Articles
Disparities/Equity of Care, COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics, Rural issues
Perspective: Supporting Our Rural Hospitals and Communities
By Rick Pollack
In Bellingham, Wash., the PeaceHealth clinic is using community health workers, or promotoras, to help educate farmworkers in rural communities about the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Leadership, Health Insurance, Emergency Departments (EDs), Commercial Insurer Accountability
Perspective: UnitedHealthcare’s Dangerous ED Coverage Policy is Temporarily Halted
By Rick Pollack
Just days ago, UnitedHealthcare announced a new policy that threatened to deny some patient claims for emergency services starting July 1 if the insurer determined that the patient didn’t need emergency-level care.
Infrastructure, Leadership, Advocacy & Public Policy
Perspective: Say It Again, Hospitals and Health Systems are an Integral Part of America’s Infrastructure
By Rick Pollack
When COVID-19 was rapidly sweeping through the country in spring 2020, Americans instinctively did what they have done for generations in times of peril: They turned to hospitals for safety, security and healing. And once again, our hospitals and health systems met the moment, saving millions of lives in the proudest chapter of our nation’s medical history.
Cybersecurity, Leadership
Perspective: Managing the Increase in Cyber Threats
By Rick Pollack
The threat to public health from the pandemic is thankfully subsiding. Unfortunately, a very different threat is on the rise: Cyber criminals have been ramping up their attacks on the health care sector, jeopardizing systems and putting lives at risk.
Advancing Health in America, Leadership, Telehealth, COVID-19: Protecting Health Care Workers
Perspective: Integrated Health Systems Help Enhance Value, Access for Patients and Communities
By Rick Pollack
As our country continues to emerge slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of America’s hospitals and health systems – and the 6 million women and men who work there – has never been more apparent.
Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19), COVID-19: Coverage and Reimbursement
Perspective: A Boost for the Continuing Fight Against COVID-19
By Rick Pollack
The heroic efforts of our hospitals, health systems and care teams in fighting the pandemic over the past 17 months is a testament to the dedication and determination of the best health professionals in the world.
National Hospital Week, Workforce Planning
Perspective: Inspiring Hope through Healing — Today, This Week and Everyday
By Rick Pollack
President Biden has expressed his hope that America will have a normal, or as close to normal as possible, Fourth of July this year. All the signs increasingly point to fulfillment of that wish — a wish we all share.
Behavioral Health Care Delivery, Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19)
Perspective: Time for Renewed Focus on Mental Health
By Rick Pollack
Most studies of the toll COVID-19 has taken on the mental health of Americans reach the same conclusion: The pandemic has made what were already serious problems much worse.
Leadership, Recognition and Awards
Perspective: Recognizing and Honoring Our Federal and Military Health Systems
By Rick Pollack
The government’s announcement last week that more than half of all adults in the U.S. have received at least one COVID-19 shot is a remarkable feat that outperforms earlier predictions about the pace of vaccinations across the country.
Leadership, Advancing Health in America, Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19)
Perspective: Working Together to Advance Health in America
By Rick Pollack
When President Biden signed legislation on Wednesday eliminating the 2% across-the-board cut to all Medicare payments until the end of 2021, it extended needed relief to doctors, hospitals and other providers caring for patients and vaccinating communities.