Government: Page 145
-
Specialist groups oppose MedPAC recommendation to end MIPS
The Alliance of Specialty Medicine represents more than 100,000 specialty physicians from 13 specialty and subspecialty societies.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 27, 2017 -
Trump declares opioids public health emergency but doesn't add funding
Industry groups and public health officials generally praised the declaration as a step in the right direction, but acknowledged that opioid misuse is a massive problem for the country that will require significant efforts — and resources — to overcome.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 27, 2017 -
CVS reportedly in talks to buy Aetna
The Wall Street Journal reported a $66 billion deal is being discussed as CVS looks to bolster itself in preparation for Amazon's potential entry into the drug distribution business.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 27, 2017 -
FDA
FDA clarifies when to submit 510(k) for a software change
The aim is to increase innovation by reducing unnecessary submissions.
By Meg Bryant • Oct. 26, 2017 -
Judge declines to force continued payment of CSRs
As the legal battle over the cost-sharing reduction payments continues, a report from Avalere found premiums for silver level plans will increase by an average of 34% next year.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 26, 2017 -
Choosing Wisely campaign not resonating with physicians
The ABIM Foundation created the program, which provides recommendations about low-value healthcare services to discuss with patients, in 2012.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 25, 2017 -
Few providers meet 2015 EHR certification, survey finds
Most healthcare execs reported an increase in patients seeking access to their personal information.
By Meg Bryant • Oct. 24, 2017 -
New payers eye Medicare Advantage market
Devoted Health plans to start selling plans in 2019; Oscar Health Insurance is also showing interest in launching plans.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 24, 2017 -
AMA: Nearly 70% of payer markets 'highly concentrated'
The annual report found that 90% of markets have at least one insurer with a 30% or greater market share.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 24, 2017 -
States struggling to maintain CHIP without federal dollars
Lawmakers have still not reauthorized the program, and officials from six states and the District of Columbia fear they’ll run out of CHIP money by the end of the year.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 24, 2017 -
Congress continues to negotiate CSR funding
A bipartisan bill to restore the cost-sharing reduction payments has prospects but also many hurdles.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 23, 2017 -
Pilot test will evaluate MACRA's ability to reduce costs
The CMS will test eight measures to see whether physicians in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System are cutting spending.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 23, 2017 -
Website lets Marylanders compare hospital costs
“Wear the Cost” provides price information on four common medical procedures.
By Meg Bryant • Oct. 20, 2017 -
HIPAA is hampering patient engagement, analysis says
Authors of the report in the New England Journal of Medicine said providers are leery of getting whacked with penalties for noncompliance, so they "have understandably interpreted HIPAA conservatively."
By Les Masterson • Oct. 20, 2017 -
Study: Nearly half of all US medical care happens in EDs
Researchers said emergency department visits increased by about 44% between 1996 and 2010.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 20, 2017 -
States pushing ahead with telehealth-enabling laws, regulations, study finds
Since April, 22 states have qualified under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which promotes harmonized regulatory frameworks.
By Meg Bryant • Oct. 19, 2017 -
Deep Dive
The White House isn't waiting any longer to try to bring down the ACA
President Donald Trump’s recent claim that “there is no such thing as Obamacare anymore” is certainly exaggeration, but his administration’s intention to get to that point is clear after last week's executive order and decision to end cost-sharing reduction payments.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 18, 2017 -
Senators say they've reached a bipartisan agreement to refund CSRs
The preliminary deal also reportedly tweaks the waiver process states can use to bypass some ACA requirements.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 18, 2017 -
Some hospitals are finding a new funding source in nursing homes
Hospitals can get more Medicaid funding per nursing home resident by owning or leasing the facility, according to Kaiser Health News.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 18, 2017 -
Healthgrades: Hospital quality varies widely throughout the country
The annual analysis showed that hospitals close to each other “can have significant differences in complication and mortality rates for the same condition or procedure.”
By Les Masterson • Oct. 18, 2017 -
CMS supports Kansas Medicaid waiver rejected by Obama administration
The state has a one-year extension for a waiver that allows it to cover most of its Medicaid population in a managed care plan.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 18, 2017 -
MA, Optum customers contribute to UnitedHealth's strong Q3
The company during an earnings call showed interest in the recent executive order allowing for association health plans and extending short-term plans.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 17, 2017 -
Next Generation ACOs show positive results
Accountable care organizations in the Next Generation program take on more financial risk than other programs, but can see a bigger payoff from savings created through improvements in care.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 17, 2017 -
U.S. News & World Report announces top Medicare plans for 2018
The report comes on the heels of CMS’ Medicare Star Ratings last week.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 16, 2017 -
Deep Dive
Same-day scheduling can improve patient satisfaction and your bottom line
With same-day scheduling, "the practice develops a reputation for being accessible and caring for their patients in a timely manager,” Kenneth Hertz, principal of MGMA Health Care Consulting Group, told Healthcare Dive.
By Les Masterson • Oct. 16, 2017
Previous
