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AMA, industry leaders call on CMS to expand remote patient monitoring reimbursement
The agency took a step toward broader remote monitoring reimbursement with the unbundling of CPT 99091 in the 2018 Physician Fee Schedule final rule.
Health IT -
Stryker sets sights on Boston Scientific in takeover bid: WSJ
Stryker two days later in an SEC filing said there were no discussions.
Health IT -
CMS sets goals to tackle opioid crisis
The plan calls for greater data transparency and interoperability and use of the Medicare heat map to pinpoint areas that can benefit from targeted safe prescribing efforts.
Payer -
KKR to acquire Envision in $9.9B deal
It's the culmination of a seven-month strategic review that examined Envision's options, including changes to capital structure, acquisitions and remaining a standalone business.
Practice Management -
Thin margins for major healthcare providers over next 2 years, Fitch predicts
The annual report sees organic revenue growth at 3% to 4% for most of the 20 U.S. healthcare providers, specialty pharmaceuticals and medical device and diagnostic companies it profiled.
Finance -
Wide spectrum of patients see better outcomes at academic medical centers, study finds
Authors of the Health Affairs report said they were surprised that even among less sick patients, the centers had better outcomes.
Hospital Administration -
Fixing provider directories a low-risk way to test blockchain, report suggests
UnitedHealth, Humana and Quest Diagnostics are among those working on a pilot blockchain project to update provider directories.
Health IT -
DOJ argues ACA pre-existing condition, individual mandates unconstitutional
The Trump administration said that with Congress zeroing out the penalty starting in 2019, the health law's individual mandate, community rating and guaranteed issue provisions cannot stand.
UPDATED: June 8, 2018 at 1:10 p.m.
Payer -
Optum party to $2.2B physician staffing firm acquisition
The move furthers the health services arm of UnitedHealth Group in its aim to be at the forefront of integrated services.
Finance -
Geisinger's revenue, operating income up in first 9 months of FY 18
The health system attributed the growth to higher patient service and premium revenues.
Payer -
ED visits increased nearly 10% in California after ACA
A Health Affairs study also found the chance of a Medicaid enrollee being a frequent ED user was "significantly lower" after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.
Payer -
Alert fatigue a focus after patient's drug allergy warning missed
Two people are now required to sign off on alternatives when a patient has a serious drug allergy at a Massachusetts hospital slammed by CMS for the blunder.
Health IT -
Social determinants tech field wide open for health industry
Less than 4% of the total care delivery market has invested in commercial SDoH referral platforms, according to a new study from Patchwise Labs.
Health IT -
New Enterprise Associates buys DaVita's Paladina Health
A key selling point in the latest of a growing number of healthcare deals was Paladina's direct primary care model.
Finance -
IBM confirms layoffs at Watson Health
The recent layoffs do not appear to signal any pullback from IBM’s commitment to AI and its Watson Health division.
Health IT -
NYU Langone Health touts technology at new facilities
Despite interest in smart patient rooms, hospitals have been slow to adopt them, largely due to lack of capital or infrastructure.
Health IT -
Headspace forms subsidiary to deliver prescription meditation app
Headspace Health will begin a clinical trial of its meditation platform in a targeted disease population this summer.
Health IT -
Study raises concerns about Medicaid managed care's narrow networks
A Health Affairs report said states need to make sure that physician turnover in narrow network plans doesn't create issues with doctor continuity for vulnerable populations.
Payer -
Reduction in hospital-acquired conditions saved $2.9B over 2 years
An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report found improved patient safety in 2015 and 2016 prevented about 8,000 deaths.
Finance -
Athenahealth CEO Bush out, board mulls sale
The co-founder had been under pressure from activist investors and more recently came under scrutiny for the assault of an ex-wife.
Health IT -
Medicaid expansion improved care access and coverage, analysis finds
More than 30 states have expanded Medicaid under the ACA, and a few more will have the issue up for a vote this fall.
Payer -
Mandatory CMS bundles showed advantages over voluntary initiatives, report finds
A Health Affairs report found mandatory and voluntary bundled payment models "engaged different types of hospitals."
Payer -
Virtua to acquire 2 Trinity hospitals in New Jersey
Trinity, the nation's second-largest Catholic health system, said it expects to record a loss of between $75 million and $100 million on the sale of Lourdes Health System.
Hospital Administration -
NIH lays out strategic plan for evolving field of data science
In particular, it points to the rapid growth of EHR and genomic data.
Health IT -
Bucking national trend, Pennsylvania payers seek modest exchange premium hikes
While many states worry there will be less competition in the individual market next year, Pennsylvania is seeing an uptick of participation in the exchange.
Payer