Ddo Not Resuscitate (THis System) #342 Apr 5, 2024

In this podcast I review the week's coverage in mainstream and specialty media about how we spend trillions of dollars making intermediaries rich instead of making ourselves healthier. This week, I look at consolidation & monopolization trends in the hospital sector as well as the continuing massification of insurance/provider combos; the private equity invasion of healthcare; and important news on pharmaceuticals including state attempts to rein in drug prices. I also pass on news about a new billing scam known as the “facility fee.” 

Access the whole digest at nypan.org/single-payer-news or get it free to your inbox by writing me at tfrasca@yahoo.com

Here are all the links to the articles mentioned: 

Brett Kelman & Samantha Liss, “After Appalachian hospitals merged into a monopoly, their ERs slowed to a crawl,” KFF Health News/The Tennessean, Mar 25, 2024 https://bit.ly/4cT3VbI

Susanna Vogel, “Steward’s legal battles offer insight into pattern of mismanagement,” Healthcare Dive, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/3VEWui7

Dave Muoio, “Optum to buy struggling Steward Health Care’s physician group under proposed deal,” Fierce Healthcare, Mar 27, 2024 https://bit.ly/4alkqvj

Paige Minemyer, “Amedisys says Oregon regulators are reviewing its $3.7B acquisition by UnitedHealth,” Fierce Healthcare, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/499Gis9

Anna Claire Vollers, “Vets fret as private equity snaps up clinics, pet care companies,” Stateline, Mar 29, 2024 https://bit.ly/3POZYLf

Susanna Vogel, “Ascension will outsource Illinois hospitalist functions to PE-backed staffing firm,” Healthcare Dive, Mar 26, 2024 https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/ascension-outsource-private-equity-chicago/711372/

Phil Galewitz, “Hospitals cash in on a private equity-backed trend: Concierge physician care,” KFF Health News/ABC News, Apr 1, 2024 https://bit.ly/43MfbSV

Katheryn Houghton, “Some Medicaid providers borrow or go into debt amid ‘unwinding’ payment disruptions,” KFF Health News/Daily Yonder, Mar 27, 2024 https://bit.ly/3U429x1

Liz Seegert, “Is Medicare keeping pace with our aging population? Experts say ‘we need to double down and go faster,’” Fortune, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3xtBBw2

Paula Span, “When Medicaid comes after the family home,” New York Times, Mar 16, 2024 https://nyti.ms/3J3tau1

Nick Corbishley, “UK medicines regulator’s role as Pharma ‘enabler’ during pandemic comes under microscope,” Naked Capitalism, Mar 12, 2024 https://bit.ly/4aFuJdg

Lev Facher, “Switzerland had a drug overdose crisis. Then it made methadone easy to get,” STAT, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3POWZlY

John Ingold, “Pharmaceutical company Amgen sues Colorado over price-setting prescription drug board,” Colorado Sun, Mar 25, 2024 https://bit.ly/3J4kEuR

Mike Scarcella, “AstraZeneca sues Arkansas to block drug-discount program,” Reuters, Mar 26, 2024 https://reut.rs/3PPerXk

Jonathan Gardner, “FDA approves Merck lung disease drug acquired in $11B deal,” Biopharma Dive, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3J4vYXT

Daniel Payne, “Who pays when AI steers your doctor wrong?” Politico, Mar 24, 2024 https://politi.co/4avznL4

Melanie Evans, “Hospitals are adding billions in ‘facility fees’ for routine care,” Wall Street Journal, Mar 25, 2024 Hospitals Are Adding Billions in ‘Facility’ Fees for Routine Care