Health Law
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The image by Original image from Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress collection is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Hospitals tell court price transparency laws violate 1st Amendment
Thursday's hearing was the first step in what's likely to be a drawn out legal fight. Negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers have long been private, and hospitals want to keep it that way.
By Hailey Mensik • May 07, 2020 -
Trump reiterates support to kill ACA — despite pandemic — as House, states file briefs with SCOTUS
"We want to terminate healthcare under Obamacare and replace it," the president told the White House press pool on Wednesday. Estimates say that could throw some 20 million Americans off insurance.
By Rebecca Pifer • May 06, 2020 -
Paying private insurers Medicare rates would tank hospital revenue by 35%, study finds
Policy action is needed to lower out-of-control healthcare prices, Health Affairs researchers determined, but any moves from Washington to tie reimbursement to Medicare rates could send hospital revenues flatlining.
By Rebecca Pifer • May 05, 2020 -
from Solar Power International
5 key pillars of Biden's healthcare plan
As the coronavirus pandemic highlights shortcomings of the U.S. health system and millions lose coverage, here are the main tenets of the presumptive Democratic nominee's health agenda.
By Rebecca Pifer • April 28, 2020 -
Supreme Court rules for payers in $12B risk corridors case
The 8-1 decision, with only Justice Samuel Alito dissenting, found the Affordable Care Act "established a money-mandating obligation, that Congress did not repeal."
By Shannon Muchmore • April 27, 2020 -
Another court rules against hospitals on DSH payments
Hospitals had argued CMS should only use Medicaid and uninsured patient payments toward the disproportionate share hospital payment cap. A lower court ruled in favor, but an appeals court overturned that decision Monday.
By Shannon Muchmore • April 22, 2020 -
Hospital lobby asks feds for more CARES funds, targeted distribution
The plea comes as CMS said the second round of the $100 billion package will come by the end of the week. The AHA chief said more is needed to address the worst financial crisis in history for hospitals.
By Ron Shinkman • April 17, 2020 -
CMS further eases top of license rules amid COVID-19
Among the changes: Doctors practicing at critical access hospitals can provide care across state lines using phones, radio or online communications. Their instructions may be carried out by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
By Ron Shinkman • April 10, 2020 -
CDC/Alissa Eckert, MS. "covid-19 coronavirus on black background". Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/images.htm.
OCR suspends some HIPAA regulations in response to COVID-19
The HHS agency said it would use its discretion to not enforce the law against "the good faith uses and disclosures of protected health information." The change mostly applies to business associates and federal agencies.
By Ron Shinkman • April 03, 2020 -
DOJ sues Anthem for millions in overpayments related to MA plan members
The payer said it plans to vigorously defend its practices as the lawsuit alleges it put profits ahead of compliance.
By Samantha Liss • March 27, 2020 -
Fotolia
'What about us?': Frontline primary care practices fear for survival amid coronavirus
Independent practices have resisted selling to hospitals amid years of provider consolidation, reimbursement cuts and more, leaving them with razor-thin margins. Now, they worry COVID-19 could send them off the financial cliff.
By Rebecca Pifer • March 26, 2020 -
Getty Images
On 10th anniversary, embattled Affordable Care Act faces yet another stress test
The law now faces a significant test as the nation likely heads into a recession amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, straining the health system in an unprecedented way.
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Pandemic prompts CMS to drop some reporting requirements for value-based initiatives
Citing the COVID-19 outbreak, the agency provided either deadline extensions for reporting data connected to the projects or waived them entirely for the fourth quarter of 2019.
By Ron Shinkman • March 23, 2020 -
Getty Images
CBO says Grassley-Wyden drug bill would save more than $94B in 1st decade
The bill would impose stringent price reporting controls on the pharmaceutical sector as well as continue some significant rebates from drug manufacturers.
By Ron Shinkman • March 16, 2020 -
Alpha Stock
BCBS operator sues feds over ACA risk corridor payments
HCSC argues it is owed more than $2 billion in unpaid risk corridor payments. The lawsuit is likely an indicator the company believes other insurers, which argued a similar case before the Supreme Court, will prevail.
By Samantha Liss • March 10, 2020 -
Getty Images
ACA spurred 'widespread improvements' in protecting patients against financial risk
However, the courts and the Trump administration have impeded the landmark law's full potential as it nears its 10th anniversary, Health Affairs researchers wrote.
By Samantha Liss • March 03, 2020 -
Alex Hickey
Supreme Court to again decide fate of ACA
The high court said Monday it would hear the case that seeks to overturn the Affordable Care Act pushed by Texas and other red-leaning states.
By Samantha Liss • UPDATED: March 2, 2020 at 10:38 a.m. -
Getty Images
Patient group pushes Trump-backed drug pricing bill
A new national TV ad campaign from Patients For Affordable Drugs urges Congress to pass a bipartisan bill from the Senate Finance Committee.
By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 27, 2020 -
Alex Hickey
Supreme Court mum on ACA case
The high court is now scheduled to decide whether to take the case during a conference set for Friday, Feb. 28.
By Samantha Liss • UPDATED: Feb. 24, 2020 at noon -
Getty Images
Choice grows in ACA exchanges, report finds, as Supreme Court mulls effort to kill law
A new McKinsey & Company analysis comes as the high court convenes Friday to decide whether to review the Republican lawsuit seeking to overturn the landmark law.
By Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 21, 2020 -
Dollar Photo Club
Trump admin's Medicaid work requirements struck down by appeals court
The unanimous opinion from the D.C. federal appeals court is a blow to the administration's push to tie Medicaid coverage to employment. Legal experts say the ruling will stall the policy in other states like Indiana and Michigan.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 14, 2020 -
Getty / edited by Healthcare Dive
Tenet to pay $1.4M to settle claims it implanted cardiac monitors unnecessarily
The allegations stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a medical center employee who will share in the settlement and is set to receive nearly $241,000.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 12, 2020 -
Fotolia
Rival surprise billing efforts jockey for attention in election year
Two new pieces of draft legislation, one from the House Ways and Means committee and another from the Education and Labor panel, were introduced Friday as Congress struggles to make headway on the issue.
By Rebecca Pifer • UPDATED: Feb. 10, 2020 at 9:55 a.m. -
Lawmakers push for more oversight at CMS innovation center
A bipartisan group in the House introduced a bill that would require HHS to track how demonstration models impact patient access to care and potentially overhaul or eliminate those found to have adverse effects.
By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 05, 2020 -
Brian Tucker, Industry Dive
Private payers unlikely to take major hit from Medicaid block grant plan
Managed care covers a large swath of the nation's Medicaid beneficiaries, but analysts maintained a positive view on the sector after details emerged of the CMS policy.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 03, 2020
