Gratitude awards, the health system announced Dec. 9. 

About 400,000 affected patients are following contract negotiations between Atlanta-based Northside Hospital System and Anthem, which has set a  Dec. 31 deadline to reach an agreement, according to 11ALive.