Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week.
1. Nearly 1,000 pregnant US women have Zika
Zika virus is especially concerning for pregnant women, as it can cause birth defects like microcephaly in infants. In the U.S., the number of pregnant women with the virus continues to grow: 953 pregnant women had the virus as of Oct. 20, up from 899 reported as of Oct. 13.
2. 8 changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in 2017
CMS issued its update to the 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on Wednesday. The changes include a number of new policies that reflect a broader agencywide strategy to enhance quality, spend smarter and improve Americans' health.
3. CHS to sell 17 hospitals to drive down debt
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems is in talks to sell hospitals and other assets to help trim its debt load, said CEO Wayne Smith during a third-quarter earnings call Wednesday. The decision to sell the hospitals comes after the hospital system recorded a $79 million loss in the third quarter of 2016.
4. One dead, 9 hospitalized with rare polio-like illness at Seattle Children's
A child from Snohomish County, Washington was recently admitted to Seattle Children's Hospital with an acute neurological illness characterized by polio-like symptoms, representing the ninth case of the condition seen at the hospital since mid-September.
5. CMS releases final OPPS rule for 2017: 11 things to know
CMS released its final 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System rule on Tuesday, which implements site-neutral payment provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
6. Blackstone to acquire TeamHealth in $6B deal
The board of TeamHealth, a Knoxville, Tenn.-based physician services organization, unanimously approved an agreement to be acquired by Blackstone — a private equity, investment banking and asset management corporation — for $6.1 billion, including debt and other factors.
7. Armed man reportedly impersonated Virginia Mason employee to steal patient information
A 46-year-old man dressed as an employee of Seattle-based Virginia Mason Hospital & Medical Center was arrested at the hospital last week and charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery and cocaine possession.
8. 1,600 hospitals see payment bump under value-based purchasing
In fiscal year 2017, more than 1,600 hospitals will receive a positive payment adjustment under the Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, while about 1,300 will receive a payment reduction, according to recently released data from CMS on nearly 3,000 U.S. hospitals.
9. Number of first-day ACA exchange enrollees up 50% over last year
The first day of open enrollment for 2017 ACA marketplace health coverage saw a 50 percent increase in applications over last year's start date, reports CNBC.
10. Where are the 20 Leapfrog F hospitals?
Out of the 2,633 hospitals that received a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade this fall, 20 received a failing grade, up from the 15 that earned an F in the spring.
11. Banner Health, Carondelet among providers not accepting ACA insurance plans in 2017
In Arizona, two major healthcare providers — Phoenix-based Banner Health and Tucson-based Carondelet Health Network — are not considered in-network by any health plan offered on the state exchange in 2017.
12. UnitedHealth Group to roll out national ACO in 2017
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group plans to launch a national ACO called NexusACO beginning in 2017, Forbes reports.
13. Massachusetts hospital to lay off 64 with closure of transitional care unit
Brockton (Mass.) Hospital, part of Brockton-based Signature Healthcare, will lay off 64 employees when it closes its 29-bed transitional care unit, according to The Enterprise.