1. CMS finalizes physician payment rule for 2021: 6 takeaways  Full story

2. 10 hospitals seeking RCM talent  Full story

3. 60+ groups call on Congress to pass surprise billing protections  Full story

4. Looking for input from financial leaders! Becker's Healthcare is hosting a survey focused on healthcare priorities for 2021. Click here to fill out the 5 minute survey to receive a complementary badge to a Becker's conference and an e-book of the findings.

5. New Jersey school board sues Horizon, says insurer threatened to stop paying claims for 14,000 workers  Full story

6. 70 workers at West Virginia hospital out due to COVID-19  Full story

7. Senators unveil $908B COVID-19 relief bill  Full story

8. The right technology can automate several AR processes. Click here to learn how to boost collections and efficiency.

9. 85 hospitals postponing elective procedures amid the COVID-19 resurgence  Full story

10. Optum CEO is back after COVID-19 vaccine work  Full story

11. Biden closes in on pick for HHS secretary  Full story

12. Help your patients feel safe when returning for care they delayed by employing these action items. Click here for a roadmap to recovery.

13. Allegheny Health records nearly $18M operating loss  Full story

14. 10 states with the highest health insurance costs for employees  Full story

15.  Daily COVID-19 stats, state-by-state:

• Test positivity rates
• Hospitalizations
• Where the virus is spreading fastest, slowest
• Death rates

Becker's Learning Opportunities

1. The key to a more financially productive primary care practice is the membership-based model. Click here to learn how 1,100 successful practices have followed that path.

2. What do nearly 4k patients say about the healthcare financial experience? Click here to see the results of the 2020 survey.

3. Glycemic control is critical for managing all patients, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Click here to learn best practices to improve patient outcomes.