Morning Headlines 6/30/20

Flexwise Health Completes Merger with Prescience Health

On-demand nurse staffing company Flexwise Health merges with predictive staffing analytics vendor Prescience Health under the Flexwise brand.

System shutdown puts hold on Tennessee COVID-19 report; far SWVA adds another case

The National Electronic Disease Surveillance System Base System suffers a system failure over the weekend caused by high volumes of data input, compromising the the State of Tennessee’s ability to accurately report COVID-19 data.

Healthy.io, Israeli maker of smartphone urinalysis tech, buys its largest U.S. rival

Smartphone urinalysis company Healthy.io acquires competitor Inui Health, formerly known as Scanadu, for $9 million.

Morning Headlines 6/29/20

Risky Assets and Traffic Still Prevalent in Leading Healthcare Orgs

Cybersecurity firm Expanse finds exposed Remote Desktop Protocol servers and potential exposure to state-sponsored attacks, among other security weaknesses, after monitoring the Internet traffic of six unnamed Fortune 500 healthcare companies.

Microsoft to close physical stores, take $450 mln hit

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerates Microsoft’s plans to close all of its retail stores.

Oscar’s health insurance platform nabs another $225 million

Tech-heavy, direct-to-consumer insurance startup Oscar raises $225 million, prompting analysts to speculate it may be considering an IPO.

Morning Headlines 6/26/20

Kaufman Hall Software Becomes Syntellis Performance Solutions

Kaufman Hall spins off its enterprise performance management software division as Syntellis Performance Solutions, with investment from private equity firms Thoma Bravo and Madison Dearborn Partners.

Cedar Gate Technologies Acquires Citra Health Solutions

Analytics-focused, value-based care management vendor Cedar Gate Technologies acquires Citra Health Solutions and its EZ-Suite claims, benefits, and care management software.

Leidos receives $170M task to provide MHS GENESIS Stage 6 Enterprise Services

The DoD gives Leidos a $170 million task order for MHS Genesis services that will include program management, enterprise sustainment, license maintenance, and operational management services.

Mayo Clinic launches advanced care at home model of care

Mayo Clinic (MN) launches a home healthcare service using technology from Medically Home under its new Mayo Clinic Platform, an initiative that aims to create new ventures using the latest technologies.

Morning Headlines 6/25/20

MAeHC Winds Down Operations After Over 15 Years of Helping Health Organizations Innovate Through the Use of Information Technologies

After selling certain assets and transitioning the majority of its employees to population health management company Arcadia, the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative will sell off its remaining assets and shut down.

Somatus Raises $64 Million in Series C Financing to Transform Kidney Care

Kidney care company Somatus raises $64 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total raised to $105 million.

FDA Announces First of Its Kind Pilot Program to Communicate Patient Reported Outcomes from Cancer Clinical Trials

The FDA launches Project Patient Voice, a website that offers cancer patient-reported data about symptoms experienced during clinical trials.

Morning Headlines 6/24/20

Trump Administration Issues Call to Action Based on New Data Detailing COVID-19 Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries

CMS Administrator Seema Verma says that analysis of Medicare claims confirms that socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity of COVID-19 patients affect their likelihood of complications.

Cerner’s ‘transformation’ work continues with more layoffs in KC, across the country

Cerner conducts another round of layoffs, this time involving 100 employees.

DispatchHealth Raises $135.8 Million in Series C Financing

High-acuity house call provider DispatchHealth raises $136 million in a Series C funding round, increasing its total to $217 million.

CMS Unveils Major Organizational Change to Reduce Provider and Clinician Burden and Improve Patient Outcomes

CMS creates the Office of Burden Reduction and Health Informatics, which will look at the burden of meeting CMS compliance requirements, fostering innovation through interoperability, and using technology to create new patient-friendly, data-sharing tools.

Morning Headlines 6/23/20

Cedar Accelerates Growth with $102M in Series C Funding Led by Andreessen Horowitz and New Innovation Partnership with Novant Health

Patient payment vendor Cedar raises $102 million and announces a contract with Novant Health in North Carolina.

Proprio Raises $23 Million in Series A Funding Led by DCVC

Augmented surgical imaging company Proprio raises $23 million in a funding round led by Data Collective.

OIG Strategic Plan: Oversight of COVID-19 Response and Recovery

The HHS Office of Inspector General publishes its oversight strategy for COVID-19 response and recovery, which includes protecting the integrity and security of IT systems and health technology.

