Optum Rx, the pharmacy benefit manager under UnitedHealth Group, is set to eliminate prior authorization requirements for approximately 80 prescription drugs in an effort to simplify access to medications for patients with chronic conditions. The changes are expected to reduce…
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Rhode Island is the most competitive state for physicians, while Montana is the least, according to a March 18 WalletHub ranking. WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia to find the best and worst states for physicians…
Houston Methodist is streamlining its post-acute strategy by adding extensivists to discharges and making changes to its insurance approach. The system initially used extensivists in home discharges, and after success in that program, it is expanding their assignments to post-acute…
U.S. News & World Report is making various methodology changes that will be reflected in this year’s edition of its “Best Hospitals Procedures and Conditions” ratings when they are published July 29. The changes will be used to determine ratings…
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health plans to expand an ambient AI documentation tool to an additional 200 clinicians after a successful pilot. The health system began piloting the tool in July 2024 with 100 clinicians. “One of the asks that…
Hospital margins remain tight and while they’re growing, around 37% of hospitals are still losing money, according to Kaufman Hall. The persistent financial challenges have sparked a variety of initiatives in the last few years to find cost savings and…
Health systems should be on the lookout for a ChatGPT vulnerability hackers are using to target industries including healthcare, the American Hospital Association warns. Cybersecurity firm Veriti reported March 12 that a server-side request forgery in ChatGPT has been used…
Seattle Children’s is set to launch an AI chatbot to help clinicians with treatment decisions. The pediatric health system partnered with Google to build the tool using its Gemini generative AI platform. Seattle Children’s has tested the solution with about…
The buildings Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, has helped put on the map are considerable. They include two children’s hospitals built from scratch — one in Colorado and another in Tennessee — and several additions. But as he prepares to retire…
Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham plans to invest $400 million in cancer care to expand its oncology capabilities as it prepares to transition away from its long-standing partnership with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, President and CEO Anne Klibanski, MD, said…