Insurers argue HHS must clamp down on dialysis patient steering

Payers and a major union group said CMS should reissue its rule on steering in the individual market to prohibit financially interested third parties from making insurance payments.

By David Lim • April 18, 2018

New APM seeks to improve opioid disorder treatment

The AMA and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have unveiled the Patient-Centered Opioid Addiction Treatment advanced payment model, which looks to improve care coordination.

By Les Masterson • April 17, 2018

Amazon reportedly drops plan to distribute pharmaceuticals to hospitals

The report is not entirely unexpected. Amazon in December canceled its pharmaceutical wholesaler application in Maine and told state regulators it did not intend to sell drugs.

By David Lim • April 17, 2018

CVS hires Iora Health's CMO to run MinuteClinic

The CVS-brand clinics will likely play a key role if the company's proposed $69 billion merger with Aetna gets regulatory approval.

By Les Masterson • April 16, 2018

eConsult bolsters specialist access, but barriers remain, JAMA study says

A review of web-based consultations between primary care doctors and specialists found they can result in better care coordination, but some PCPs complained about added responsibilities and administrative burden.

By Les Masterson • April 16, 2018

New Jersey moves closer to its own individual mandate

The state legislature also approved a reinsurance program to help payers cover the sickest members. Both moves look to stabilize the individual market and ACA exchange.

By Les Masterson • April 16, 2018

Short-term plan expansion will hike individual market premiums, lower enrollment

The Trump administration wants to expand short-term plans, also known as catastrophic plans, to anyone and increase their duration from three months to one year.

By Les Masterson • April 13, 2018

Hospitals must improve medication adherence system use to protect patients, report says

Many hospitals are struggling to properly use technology designed to prevent bedside medication errors.

By David Lim • April 13, 2018

JAMA report finds wide health variations by state

Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at birth in 2016 (81.3 years) while Mississippi had the lowest (74.7 years).

By Les Masterson • April 12, 2018

The VA privatization debate: 5 things to know

As the nominee for VA secretary awaits his confirmation hearing, debate is heating up over how involved healthcare's private sector should be in the second-largest federal agency.

By Tony Abraham • April 11, 2018

Is the doctor shortage problem overblown?

While supply is not keeping up with population growth, technology and use of non-physicians may ease any shortfall. 

By Meg Bryant • April 11, 2018

Medicaid improves access, preventive services, AHIP report says

The study comes as Virginia considers becoming the 34th state to expand Medicaid under the ACA.

By Les Masterson • April 11, 2018

Medicare Advantage gets supplemental benefits flexibility, including for transport

The change opens the door to benefits not directly related to healthcare, such as meal delivery and ride-hailing services like Lyft.

By Meg Bryant • April 10, 2018

California bill would create healthcare price controls

The proposal would authorize an independent commission to set private health plan prices based on what Medicare pays for those services.

By Meg Bryant • April 10, 2018

States get more power over ACA essential health benefits with final rule

The sweeping rule is the latest in the Trump administration’s steady chipping away at the landmark health law, which has been coupled with a move to give states more control over their healthcare regulations.

By Jeff Byers • April 9, 2018

M&A risks patient safety, JAMA report warns

Mergers, acquisitions and affiliations are led by financial experts who may not prepare organizations for changes in patient population and practice settings.  

By Les Masterson • April 9, 2018

CVS points finger back at pharma for drug prices

The retail giant says it managed to keep drug costs flat despite 8.3% specialty drug pricing growth.

By Suzanne Elvidge • April 9, 2018

Medicare to pay hundreds of thousands for CAR-T therapies

CMS will give hospitals outpatient reimbursements of about $400,000 for Gilead's Yescarta and $500,000 for Novartis' Kymriah.

By Jacob Bell • April 6, 2018

Facebook confirms asking top hospitals for patient data

The technology company planned to use the de-identified patient data to help hospitals target patients who may need care.

By Jeff Byers • April 6, 2018

Opioid prescriptions down while addiction, overdose costs rise

The Kaiser Family Foundation looked at claims data for large employers between 2004 and 2016 to examine treatment costs from the opioid crisis.  

By Les Masterson • April 6, 2018

Pop health program reduced ED use, inpatient hospitalizations

A new Health Affairs study found that a Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center program with the Dallas Park and Recreation Department showed cost savings after one year.  

By Les Masterson • April 5, 2018

Surgeon General: More people should carry naloxone

The advisory comes a week before Congress is set to consider two competing packages aimed at curbing the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • April 5, 2018

Lafayette General threatens to shutter hospital amid budget impasse

LGH said that without funding either Louisiana State University will have to take over University Hospitals & Clinics again or the health system will close the hospital and lay off its employees on July 1.  

By Les Masterson • April 5, 2018

Virginia bill giving NPs full practice rights awaits signature

Gov. Ralph Northam, a physician, has not indicated whether he’ll sign, amend or veto the bill that overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly.  

By Les Masterson • April 4, 2018

ACA plans expanded coverage for chronic conditions

Repeal of the individual mandate penalty, which goes into effect next year, will likely put the burden on states to figure out how to stabilize the ACA exchanges.  

By Les Masterson • April 4, 2018