Apple introduces new Covid-19 features: Hand washing guides and a mask-wearing emoji

Apple debuts several health-related Watch features at its virtual developers conference, including one that will help users wash their hands for the recommended amount of time using the proper technique.

Morning Headlines 6/22/20

Kaia Health gets $26M to show it can do more with digital therapeutics

Virtual physiotherapy startup Kaia Health raises $26 million in a Series B funding round led by Optum Ventures.

Philadelphia-area health system says it ‘isolated’ a malware attack

Crozer-Keystone Health System (PA) suffers a ransomware attack by hackers who have threatened to auction the stolen data off on the dark web if their demands aren’t met within six days.

Putin calls for artificial intelligence to be used in healthcare

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for the healthcare system there to roll out digital systems and to use artificial intelligence.

FEMA IT Specialist Charged in ID Theft, Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy

A federal grand jury indicts a Detroit man for the 2014 hack of UPMC’s HR system, where he is accused of selling the information of 65,000 employees on the dark web to conspirators who used it to file fraudulent tax returns.

Morning Headlines 6/19/20

Nation’s Largest Member Owned Health Plan to Launch Epic Platform to Improve Patient and Provider Experience

Health Care Service Corporation will create a Payer Platform to connect its health plans to Epic-using health systems for reviewing patient data, managing claims payment and prior authorization, and facilitating care management.

All of Us Research Program launches COVID-19 research initiatives

NIH’s All Of Us research project adds three COVID-19 data collection components for researchers who are approved to study data from its 350,000 participants.

This Amazon-owned company says it will bring 500 jobs to Boise area by 2021

Online prescription drug delivery company PillPack will bring 500 jobs to Meridian, Idaho when it opens a 78,000-square-foot customer service center there next year.

Morning Headlines 6/18/20

MTBC Acquires Meridian Medical Management, a Former GE Healthcare IT Company

Ambulatory health IT company MTBC acquires EHR, RCM, and practice management vendor Meridian Medical Management for an undisclosed sum.

TapestryHealth Purchases Telehealth Software Leader

Tech-enabled primary care support company TapestryHealth acquires Telemedicine Web Services.

Doximity Acquires THMED, Launches Curative Brand

Professional medical network Doximity acquires healthcare staffing company Thmed, which will rebrand to Curative as part of the deal.

Morning Headlines 6/17/20

Epic’s UGM 2020 is Cancelled

Epic cancels its UGM 2020 user meeting, which was scheduled for August 24-27 in Verona, WI.

Proteus Digital Health, once valued at $1.5 billion, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Proteus Digital Health, the “smart pill” digital health company that was once valued at $1.5 billion, files Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Abacus Insights Raises $35 Million in Series B Financing to Help Health Plans Liberate Data, Enabling Consumers to Make Better Health Choices and their Providers to Offer More Informed Recommendations

Abacus Insights, which combines EHR and third-party data to allow health plans to personalize the care experience of their members, raises $35 million in a Series B funding round.

Unite Us Acquires SDOH Analytics Company, Staple Health, To Provide Predictive and Comprehensive Social Care Integration

Social services referral software vendor Unite Us acquires Staple Health, an analytics company focused on social determinants of health.

CareMesh Raises $5M in Seed Funding to Scale Integration of its Healthcare Communications Platform 

CareMesh, which offers a communications platform that includes a national provider directory, event notifications, secure communications, and care transition workflows, raises $5 million in a seed funding round.

Morning Headlines 6/16/20

Walmart buys tech from Carezone to help people manage their prescriptions

Walmart acquires intellectual property and technology from medication management startup CareZone for $200 million.

Augmedics Employees Lead $15 Million Series B Financing to Secure and Successfully Launch Company Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Augmedics will use a new $15 million investment to further scale its augmented reality system, which allows surgeons to visualize 3D spinal anatomy and track instruments and implants while looking directly at the patient.

Microsoft 365: 1.2 million workers to get tools including Teams in this ‘landmark’ software deal

In an effort to improve security and connectivity between its users, England’s NHS will implement Microsoft 365 across its hospital trusts and data teams.

Kalderos Secures $28 Million in Series B Funding to Disrupt Business as Usual in the U.S. Healthcare System

Drug discount management software vendor Kalderos raises $28 million.

