The Gist Healthcare Podcast

The first COVID-19 vaccinations are starting in the United Kingdom. President-elect Biden picked California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and infectious disease specialist Dr. Rochelle Walensky to lead two of the nation's top health agencies. Sanford Health halts merger discussions with Intermountain Healthcare.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Christopher Crow, CEO of Plano, TX-based Catalyst Health Network, an independent clinically integrated network, discusses how the pandemic-induced recession is accelerating employer and insurer interest in changing the way they pay for care.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To boost COVID vaccine participation three former presidents say they’ll get the immunization on camera. States and hospitals are pulling nursing students forward to help with COVID-19 care. And President-elect Biden asks Dr. Anthony Fauci to join his administration.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United Kingdom approves Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine. 2020 Healthcare spending dropped by about 2 percent from last year. And Medicare is out with final rules that expand telehealth, adjust physician pay, and allow more procedures to be done in outpatient settings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A CDC vaccine panel recommends healthcare workers and residents in long term care facilities get the first COVID-19 vaccines. States are taking a more nuanced approach to halting elective care amid the COVID surge. And despite COVID headwinds UnitedHealth Goup still expects growth next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moderna becomes the second company to ask the FDA for emergency approval of a COVID-19 vaccine. And the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expands its 'Hospital Without Walls' program to pay for hospital-level care in the home. As Travis Messina, CEO of hospital-at-home company Contessa, says staff will still be the limiting factor for how much hospitals can increase bed capacity.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Privia Health's Senior Vice President of Business Development, Mike Flammini, discusses how the company is now working with health systems to create a new model for physician alignment. And Drew Rector, Chief Strategy Officer of Rockledge, Florida-based Health First, one of the health systems Privia is working with,  discusses how the partnership is helping the system grow its physician network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC is recommending American's stay home for Thanksgiving to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  President-elect Biden says delaying the transition during a pandemic is going to cost lives. And the WHO recommends against using an FDA approved COVID treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pfizer reports its vaccine is 95 percent effective and plans to apply for emergency FDA approval within days. With high rates of infection across several states, more than a fifth of hospitals are reporting staffing shortages. And in today's COVID Audio Postcard, a contact tracer tells us she’s finding more cases of entire families being infected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a highly-anticipated move, Amazon launches it’s pharmacy business. The American Medical Association recognizes racism as a public health threat. And Oregon’s governor calls on Congress to compromise on a coronavirus relief package now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.