Government: Page 105
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Taylor McKnight/Healthcare Dive
California sees 24% dive in new ACA plan enrollments
State officials pinned the blame on loss of the federal tax penalty for people without health insurance, but CMS pushed back on that claim.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 31, 2019 -
CMS proposes more nontraditional benefits for MA plans
If the policy changes are approved, the expected average increase in revenue for 2020 Medicare Advantage plans is 1.59%, down from the 3.4% increase for 2019.
By Shannon Muchmore • Jan. 31, 2019 -
Trendline
Labor
Hospitals are navigating persistent labor shortages with the need to cut costs — a source of contention that could leave patients caught in the middle.
By Healthcare Dive staff -
New VA rules reignite privatization debate
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie preemptively dismissed critics, saying they "claim falsely and predictably" the new rules represent a "first step toward privatizing the department."
By Tony Abraham • Jan. 31, 2019 -
Narrow networks can effectively control health costs, report finds
But excluding hospitals in narrow plans may harm patients who live near those facilities, according to the American Economic Association paper.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 30, 2019 -
CMS launches app showing Medicare beneficiaries what their plans cover
The app's Blue Button 2.0 functionality also lets people connect claims information to tools that "help them understand, use and share their health data," the agency said.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 29, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Industry braces as more lawmakers seek to ban surprise billing
"Pretty much everybody agrees that the consumer shouldn't be trapped in the middle of these conversations — that's the easy part," said Jack Hoadley, research professor emeritus at the Georgetown University Health Policy Center.
By Shannon Muchmore • Jan. 29, 2019 -
Focus on usability, interoperability to help reduce health IT burden, groups tell ONC
Stakeholders also urged ONC to consider artificial intelligence tools as a means of relieving hassles from EHR use.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 29, 2019 -
Integrate, bolster finances to break down silos in care, think tank suggests
The Bipartisan Policy Center also recommended increased federal spending and improved care coordination as methods for removing barriers between behavioral health and other services.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 28, 2019 -
Doctors less likely to accept Medicaid than other insurance
MACPAC found no difference in Medicaid acceptance between doctors in states that expanded the program under the ACA and those that didn't — except with OB-GYNs.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 28, 2019 -
JAMA study makes case for investing in primary care
People with primary care receive more high-value care, slightly more low-value care and report better healthcare experiences than those without primary care, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 28, 2019 -
Medicaid advisory panel calls for phasing in DSH allotment reductions
The suggestions also include changes in how disproportionate share hospital spending is allocated, and are projected to save the government anywhere from $1 billion to $5 billion over the next decade.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 25, 2019 -
ACA exchanges showing stability after rocky years
More payers are offering Affordable Care Act plans and premium increases are relatively modest despite attempts from Washington to undermine the law, according to a report from the Urban Institute.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 25, 2019 -
How the shutdown is hitting healthcare: rural hospitals, public health, ACA credits
One potential problem is delayed processing of tax credits to help people pay for health insurance premiums in Affordable Care Act exchange plans.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 24, 2019 -
Number of uninsured adults reaches post-ACA high
The uninsured rate reached a four-year high at nearly 14% in the fourth quarter of last year, according to a new Gallup poll.
By Tony Abraham , Samantha Liss • Jan. 23, 2019 -
Downside risk spurs provider exodus in bundled payment models, GAO says
The watchdog also found provider groups participating in any of the six bundled payment models from CMS had larger practices and higher care episode volume on average, and were more likely to be located in urban areas.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 23, 2019 -
CMS approves 8th state for Medicaid work requirement
Arizona's policy is expected to begin in 2020 and affect about 120,000 residents.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 22, 2019 -
CMS pitches new MA and Part D voluntary payment models
The MA model will test new service delivery approaches, including telehealth expansion, while the Part D model aims to control catastrophic drug spending by front-loading insurers with higher risk.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 18, 2019 -
Opioid marketing leads to more prescriptions, deaths, says JAMA study
More marketing interactions with physicians led to more prescriptions.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 18, 2019 -
CVS, Walmart resolve spat over pharmacy benefit pricing
The pact comes days after the two heavyweights said they'd hit a stalemate in contract negotiations.
By Kim Dixon • Jan. 18, 2019 -
CMS cuts ACA exchange fees, floats proposal to end silver-loading
While no regulations limiting or banning auto-enrollment and silver-loading are contained in the rule, the agency has requested public comment on the two issues for consideration in future rules before 2021.
By Tony Abraham • Jan. 18, 2019 -
ONC releases 2019 Interoperability Standards Advisory
The latest edition includes a new interoperability need for sending prescriptions to pharmacies for controlled substances.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 17, 2019 -
Nearly half of doctors feel burned out, Medscape survey shows
Urologists, neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists have the highest burnout levels, according to the report.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 17, 2019 -
Key House Democrat to focus on ACA, drug prices this year
With Democrats now in power of the chamber, the new chairwoman of a crucial oversight subcommittee laid out her priorities, including proposals she argues will bolster medical device safety.
By David Lim • Jan. 17, 2019 -
No single solution to patient matching challenge, GAO says
Questions about the accuracy of digital matching tools force providers to recheck results manually, according to the government watchdog.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 16, 2019 -
Massachusetts will ask Medicaid patients to rate their doctors
Nearly 250,000 beneficiaries will receive questions about primary care, mental health treatment and long-term care services in what the state says is a first-of-its-kind project.
By Les Masterson • Jan. 16, 2019
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