Measles, eradicated in the United States in 2000, is making a comeback. Meanwhile, an  estimated 300,000 people died from COVID-19 in cases that could have been prevented  through vaccination. Why are we seeing an uptick in conspiracy theories, misinformation,  and outright science denial? The consequences of losing trust in science are harmful and  even deadly.  Dr. Reed Tuckson, MD, FACP, has dedicated his career to restoring public confidence in  scientific research and health care. He joins Chip on the latest episode of Hospitals in  Focus to explore the ..read more

Artificial intelligence (AI) is dominating headlines and conversations, from how it will change our day-to-day routines to the debate on how far regulation of the ever-changing technology should go. AI's impact on health care is profound, promising advancements in diagnostics, treatment plans, and patient care, but also raising questions about privacy, bias, and the role of human oversight. Our guest, Dr. Michael Schlosser, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President, Care Transformation and Innovation at HCA Healthcare, is a leading expert in AI applications within the health sector. In this episode, he a ..read more

Maryland’s 50-year experiment with the hospital rate-setting system stands out as a unique and long-lasting initiative – but has it accomplished its goal of reducing health care costs? This rate-setting scheme has been sustained due to additional Medicare funds supplementing the model, an additional $20.6 billion through 2017. It’s also inspired CMS’s All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (or AHEAD) pilot program.  The Maryland model has come under scrutiny with a paper published in HFM Magazine entitled “Maryland’s example is no solution to healthcare’s true crises.” It find ..read more

Cybersecurity is a central part of every nation’s infrastructure – especially when it comes to health care.  The availability and free flow of health information is critical to providing care. Unfortunately, patient information isn’t just valuable to caregivers, it’s also becoming a primary target for criminals across the globe. In this special episode, Chip Kahn moderates a panel of cybersecurity experts, with significant experience in the health care sector, from around the world.  The discussion, entitled 'Navigating Today's Cyber Threats for Tomorrow's Healthcare,' was organized ..read more

With zero-dollar premiums, caps on out-of-pocket costs, and perks that range from meal delivery to gym memberships – even loaded debit cards – membership in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is surging in enrollment and popularity among seniors.    In fact, earlier this year, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans surpassed enrollment in traditional Medicare, with more than 50 percent of eligible seniors now choosing this privatized version of coverage.    However, aggressive marketing campaigns and a lack of transparency in coverage often hide the downsides of Medicare Advanta ..read more

The recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare exposed fissures in the American health care system that are still reverberating - impacting patients and providers alike months after it was exposed. As hospitals, physicians, and other providers get back on their feet, they're also improving their cyber defenses to stay one step ahead of increasingly persistent hackers. This crisis also sparked conversations among policymakers weighing the implementation of new regulations on health care entities, including potential penalties for those who have been victimized. In this episode, Lynn Sessions looks ..read more

Good health care depends on good health coverage, particularly for the most vulnerable. The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid eligibility and created exchanges where many Americans could access health insurance, often at a subsidized price. These new pathways to affordable coverage led to the uninsured rate dropping to record lows. Unfortunately, those recent gains in coverage and access now face new hurdles. After the end of the Covid public health emergency, states began a process of redetermining Medicaid eligibility which caused tens of millions to lose coverage. Many were forced to f ..read more

The Change Healthcare cyberattack on February 21st upended a huge slice of the U.S. health care system, virtually crippling all aspects of the patient care continuum when the clearinghouse’s services were hacked. That is because Change Healthcare processes 15 billion claims totaling more than $1.5 trillion a year and may handle 50 percent of all medical claims in the country. The impact has been devastating for many patients, hospitals, and providers, particularly those already operating under financial constraints.  Having an understanding of the size and scale of this cyberattack has be ..read more

There are two Americas - rural and urban – particularly when you look at access to health care.   With roughly 60 million people, or one in five Americans, living in small communities from coast to coast, how do we ensure patients have access to the care they need when they need it? And what policies can help bridge the gap?  Former Senator Heidi Heitkamp has dedicated her life to representing the interests of rural America and fighting to save this way of life. She currently serves as founder and board chair of the One Country Project, an organization dedicated to advancing rural Am ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE: For the past 15 years, drug shortages have been a persistent problem for hospitals and the patients they serve – and extreme cases can even lead to rationing, delaying, or canceling treatments or procedures. Tackling the drug shortage crisis is a complicated issue requiring creative solutions. That’s where Civica comes in – a non-profit pharmaceutical company created by hospitals and health systems to address these critical shortages. In this episode, Chip speaks with Civica’s Senior Vice President for Public Policy Allan Coukell about why the company was formed, the challenge ..read more