Optum CEO Andrew Witty to help WHO develop COVID-19 vaccine

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Wednesday, April 15, 2020

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Optum CEO Andrew Witty to help WHO develop COVID-19 vaccine

Optum CEO Andrew Witty, who recently was also named UnitedHealth president, begins his stint at the World Health Organization April 20. Witty plans to return to the company at the end of the year.

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Outlook for nurse supply and demand shifting amid COVID-19

Though nurse staffing concerns had been commonly focused on the future of the nursing workforce, providers are now experiencing shortages in nurse staffing and quality of care in the face of COVID-19.

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Medicare to double payments for high-throughput COVID-19 tests

Medicare will pay almost twice as much for high-throughput COVID-19 tests to boost testing capacity and reduce the virus' spread.

Coronavirus outbreak: Details on CMS' $70 billion provider fund distribution coming soon

Live updates from Modern Healthcare on the coronavirus outbreak and how COVID-19 is affecting the healthcare industry.

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Hospital groups float new wish lists for funds flowing from Washington

Hospital lobbying groups have scrambled to get their next set of asks together as regulators and lawmakers set priorities for existing COVID-19 provider relief grants and another potential infusion of cash.

Trump announces ventilator loan program for providers

Under the plan, large health systems would loan their unused ventilators to providers in coronavirus hot spots. It could make up to 60,000 ventilators available to people infected by COVID-19.

Abbott launching another COVID test

Abbott Laboratories, which has been on the forefront of COVID-19 testing, is launching a blood test that shows whether someone has had the virus.

True toll of COVID-19 on U.S. healthcare workers unknown

The number of healthcare workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus is likely far higher than the reported tally of 9,200, and U.S. officials say they have no comprehensive way to count those who lose their lives trying to save others.

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GAO: Hospices are having trouble getting rid of opioids

Hospices are experiencing issues in disposing of opioids and other drugs after their patients die because of legal concerns and logistical problems, the federal watchdog said.

Feds under pressure to publicly track nursing home outbreaks

Public health experts say the lack of transparency has been a major blindspot, and that publicizing nursing home outbreaks could alert nearby communities and anguished relatives and help officials focus testing and other safety measures.

Commentary: Reflecting on COVID-19 and tech transformations becoming reality

From Seattle, front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, our hypothesis is planning is the antidote to panic. We believe by using 21st century technology, it's possible to stay a step or two ahead of the curve, using science and data as the weapons to defeat a global foe.