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Potential Medicare APM overlap an increasing concern
Competing payment models in the same area "may have far-reaching impact on provider incentives and behavior," the authors of a recent Health Affairs blog post said.
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Medicare spending on track to hit $1.2T in 2028, CBO says
Medicare outlays are expected to account for a third of all healthcare spending by the end of the decade, up from half currently, according to the report.
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ACP says dozens of MIPS quality measures are not valid
The American College of Physicians has joined other prominent groups in questioning the positive impact of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System track under MACRA.
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Pushing 'value,' Harvard Pilgrim tests outcomes deals
An agreement with AstraZeneca for the pharma's lung drug Symbicort is the ninth value-based contract publicly announced by the regional insurer.
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Healthcare megadeals may have major long-term impact, Moody's says
Payer vertical integration could put more pressure on hospital volumes and margins, according to a new report.
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Insurers argue HHS must clamp down on dialysis patient steering
Payers and a major union group said CMS should reissue its rule on steering in the individual market to prohibit financially interested third parties from making insurance payments.
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FDA targets medical device safety in new plan
The plan includes integrating the device center's premarket and postmarket offices.
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3 states could have Medicaid expansion on the ballot
Meanwhile, Arizona is requesting a waiver to stop Medicaid recipients from getting retroactive coverage up to three months before a person applies for coverage.
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Amazon reportedly drops plan to distribute pharmaceuticals to hospitals
The report is not entirely unexpected. Amazon in December canceled its pharmaceutical wholesaler application in Maine and told state regulators it did not intend to sell drugs.
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Blood pressure app failed to improve condition despite better med adherence
Customizing apps for specific diseases might increase both medication adherence and outcomes, researchers said.
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UnitedHealth sees membership, revenue up in Q1
David Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, predicted half of Americans will get care from a physician with a value-based contract within a decade.
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Pricey cholesterol drugs appear to meet less payer resistance
A new report finds the nation's largest health plans ultimately denied 26% of claims for the cholesterol-lowering drugs in 2017 — a lower rate than before.
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Smaller practices struggle to use advanced EHR features, Black Book finds
While larger practices are better positioned to implement new IT tools, 93% of all practices with EHRs are using basic features directly tied to customer satisfaction.
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Sampling suggests nearly a third of Medicare telehealth payments are improper
Most of the errant claims the HHS Office of Inspector General reviewed were due to care being provided in nonrural locations.
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ACA increased primary care usage, but also some risky behaviors, report finds
All of the gains in preventive care were driven by expansions in private insurance, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research paper.
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Henry Ford Health System cites wages, Epic implementation in net income drop
Revenue for the system increased 4.8% to $6 billion in 2017.
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New APM seeks to improve opioid disorder treatment
The AMA and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have unveiled the Patient-Centered Opioid Addiction Treatment advanced payment model, which looks to improve care coordination.
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CVS hires Iora Health's CMO to run MinuteClinic
The CVS-brand clinics will likely play a key role if the company's proposed $69 billion merger with Aetna gets regulatory approval.
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FeatureOptum a step ahead in vertical integration frenzy
UnitedHealth's healthcare services arm is the elephant in the room as media darlings Amazon and Walmart look to enter the market.
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New Jersey moves closer to its own individual mandate
The state legislature also approved a reinsurance program to help payers cover the sickest members. Both moves look to stabilize the individual market and ACA exchange.
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eConsult bolsters specialist access, but barriers remain, JAMA study says
A review of web-based consultations between primary care doctors and specialists found they can result in better care coordination, but some PCPs complained about added responsibilities and administrative burden.
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Doctor shortage could exceed 121K by 2030, report says
One factor affecting the shortage is an aging workforce — more than one-third of practicing physicians will be 65 or older within the next decade and looking to retire.
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FeatureThe VA privatization debate: 5 things to know
As the nominee for VA secretary awaits his confirmation hearing, debate is heating up over how involved healthcare's private sector should be in the second-largest federal agency.
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Hospitals must improve medication adherence system use to protect patients, report says
Many hospitals are struggling to properly use technology designed to prevent bedside medication errors.
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Tufts CEO vocalizes opposition to Beth Israel-Lahey merger
Michael Wagner testified before the Boston City Council this week, arguing the merger will stifle competition and lead to higher costs.
