Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week.
1. Nashville General to end inpatient care
Nashville (Tenn.) Mayor Megan Barry announced Nov. 9 Nashville General Hospital will end all inpatient services and transition to an ambulatory surgical care center providing only outpatient services.
2. AMGA: 10 median salaries by medical specialty
This year, 77 percent of medical specialties saw an increase in median compensation.
3. 5 things to know about Alex Azar, Trump's pick for HHS secretary
President Donald Trump announced on Twitter Monday he selected Alex Azar to fill the post of HHS secretary, left open by Tom Price, MD, who resigned Sept. 29 following an investigation into his extensive use of taxpayer-funded private jets.
4. Essentia Health employees without flu shots face firing Monday
Employees of Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health have a handful of days left to receive flu shots if they have not already. Come Monday, Nov. 20, employees who are not immunized, have no intent to receive flu shots and lack an exemption run the risk of termination.
5. St. Luke's hospital unable to take Medicare, Medicaid patients after accreditation error
St. Luke's Nampa (Idaho) Medical Center, a new hospital under Boise, Idaho-based St. Luke's Health System, cannot take nonemergent Medicare and Medicaid patients unless they pay out-of-pocket for services.
6. Aetna CEO on healthcare sign-ups: 'I have someone else do it for me, because I can't take it'
During a keynote discussion at a Financial Executives International conference in New York City Monday, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini described healthcare as a "rat's maze."
7. CHS to sell additional hospitals worth $2B in revenue
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems completed its 30-hospital divestiture plan Nov. 1. Now, the company expects to sell another group of its hospitals with combined revenue of $2 billion, Chairman and CEO Wayne Smith said during a third quarter earnings call.
8. CHS shares continue downward spiral, hit all-time low
Shares of Community Health Systems closed Tuesday at $4.23, their lowest price ever.
9. California hospital board considers harassment allegations involving CFO, calls for CEO's dismissal
Fort Bragg, Calif.-based Mendocino Coast District Hospital board members evaluated the performance of the hospital's CFO and CEO during a closed meeting Thursday.
10. Shuttered Tennessee hospital needs patients to pay up to cover $40k in past-due wages
Copper Basin Medical Center in Copperhill, Tenn., was behind on its payroll when it closed Oct. 1, and some employees are still waiting to be paid
11. Hospital groups, health systems sue HHS to halt $1.6B in payment cuts
Three hospital groups and three provider organizations sued HHS Monday in an attempt to stop payment cuts for drugs purchased through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.