With the school year starting and office reopening plans shifting, many people are unsure of what activities they should be comfortable doing and what they should avoid in the face of the delta variant. Instead of asking experts what other people should do, this week we look at what decisions those experts are making for themselves. We also look at the ... READ MORE >
health care
Anthem and Kroger to launch Medicare Advantage plan marking further shifts in health care delivery
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Kroger Health are teaming up to offer a Medicare Advantage plan next year. Anthem is seeking to gain market share in the Medicare Advantage space, which is dominated by United Healthcare. Kroger undoubtedly wants to create more reasons for people to walk into one of its 2,800 stores, most of which already operate ... READ MORE >
Drug pricing and health care innovation could benefit from Biden’s latest executive order
On July 9, President Biden issued an executive order on promoting competition in the American economy that could have significant ramifications for health care systems. The order indicates that the pace of business consolidation has accelerated and that “in over 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of large companies now control more of the business ... READ MORE >
To solve shortage of nurses, first understand why they leave
As nurses’ critical role in health care rapidly evolves, they are becoming harder to find. A 2018 study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality estimated a shortage of 510,394 registered nurses by 2030. This shortage is driven by both supply and demand factors. On the supply side, the nursing workforce is aging out and colleges are not ... READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of March 15
The Federal Trade Commission’s new acting chair, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, has initiated a review of the agency's processes for approving pharma mergers. This is expected to result in a tougher road for these mergers, as we explain below. We also look at the top drugs losing their exclusivity this year, artificial intelligence-powered hearing aids and the use ... READ MORE >
An evolution of the economy: Living, and adapting, with COVID-19
Over the past year, leaders around the globe have held their breath as the pandemic unfolded and drastic measures were tested, from safety mitigation and scientific developments to unprecedented fiscal stimulus. And now, as we emerge from the cloud of 2020, it is likely the current pandemic will soon pass to become an endemic. Even with this transition, the ... READ MORE >
Pandemic recovery signals new ways health care can serve and grow
Health care services are poised to lead the services recovery for the next two years, according to analysis from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Not only will providers benefit from the return of pre-pandemic volumes, but the increasing likelihood of an endemic virus may present new ways for providers to serve their patients and communities. The ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Lagging employment in education and health care
Even as the economy begins to recover and jobs return, employment remains well below pre-pandemic levels in many key sectors. Two of these areas are education and health care, according to data recently released by the Labor Department. Overall, there are 1.3 million fewer educational and medical personnel on payrolls compared to a year ago. But as the ... READ MORE >
Building the new normal in health care
As the health care industry works toward a new normal—a time of recovery and eventual re-emergence from the pandemic—providers are taking a hard look at their physical infrastructure and rethinking what they will need in the future. This rethinking has been prompted in no small part by the explosion of telemedicine during the pandemic and the ... READ MORE >
Pandemic highlights the need for better use of data among health care providers
The coronavirus pandemic has presented a host of challenges for health care providers as they have dealt with a significant downturn in their business. But now, as a vaccine is rolled out and providers prepare for the new normal of life after the pandemic, there are opportunities as well. One way to capitalize on these opportunities is through better ... READ MORE >