Prior authorizations (PAs) continue to be one of the biggest hurdles to timely patient care. A recent survey found that 93% of physicians say that the PA process can delay treatment and three-quarters have seen PAs increase over the last…

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic launched a digital tool that allows patients to compare hospitals based on quality metrics. HealthLocator is a free tool that uses publically available CMS data on clinical quality, hospital patient safety, associated infection metrics and patient…

Smoking has long been a significant concern for healthcare professionals. As a leading cause of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and strokes, smoking is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare industry almost $227 billion annually, with wider…

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a landmark opportunity, offering significant funding to address the persistent challenges in rural healthcare. But states that view this as just another funding stream will miss the point. The RHTP is a mandate…

Hospitals and academic medical centers are posting a larger share of physician job postings, but financial uncertainty in the market could dampen their recruiting efforts, according to a recent report from AMN Healthcare, a recruiting firm.  Between April 2024 and…

Hospital and health system leaders have long championed equitable care, but they recognize that financial pressures, social determinants of health and payer-driven metrics now demand even greater intentionality to confront disparities in their communities. “It’s time to double down,” said…

Respiratory syncytial virus activity is starting to tick up across the country, marking the start of virus season, according to data tracked by epidemiologists and public health experts.  Routine CDC tracking on respiratory virus trends is on pause amid the…

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s November meeting has been postponed amid the government shutdown, HHS confirmed to The Hill.  The task force, which typically meets three times a year, has not formally convened since March. HHS Secretary Robert F.…

Over the past several weeks, The Joint Commission has unveiled a new measure of quality hospitals will need to meet in order to earn accreditation and shared more details about a new effort to support hospitals with quality improvement and…

Hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission will soon have access to a new optional support model designed to strengthen performance between surveys, the organization said Oct. 29. Three things to know: 1. The optional “Continuous Engagement” model will launch Jan.…