Iowa news
Iowa ranked third in number of hospitals reporting patient services losses
Rural hospitals nationwide are taking losses on patient services, meaning insurers aren’t paying enough to cover the cost of care delivery, according to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. Losses on patient services have forced some hospitals to close service lines and reduce access to care in already underserved communities. There are over 600 hospitals at risk of closure nationwide because of financial constraints and inflation. The report compiled data about hospitals that lost money delivering patient services over a multiyear period, excluding the first year of the pandemic. Iowa reported the third most hospitals with losses on services at 64 hospitals. (Becker’s Hospital CFO Report)
Mercy College names new provost, vice president of academic affairs
Timothy Laurent, Ed.D., was named Mercy College of Health Sciences’ provost and vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Laurent was selected following an extensive national search. In this role, he will oversee Mercy College’s academic affairs, in collaboration with academic leaders and faculty members, to develop cooperative partnerships with health care affiliates and ensure positive outcomes for student retention, graduation and licensure passage. (Mercy College of Health Sciences)
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics shares findings on newer type of cancer treatment
Physicians at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics say lives are being saved today thanks to research that started five years ago. It’s the result of a clinical trial into a newer type of cancer treatment. CAR-T cell therapy is a way to alter someone’s immune system to better recognize cancer in the body and kill it faster and more effectively. The success rates are higher than ever, and it’s also proven to be quicker and less invasive than other forms of treatment. (KCRG)
National news
The American Hospital Association Leadership Summit is scheduled July 16-18, in Seattle. Renowned speakers from across health care will provide in-depth guidance and actionable strategies to enhance care quality and financial stability, overcome workforce challenges and improve the health care user experience. The conference offers insights and ideas for senior executives, clinical leaders, board trustees and next-generation health care leaders. (American Hospital Association)
The top five medical services Americans are skipping
Financial uncertainty and the high cost of medical expenses have caused many people to forgo medical treatment, a Federal Reserve report found. In 2022, 28% of adults went without some form of medical care because they couldn’t afford it. Dental care, physician or specialist visits, prescription medicine, follow-up care and mental health care were noted as the top five medical services Americans did not undergo because of cost. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Physicians and patients are worried this large health insurer’s new policy will delay care
UnitedHealthcare’s new policy will require physicians s and patients to get authorization before common procedures including some colonoscopies and scopes of the throat, stomach and digestive tract. Physicians specializing in digestive issues are writing letters, pressuring executives and posting on social media in a campaign to halt the new policy. The controversy is the latest example of how physicians and medical organizations are fighting insurers’ efforts to implement prior authorizations, which require an insurer’s consent before they agree to pay for certain prescriptions, medical services or treatments. Physician groups say these policies delay care, harm patients and create unnecessary paperwork that contribute to higher administrative costs. (USA Today)