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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and 13.7 million workers in roles comparable to direct care lost their jobs in early 2020, they did not turn to direct care jobs, a recent study found. Of the 9.1 million who have now found a new job, "an immeasurably small number of workers" entered the direct care workforce, despite high demand for staff, a study by consulting firm PHI and the Health Workforce Research Center on Long-Term Care at the University of California San Francisco found. "The fact that few workers who lost jobs during the pandemic moved into open direct care jobs highlights the need to improve direct care jobs so they attract well-skilled and dedicated people to care for people who need their services," Joanne Spetz, associate director for research at the Health Workforce Research Center on Long-Term Care at the University of California in San Francisco and an author of the report, said in a press release. (Christ, 10/13)

A shortage of doctors and nurses across the country has been amplified by the pandemic. Doctors-in-training were thrown in the trenches as a way to help fill the gap at the height of the pandemic. Now, we’re almost halfway through the 2021 fall semester. How has this past year and a half influenced students’ decisions to enter the medical field? (Blake, 10/13)

An orthopedic surgical practice sued Aetna on Wednesday, alleging the Hartford, Connecticut-based insurer's failure to reveal its "mystery re-pricing program" of provider claims violates state and federal laws. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, arises from Aetna Life Insurance Company re-pricing a spinal surgery and implant procedure conducted by Surgery Center of Viera, an ambulatory surgical center that specializes in laser fusion and repair operations. The Melbourne, Florida-based provider had seen a patient, identified as C.S., who suffered from a number of spinal conditions that left them in severe pain, according to the suit. The individual was covered under a company plan administered by Aetna through the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Surgery Center of Viera deemed surgery as "medically necessary" for the patient and submitted a prior-authorization for the procedure to Aetna, which the insurer approved, the complaint said. (Tepper, 10/13)

The CEOs of several Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance companies received significant pay raises and bonuses in 2020, according to an analysis by AIS Health. The not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers keep executive compensation more hidden than publicly traded insurers. And the data show pay increased during the pandemic, as insurers retained higher profits due to people delaying care. (Herman, 10/14)

Five months ago, weight loss company Noom announced $540 million in funding, dwarfing its previous investments. With locked-down users flocking to its app, revenues in 2020 had surged to $400 million, and the company made an ambitious pitch: It would spend the money to expand its behavioral change approach to other conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and sleep. (Palmer, 10/14)

As the digital health sector teems with new entrants, another virtual care startup is stepping into the fray. With three digital health veterans at the helm, primary care company Marley Medical launched Thursday with a promise to treat chronic conditions with an array of remote services and a team-based approach to care. The startup, founded by the former executives of digital respiratory health company Propeller Health, enters what has quickly become a crowded market. (Brodwin, 10/14)