PwC: 'New Health Economy' finding its feet, but challenges remain

Providers are embracing digital treatments, with 77% saying they have suggested an app or digital program to a patient, according to the industry trends report.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 12, 2018

1 in 5 patients at high risk of socioeconomic health problem, survey finds

Patients who discuss their social determinant of health challenges with a clinician are more likely to accept help, according to the study. Younger patients, while twice as likely to discuss, are less receptive to assistance.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 12, 2018

4.2M Americans eligible for free ACA coverage, KFF says

In Iowa, Nebraska, Delaware and Utah alone, roughly half of potential marketplace shoppers could get a 2019 bronze plan with a $0 premium, according to the analysis.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 12, 2018

Lawmakers impatient for ONC interoperability rule

"It is hard to explain to people that Congress provided the tools necessary for doctors and patients to better coordinate their care through the sharing of patient data, but nothing has changed," Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, said at a House health subcommittee hearing.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 11, 2018

Payer, hospital groups trade blame on surprise billing

The problem of patients unexpectedly getting a bill for out-of-network services is common and growing, especially for people getting emergency room care.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 11, 2018

Middle-income Americans paying more for health insurance

Americans in the South are hardest hit — spending a bigger share of their income on healthcare than other parts of the country.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 10, 2018

CMS reinstates risk adjustment program for ACA exchanges

In February, a federal judge in New Mexico vacated the risk adjustment program, namely the statewide average premium in the HHS methodology.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 10, 2018

Hospital labor skirmishes — 2018 in review

The year was marked by heated negotiations over staffing and wages. Here's a month-by-month breakdown of how it went down.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 10, 2018

VA invests in medical messaging system, brings services to Walmart

The country's second-largest government agency has also reportedly been in talks with Apple on a deal that would see the tech giant build software for veterans to access their EHRs via their mobile devices.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 10, 2018

MedPAC pitches 2% boost in hospital Medicare payments, merged quality incentive program

The adviser to CMS and Congress on Medicare has been focused on the shift to value-based care in recent months. Its new linked proposals are no exception.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 7, 2018

Hospitals speak out against Trump proposed 'public charge' immigration rule

NYC Health + Hospitals said the system could lose up to $362 million the first year following the change. The AHA and the National Association of Community Health Centers have also criticized the plan.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 7, 2018

National health spending slowed for 2nd straight year, at $3.5T

The spending growth rate, which fell to 3.9% in 2017 from 4.6% in 2016, was primarily held back by slowdowns in use of goods and services, with fewer people insured and getting care.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 7, 2018

Lack of provider competition raising healthcare prices, Center for American Progress argues

The left-leaning think tank offered suggestions for creating a system that produces more competition with fairer prices, including more regulatory enforcement and site neutral payments.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 6, 2018

Hospital docs weigh in on CAR-T reimbursement: 'It's very complicated'

Looming over clinical victories seen at the American Society of Hematology's annual conference was a problematic question: How exactly will health systems pay for these powerful yet pricey therapies?

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 6, 2018

Low nurse staffing levels directly linked to higher patient mortality, study finds

BMJ researchers found that the hazard of death increased by 3% for every day a patient experienced nurse staffing levels below the ward mean.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 6, 2018

Bipartisan bill introduced in Senate to penalize pharma Medicaid gaming

The incoming leaders of the Senate Finance Committee want to set monetary penalties for drugmakers that misclassify products within Medicaid.

By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 6, 2018

Trump's deregulatory health agenda chided at conservative forum

"Competition won't work in healthcare unless it's managed," Mark Hall, director of health law and policy at Wake Forest University, said at the American Enterprise Institute forum.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 5, 2018

AHA, AAMC sue over site neutrality rule

The hospital groups say the final rule is harmful to patients, "especially those with the most complex needs and those in vulnerable communities."

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 5, 2018

Narrow networks remain common in ACA marketplace

HMOs remain the most typical type of plan in the market. Exclusive provider organizations are increasing, and will make up 19% of all available options in 2019.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 5, 2018

Most in Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program to get higher payments next year

The data suggest slight improvements in quality and value for the 2,800 hospitals that take part in the program, including better total performance scores. However, fewer facilities received incentive bonuses than last year.

By Tony Abraham • Dec. 4, 2018

Telehealth uptake surprisingly low among physicians, AMA finds

Large and specialty practices are more likely to use telehealth, suggesting that implementation costs are a barrier, according to a new study in Health Affairs.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 4, 2018

The Healthcare Dive Awards for 2018

The awards recognize the healthcare industry's top disruptors and innovators. These executives and companies are transforming the industry and shaping the future.

By Healthcare Dive Team • Dec. 3, 2018

HHS accepting comments on performance measure changes

The National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership will make recommendations for changes to programs like MIPS by Feb. 1.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 3, 2018

Hire of the Year: Adam Boehler, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

The founder and former CEO of Landmark Health left a lucrative salary to take CMMI, created under the ACA to test health delivery and payment models, in a new direction.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 3, 2018

Disruptor of the Year: Amazon

Although some analysts remain skeptical about Amazon's threat to the highly regulated industry, the landscape looks entirely different than it did just one year ago.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 3, 2018