Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was the third leading cause of death in Americans between March 2020 and October 2021, accounting for one in every eight deaths. During this time period, COVID-19 caused roughly 700,000 deaths. Between January and October 2021, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death among people 45 to 54 years old, and it ranked in the top five causes of death for every age group of people older than 15 years.

The two most prevalent leading causes of death during that time frame were heart disease (1.15 million deaths) and cancer (1 . . .

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Health Care System

The United States health care system encompasses a mixture of private and public entities that are either non-profit or for-profit. Health care coverage may be financed through federal and state government programs or can be purchased through the health insurance marketplace. In contrast, a smaller proportion of the U.S. population is uninsured. The resulting effects of a decentralized system has led to considerable challenges for provider organizations—including cost pressures, a push towards alternative payment models, and market consolidation. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities for provider organizations in reducing excess costs and utilization, particularly as payers look for innovative approaches that can demonstrate a return-on-investment in terms of cost and consumer outcomes.


The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) selected five organizations to serve as regional hub leads for the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The selected organizations are Impact Health, Trillium Health Resources, Vaya Health, University of North Carolina Hospitals, and Access East. NCDHHS announced the selections on May 1, 2026, and expects to finalize the awards by June 1, 2026. The contracts are expected to run for five years. The organizations… Read