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. S&P 500 healthcare sector hits record high on Senate healthcare bill
Hospital and insurer stocks recorded sharp gains on Thursday after Senate Republicans released the discussion draft of their long-awaited healthcare bill, according to Reuters.
2. Senate GOP reveals healthcare bill: 8 things to know
Senate Republicans revealed the discussion draft Thursday morning of their long-awaited healthcare bill, dubbed the "Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017." Click here to read 10 reactions on the bill from various healthcare organizations.
3. Healthcare stocks rally before Senate GOP releases bill
Fueled by biotechnology shares, the S&P 500 healthcare sector surpassed all other major groups this month, and positive gains in the sector are expected to continue, according to Reuters.
4. 4 things to know about Trump's executive order on drug pricing
A draft of President Donald Trump's executive order on drug prices lists several proposals to roll back regulatory hurdles for the pharmaceutical industry, reports The New York Times.
5. 9 notes on the 2018 proposed rule for MACRA's Quality Payment Program
CMS issued the proposed rule June 20 for the 2018 performance year of the Quality Payment Program under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. In the second year of the QPP, the agency hopes to further streamline reporting requirements, while maintaining Medicare quality and continuing to push providers toward value-based care.
6. Anthem vacates 2018 ACA exchanges in Indiana, Wisconsin
Indianapolis-based Anthem said it will pull out of the ACA exchanges in Indiana and Wisconsin for 2018, according to Bloomberg.
7. Iowa's only statewide ACA exchange insurer requests 43% premium hike
Minnetonka, Minn.-based Medica, the only payer offering ACA exchange plans statewide in Iowa for 2018, seeks an average 43.5 percent rate increase for individual plans next year, Live Well Nebraska reports.
8. Change of plan: Adventist to close Washington hospital, medical group
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health called off plans to transfer ownership of its 72-bed Walla Walla (Wash.) General Hospital to Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services and is instead closing the facility — along with its affiliated home health division and medical group — July 24.
9. Kansas passes exemption of conceal and carry law for hospitals
The University of Kansas Health System, state psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes will not be required to uphold the state's concealed carry gun law after a bill was passed June 15 without Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's signature, the Kansas City Business Journal reported.
10. Patient takes state trooper's gun, shoots nurse at Florida hospital
A patient at West Marion Community Hospital in Ocala, Fla., was arrested June 18 after authorities say he took a state trooper's gun and shot a nurse, according to WFTV.