Morning Headlines 6/15/20

Milliman Announces Acquisition of healthIO to Offer Powerful Preventive Health Solution to Employers

Milliman acquires Wisconsin-based employee health monitoring technology vendor Healthio, which it will pair with its predictive analytics offering. 

NovaQuest’s Clinical Ink in second round of process

The investment firm owner of Clinical Ink is putting the drug clinical trials electronic tools company on the market after owning it for two years.

Remote work continues: Dane County’s top employers not rushing to reopen offices

Thirty-five percent of Epic’s workforce returns to its campus in Verona, WI, with more of its 10,000-member staff expected back over the summer.

It’s Time for a New Kind of Electronic Health Record

Former Mass General Brigham and Cerner executive John Glaser, PhD makes the case to redesign EHRs around the patient-clinician medical plan rather than their current role as a place to record the byproducts it generates.

Morning Headlines 6/12/20

Wellsheet Raises Series A Funding for Healthcare Workflow Platform to Reduce Time in the EHR and Physician Burnout

Provider workflow optimization company Wellsheet raises $3.8 million in a Series A funding round.

Leading Virtual Care Platform Conversa Health Raises $12 Million as COVID-19 Accelerates the Need for Digital Health

Automated virtual care vendor Conversa Health raises $12 million in a Series B funding round.

Apple and Google’s ambitious COVID-19 contact-tracing tech can help contain the pandemic if used widely. But so far only 3 states have agreed — and none has started to use it.

Just three states – Alabama, North Dakota, and South Carolina – will use contact tracing software from Apple and Google, while 17 have said they won’t use any apps and 19 remain undecided.

Morning Headlines 6/11/20

Kyruus Secures $30 Million Investment from Francisco Partners

Provider search and scheduling software vendor Kyruus raises $30 million in funding from Francisco Partners.

Cerner Gets Potential $99M VA Software, Hardware Sustainment Task Order

The VA gives Cerner a $99 million task order for sustainment support of hardware and software associated with its EHR modernization project.

Cue Health Closes $100 Million Series C Financing to Support Launch of Rapid Molecular Testing Platform

App-based testing company Cue Health will use $100 million in new financing to expand its San Diego headquarters and further develop and commercialize its portable COVID-19 testing kit.

QGenda Announces Strategic Growth Investment From ICONIQ Capital

Iconiq Capital invests in Atlanta-based healthcare workforce technology company QGenda. 

Morning Headlines 6/10/20

PatientPing Secures $60 Million in Series C Funding to Continue Expansion of National Electronic Notifications Network

PatientPing raises $60 million in a Series C funding round, increasing its total to more than $100 million.

Babylon Health admits GP app suffered a data breach

London-based Babylon Health fixes a software error that allowed several users to view the archived telemedicine sessions of other patients.

Kristin Myers, MPH, Appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Dean for Information Technology

Mount Sinai Health System (NY) promotes Kristin Myers, MPH to EVP/CIO and dean for IT.

Morning Headlines 6/9/20

Siemens Healthineers and Geisinger Announce Value Partnership to Drive Digital Healthcare

Geisinger (PA) signs a 10-year contract with Siemens for its digital health offerings, diagnostic imaging equipment, and on-site staff support.

VA, Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation deliver cancer care to Veterans via teleoncology

The VA will use a $4.5 million grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation to offer veterans expanded access to cancer care via telemedicine.

ChristianaCare develops telehealth Employee COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Testing Program for businesses and employers

ChristianaCare (DE) develops a COVID-19 symptom-monitoring, testing, and virtual care app for employers.

Morning Headlines 6/8/20

Electronic Health Records: Ongoing Stakeholder Involvement Needed in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Modernization Effort

A GAO review finds that the VA has implemented effective configuration decision-making in its Cerner implementation by holding national workshops and creating 18 EHR councils, but needs to improve representation at local workshops.

NorthShore provides real time genomic decision support to 10,000 patients using the ActX Service

NorthShore University HealthSystem completes a precision medicine program in which genetic data is loaded into ActX’s genomic service, then used within Epic to alert medication-ordering clinicians of potential genetics-related side effects, efficacy, or dosing considerations.

Hospitals could struggle — and more will go bankrupt — until they get patients back in the door

Many hospital operators say the pandemic-induced surge of telemedicine visits over the last several months won’t be enough to keep them from bankruptcy or from consolidating with neighboring health systems.