Finances: Page 139
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Report: US healthcare ranks last in pretty much everything
The lead researcher called the findings "disappointing but not surprising."
By Katie Bo Williams • June 17, 2014 -
Rural hospitals get Medicare pay adjustments — for a little while
This is good news for the nation's small, rural hospitals facing their own brand of financial pressures. But is it just another "patchwork" fix?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 17, 2014 -
It's time for hospitals to add retail clinics
Clinics would provide patients with the level of assistance they actually need and get hospitals away from the expensive and often wasteful emergency room model for routine care.
By Anne Zieger • June 17, 2014 -
Theranos: The new lab diagnostics firm that has Walgreens' attention
Hospitals are also starting to take note of a Silicon Valley lab diagnostics firm that is well-funded, ambitious and running tests at less than Medicare reimbursement rates — and aiming toward a national rollout with Walgreens.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 17, 2014 -
Boeing is first customer for employer-driven ACO
Two health systems in Washington state are working directly with employers to customize coverage products, and the airline giant is only the beginning. But does this kind of relationship limit consumers' choices?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
Ambulatory surgery chain sells for $792M
The acquisition is one of two major deals in the ambulatory surgery space in the last two weeks, highlighting an ongoing trend towards higher-value M&A deals.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 16, 2014 -
Sutter Health sees return investing millions in patient lifts
Three years ago Sutter Health invested millions into installing overhead patient lifts. Now the hospital system, pleased with safety results for patients and workers alike, is making the same investment again.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
Deep Dive
Medicaid ACOs on the rise, despite challenges
With 19 states now using some form of a Medicaid ACO, the model comes with both promises and challenges.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
Do insurers have unfair advantage over hospitals buying doctor practices?
What happens as hospitals and health insurers continue to acquire physician practices, and hospitals are held to a stricter legal standard on paying fair market value?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
OIG demands $9.8M Medicare refund extrapolated from few claims
The audit revealed that about half of an Ohio hospital's 228 claims under review were compliant. But the rest of the claims spelled big trouble — after auditors extrapolated the hospital's penalty into the millions.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
Enrollment in private exchanges rising
Providers can expect to see a much higher percentage of out-of-pocket collections from patients with employer-based coverage as a result.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 12, 2014 -
Hospitals, unions face changing landscape under reform
Nurses and other unionized workers are striking, picketing and holding rallies across the U.S. This is nothing new and within their rights. But the reform law is changing the environment in ways that may heighten challenges to keep the peace.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
How the ACA impacts hospitals: The Henry Ford example
How is the Affordable Care Act affecting health systems' bottom lines? If you ask Detroit's giant Henry Ford Health System, things were OK in 2013 but should improve this year.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
New payment models to surpass fee-for-service by 2020
The new study by McKesson suggests two-thirds of payments will be value-based in less than 10 years — which worries providers much more than payers.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
Who are the largest nonprofit U.S. hospitals?
This year the largest nonprofit hospital in the U.S. has 2,259 beds. While some regard hospital bed counts as significant, others say improvements in care delivery mean fewer beds are required. Just how important are bed counts?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
Provider coalition opposes competitor's acquisitions
Massachusett's largest health system wants to expand, and the state AG's office is obliging. But rival providers are crying foul and urging full public disclosure prior to the deal's final approval.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
HHS allows new delay for some SHOP exchanges
Small businesses 'employee choice' option on health plans will wait until 2015 in 18 states with federally facilitated SHOP exchanges. The implications for hospitals remain unclear.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 11, 2014 -
Mercy Health System to lay off 300 across four states
The hospital blames the layoffs on state-level refusal to expand Medicaid, indicating that even large systems are not immune to the impact of recalcitrant legislatures.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 10, 2014 -
AMA pushes for physician-led care models
Doctors want to take charge of health-care delivery, leading teams serving primary-care needs through value-based care models such as ACOs. Where does this leave hospitals in the fast-changing market?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 10, 2014 -
Hospitals see surge of ER patients under reform
Medicaid expansion was intended shift the newly insured into primary care and away from the ER, but in some states, the opposite is happening. What factors are playing into this unexpected situation, and how can it be corrected?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 10, 2014 -
VA audit reveals 57,000 vets await appointments
But does the audit show the full extent of systemic problems? How much will VA's outlined emergency fixes actually help?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 9, 2014 -
Deep Dive
The Highmark Health gamble: How risky is insurer-hospital integration?
After purchasing a Pennsylvania health system, Highmark Health posted a $186 million loss in 2013 and may lose the leading area provider from its network. What happens next, and what does the Highmark story mean for the trend of vertical integration?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 9, 2014 -
Health care doubles average monthly job growth in May
Economic indicators point to a good start to 2014 for the hospital sector. Will the good news continue?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 6, 2014 -
Are hospitals that buy oncology practices grabbing extra profits?
A report says hospitals buying oncology practices have increased their purchases through a federal drug discount program meant for low income Americans — with almost half of such hospitals pocketing savings.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 6, 2014 -
Why consumers are ignoring health cost data
The industry push for transparency is based on the theory that high deductibles will drive patients to get more involved in health pricing and quality... but that may be a false assumption.
By Anne Zieger • June 5, 2014
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