Government: Page 150


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    Price remains mum on CSRs, AHCA details at budget hearings

    With less than two weeks until the deadline for participating in the ACA exchanges, it’s getting too late for promises on cost-sharing payments to matter.

    By June 9, 2017
  • Medicare Advantage premiums steady as membership grows

    One-third of Medicare beneficiaries are covered by a Medicare Advantage plan.  

    By Les Masterson • June 8, 2017
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    Deborah Barrington
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    Nevada legislature passes Medicaid for all

    Gov. Brian Sandoval has yet to say whether he will sign the bill, and there are plenty of other outstanding questions such as the plan design and cost.  

    By Les Masterson • June 6, 2017
  • Supreme Court upholds ERISA exemption for faith-based hospitals

    The ruling allows religious-affiliated hospitals to avoid federal pension requirements under the “church plan” exemption.

    By June 6, 2017
  • Study: Housing assistance associated with improved healthcare access

    Poor housing stability is associated with adverse health outcomes such as increased rates of infectious and chronic disease, injuries, mental health issues and poor nutrition, researchers stated.

    By Les Masterson • June 6, 2017
  • Single-payer healthcare system in California still a long way from reality

    The state Assembly needs to finalize the bill to add more specifics about the proposed system and how the state would fund it.

    By Les Masterson • June 5, 2017
  • Provider groups ask Medicare Advantage be counted as APM under MACRA in 2019

    The groups requested that the agency include MA for the 5% Quality Payment Program bonus in 2019 and 2020.

    By Les Masterson • June 5, 2017
  • eClinicalWorks false claims settlement could kick off more EHR investigations

    It’s clear the federal government wanted to make a statement on the accountability of EHR vendors.

    By Les Masterson • June 2, 2017
  • EHR vendor eClinicalWorks to pay $155M in False Claims Act case

    This is the first time an EHR vendor has been held accountable by the government "for failing to meet federal standards designed to ensure patient safety and quality patient care,” a partner at Phillips & Cohen said.  

    By June 1, 2017
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    Study: Improving quality reduces readmissions, but doesn't lead to consistent savings

    Cedars-Sinai researchers found quality improvement programs saved health systems an average $972 per heart failure patient but lost a net average $169 per person for other patients.  

    By Les Masterson • June 1, 2017
  • Freedom Health agrees to pay $31.7M to settle Medicare Advantage whistleblower case

    The DOJ said the organization submitted or caused others to submit unsupported diagnosis codes to the CMS and made “material misrepresentations to CMS regarding the scope and content of its network of providers."

    By Les Masterson • May 31, 2017
  • Latest on the AHCA is mostly talk

    Republican Senate aides are said to be drafting the upper chamber’s version of the bill to replace the ACA this week, but there is no indication that progress is being made on sticking points such as Medicaid funding and coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

    By May 31, 2017
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    Skyrocketing chronic diseases will cause major healthcare spending spike

    The annual cost of someone with five or more chronic diseases is $45,000, according to a report from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.

    By Les Masterson • May 31, 2017
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    Deep Dive

    Children's hospitals — and their patients — caught in the crosshairs with planned federal cuts

    The proposed funding cuts would increase the rate of uninsured children and burden children’s hospitals with more uncompensated care.

    By Les Masterson • May 30, 2017
  • CMS: New Medicare cards combat fraud and illegal use

    The cards will use a randomly-assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number instead of a Social Security number.

    By Les Masterson • May 30, 2017
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    Blues prep opposite plans for ACA exchanges in Mo., NC

    Blue Cross NC plans an average 22.9% rate increase if CSRs are not paid, but could also still opt out of the ACA exchanges by the fall. Meanwhile, Blue KC will pull out of the market entirely.  

    By Les Masterson • May 25, 2017
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    CBO: Amended AHCA would still leave 23M uninsured

    The agency found that premiums for single policyholders buying in the nongroup market would increase by an average of about 20% in 2018 and 5% in 2019.

    By May 24, 2017
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    Trump's policies are pressing doctors to speak out

    "I think a lot of providers are really beginning to understand that these policies are a direct threat to the patients we serve,” says Dr. Manik Chhabra, a primary care physician in Philadelphia.

    By May 24, 2017
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    CMS delays bundled payment expansion, again

    The cardiac and joint bundled payment programs will now become effective on Jan. 1, 2018.

    By May 24, 2017
  • California single-payer plan could cost $400B annually

    The California Senate Committee on Appropriations said the plan still has uncertainties but would undoubtedly be "an unprecedented change in a large healthcare market."  

    By Les Masterson • May 23, 2017
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    Deep Dive

    Uneasy payers seek more guidance as ACA exchange deadline nears

    Payers are waiting to hear whether Republicans will continue to pay cost-sharing reduction payments. 

    By Les Masterson • May 22, 2017
  • Report: ACA uncertainty hurting healthcare IPOs

    Healthcare IPOs have only accounted for 21.1% of all IPOs so far this year, which is a 41.4% drop from last year.

    By Les Masterson • May 18, 2017
  • CMS selects 4 more regions for CPC+

    The agency expects to have up to 1,000 primary care practices participating in CPC+ Round 2. 

    By May 17, 2017
  • DOJ sues UnitedHealth for alleged Medicare Advantage mischarging, again

    The move comes after a former UnitedHealth executive said officials changed diagnosis codes to make patients seem sicker and then collected bonuses.  

    By Les Masterson • May 17, 2017
  • Trump issues cybersecurity executive order amid rising threats

    The executive order requires all government agencies to modernize their IT systems.

    By May 16, 2017