Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1444560
20 CFO / FINANCE States where COVID-19 hospitalizations cost the most, least By Alia Paavola T he state with the highest aver- age allowed amount for a complex COVID-19 hospitalization was New Jersey, costing $128,650, according to a Dec. 15, 2021, analysis from Fair Health, an inde- pendent nonprofit that works to bring trans- parency to healthcare costs. e average allowed amount is the price ne- gotiated between a health insurer and pro- vider for an in-network service. e amount includes the portion the health plan will pay as well as what the patient is responsible for. e report analyzed costs for both complex inpatients, who required either ventilation or intensive care unit admission, and noncom- plex inpatients, who were hospitalized but did not require ventilation or ICU admission. e five states with the highest average allowed amount for a complex COVID-19 hospitalization: 1. New Jersey — $128,650 2. California — $127,281 3. Alaska — $125,237 4. Nevada — $124,202 5. Arizona — $117,638 e five states with the lowest average al- lowed amount for a complex COVID-19 hospitalization: 1. Maryland — $49,127 2. Arkansas — $69,269 3. West Virginia — $73,094 4. North Carolina — $76,722 5. Kentucky — $77,063 e five states with the highest average allowed amount for a noncomplex COVID-19 hospitalization: 1. Alaska — $44,239 2. Nevada — $42,999 3. California — $42,674 4. Wyoming — $40,640 5. New Jersey — $40,590 e five states with the lowest average allowed amount for a noncomplex COVID-19 hospitalization: 1. Maryland — $12,531 2. Arkansas — $16,593 3. Michigan — $16,773 4. West Virginia — $16,918 5. Kentucky — $16,959 n Intermountain, SCL Health ink definitive agreement to merge By Alia Paavola S alt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare and Broomfield, Colo.-based SCL Health signed a definitive agreement to merge, the organizations said Dec. 15, 2021. The two organizations inked a letter of intent to combine in September 2021. Under the proposed deal, which still needs regulatory approval, the combined system would operate 33 hospitals and 385 clinics across six states. The combined entity would also have more than 58,000 employees and provide health insurance to about 1 million people. If the deal is approved, Intermountain President and CEO Marc Harrison, MD, will serve as president and CEO of the merged system. SCL President and CEO Lydia Jumonville would remain in her role during the integration process and serve as a board member of the merged organization. The combined entity's headquarters would be in Salt Lake City and would be called Intermountain Healthcare. However, SCL Health's Catholic hospitals would retain their names. Intermountain and SCL Health said they anticipate the deal to be finalized April 1. n 5 highest-paying physician specialties By Ayla Ellison P lastic surgery is the highest-paying phy- sician specialty, according to Medscape's 2021 Physician Compensation Report. For the report, Medscape collected respons- es from 17,903 U.S. physicians across more than 29 specialties. The data was collected be- tween Oct. 6, 2020, and Feb. 11, 2021. Survey respondents reported their compensation for patient care, and only full-time salaries were included in the result. Below are the five top-earning specialties, ac- cording to the report. 1. Plastic surgery: $526,000 2. Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: $511,000 3. Cardiology: $459,000 4. Urology: $427,000 5. Otolaryngology: $417,000 n