The Latest

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  Tracker

  Tracking healthcare worker strikes

  The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions issued a strike notice on Friday declaring over 75,000 workers will strike from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 if parties do not agree to new contract terms by Sept. 30.

  Updated Sept. 25, 2023

  Hospitals

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  CMS to get ‘tougher’ on Medicare Advantage, official promises

  Deputy Administrator Jon Blum signaled regulators could increasingly crack down on bad actors in the MA program, which now covers more than half of Medicare seniors.

  Payer

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  CMS requires 30 states to pause Medicaid disenrollments after systems error

  Nearly 500,000 people will regain Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage after being improperly removed from the rolls during redeterminations, according to the HHS.

  Payer

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  CommonSpirit launches value-based management platform for physicians

  The nonprofit giant is the latest healthcare organization trying to position itself as an attractive partner for independent physicians who want to transition to value-based payment arrangements.

  Hospitals

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  Kaiser unions issue unfair labor practice strike notice as bargaining further breaks down

  Leaders of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions announced on Friday that over 75,000 members will strike from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 if labor and management cannot agree to new contract terms.

  Hospitals

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  Federal agencies propose increase to No Surprises Act administrative fees

  On Thursday, the HHS and other departments proposed a rule that would raise the independent dispute resolution process fees from $50 to $150. Last month, a federal court vacated a rate of $350.

  Hospitals

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  Biden administration seeks to erase medical debt from credit reports

  In kicking off a medical debt rulemaking process, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau aims to tackle what is a “serious pain point” for many families, Director Rohit Chopra said Thursday.

  Government

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  Opinion

  The one code Congress must support: G2211

  Presidents of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians argue for reforms in the national physician payment system.

  Hospitals

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  FTC sues US Anesthesia Partners, Welsh Carson over alleged price collusion in Texas

  The PE firm and its anesthesia network rolled up multiple physician practices over the past decade, creating a dominant provider and charging Texans “tens of millions of dollars” more each year for anesthesia services, regulators allege.

  Government

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  Teladoc appoints former Tenet executive to board of directors

  Eric Evans joins the board after previously serving as president of hospital operations at Tenet Healthcare.

  Health IT

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  Staffing firm American Physician Partners files for bankruptcy

  The company said the COVID-19 pandemic, rising labor costs and a “problematic” implementation of the No Surprises Act challenged its finances.

  Hospitals

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  PBMs, PhRMA trade blame over drug costs in House hearing

  Pharmacy benefit manager lobby PCMA and drugmaker lobby PhRMA pointed fingers over problems in the prescription supply chain during the House committee's second PBM hearing on Tuesday.

  Payer

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  Nearly 80,000 Kaiser workers authorize potential strike as final bargaining session begins

  Union and Kaiser Permanente representatives have one final negotiation left to work out contract terms. Otherwise, 80,000 workers will strike in what would be the largest work stoppage in the industry's history.

  Hospitals

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  Frustration over surprise billing implementation builds in House hearing

  Bipartisan lawmakers joined together to voice concerns about the implementation of the No Surprises Act, which critics say has created barriers to care.

  Payer

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  Cigna hit with second class action suit over claims automation software

  The lawsuit was filed in Connecticut and seeks class action status to represent all consumers nationwide who had claims reviewed by PxDx.

  Payer

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  Home health advocates raise alarm over payment cuts, access to care

  A new payment model and reimbursement cuts are straining home health agencies, but more data may be needed to fully evaluate the model, advocates and researchers said during a Senate finance committee hearing.

  Payer

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  Over 80% of nursing homes currently fall short of proposed CMS staffing thresholds

  In over half of states, less than a quarter of nursing facilities would meet staffing requirements under a proposed federal rule, according to a new KFF analysis.

  Government

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  Gates Foundation grants GE HealthCare $44M for AI ultrasound tech

  The money will go to GE subsidiary Caption Health to develop AI tools to help with maternal care and pediatric lung health.

  Health IT

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  Ochsner Health launches generative AI pilot for patient messaging

  The New Orleans-based health system will use generative artificial intelligence to draft messages to patients, which will be reviewed and edited by clinicians.

  Hospitals

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  Hospitals share differing medical prices online versus over the phone, secret shopper survey finds

  The study raises new questions about the dependability of hospital pricing, and builds on a mountain of research finding wide variance in pricing between different hospitals — and within the same facility.

  Hospitals

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  Ascension posts $2.7B net loss in fiscal year 2023, driven by rising expenses

  Like other nonprofits, Ascension continued to feel the strain of inflationary pressures as expense growth outpaced modest gains in revenue.

  Hospitals

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  Tennessee BCBS sued by former employees over COVID vaccine mandate

  The new lawsuit alleges the nonprofit health plan violated employees' religious rights by not granting them an exemption to its inoculation requirement.

  Payer

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  Oracle to launch generative AI tools integrated with EHR

  The clinical digital assistant, which will be available in the next year, will automate notetaking and suggest next steps, like scheduling labs or follow-up appointments.

  Health IT

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  New RSV vaccines can be powerful tools, but rollout poses test

  Public health officials and drugmakers are trying to raise awareness of RSV among at-risk older adults — and convince them to get an additional respiratory shot alongside those for COVID-19 and flu.

  Government

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  65,000 Kaiser Permanente workers vote to authorize strike

  Seventy-five percent of healthcare workers represented by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions have authorized a strike, which could begin as early as Oct. 1.

  Hospitals

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