Government: Page 136
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CMS finalizes hip fracture and cardiac bundled payment program cancellations
The agency is also moving forward with proposed changes to reduce the mandatory geographic areas for the joint bundled program.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 30, 2017 -
Study raises questions over pay-for-performance program impacts
The article "should be the final nail in the coffin of the current generation of P4P," an accompanying editorial stated.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 29, 2017 -
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 -
Care use, costs increase when doctors are connected to each other
The JAMA study found that patients whose physicians' networks included more primary care physicians saw more primary care visits but fewer specialists and emergency visits.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 29, 2017 -
Epic outperforms competitors on 6 Meaningful Use criteria, report says
A study, published in JAMIA, claims it is the first to look at the relationship between EHR vendors and hospital's Meaningful Use performance.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 28, 2017 -
VA didn't report potentially dangerous providers, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office recommended the VA work toward more timely reviews and improved documentation.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 28, 2017 -
Deep Dive
5 payer trends to watch in 2018
Expect insurers to accelerate programs and policies that cut costs and to push for value-based contracting as consumers demand more transparency in healthcare pricing.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 28, 2017 -
Senate leadership hopes for a tax bill vote this week
The $1.5 trillion tax reform bill includes provisions that would affect healthcare, including a repeal of the ACA's individual mandate.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 28, 2017 -
13 hospitals added to Rural Community Hospital Demonstration
The program, which now has 30 participating hospitals, reimburses inpatient services at the actual cost of care.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 27, 2017 -
ACA enrollment up, but may not overcome shorter signup period
Nearly 2.3 million Americans signed up for ACA plan coverage through Nov. 18, which is about 200,000 more compared to the first 26 days of open enrollment last year.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 27, 2017 -
VA's Shulkin wants to boost use of private care
The VA has been moving toward more consumer choice in healthcare for some time.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 22, 2017 -
Report: Supportive policies needed to advance connected health technologies
Top priorities include reimbursement, remote patient monitoring and interoperability.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 22, 2017 -
Healthcare leaders call for transparency, timely data in CMMI models
CMS Administrator Seema Verma has asked for feedback as she looks to reshape the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 22, 2017 -
States that run their own exchanges have lower uninsured rates
States using the federal exchange have double the uninsured rate through the first six months of this year compared to states that have their own exchange, according to the CDC.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 22, 2017 -
Nurses slam AMA for stance against independent practice for nonphysicians
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners says the AMA is putting the financial interest of doctors ahead of patient care.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 21, 2017 -
Report: Costs of opioid crisis have been underestimated
The White House Council of Economic Advisers says the cost of the opioid crisis in 2015 totaled $504 billion with more than 33,000 Americans having died of an opioid-related drug overdose.
By David Lim • Nov. 21, 2017 -
Medicare beneficiaries to see some cost increases next year
Some Medicare Part B enrollees will see a premium increase in 2018.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 20, 2017 -
Report names opioid crisis major challenge for HHS
A recent OIG report, which identified the top 10 challenges HHS faces in 2017, also pointed to fiscal management of Medicare and Medicaid as a top area of concern.
By David Lim • Nov. 20, 2017 -
Deep Dive
Why payers are flocking to the Medicare Advantage market
The CMS predicts more than one-third of all Medicare enrollees will be in MA plans next year.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 20, 2017 -
California fines Anthem $5M for systemic grievance system violations
The state has fined the payer $11.66 million for grievance system violations since 2002.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 17, 2017 -
Hospitals facing IV solution shortages after Hurricane Maria
The FDA has granted one of the largest manufacturers of IV solutions permission to import IV bags from its facilities in other countries.
By David Lim • Nov. 16, 2017 -
FDA greenlights first 'smart' pill
Abilify MyCite contains an ingestible sensor that tracks if and when patients take their medication.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 15, 2017 -
Deep Dive
What you need to know about the new nominee to lead HHS
Alex Azar's previous stint at the agency is a plus in the eyes of many, but his more recent time as an executive for pharma giant Eli Lilly casts doubt on the Trump administration's promise to rein in drug prices.
By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 15, 2017 -
Healthcare startup Forward expands into Los Angeles
Former Google employee Adrian Aoun founded the startup.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 15, 2017 -
Individual mandate repeal included in latest tax bill draft
CBO has said eliminating the ACA's individual mandate would result in 14 million people losing coverage by 2025 and premium increases of about 20%.
By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 15, 2017 -
Study raises concerns about mortality risks in readmissions penalty program
Recent research found that while heart failure patients were less likely to be readmitted since the implementation of the Hospital Readmission Reductions Program, their mortality rate increased.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 14, 2017