Government: Page 153
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Walgreens settles for $50M over fraud claims
The retail pharmacy allegedly offered discounts and other monetary incentives to government beneficiaries in an attempt to induce them into utilizing its pharmacies.
By Luke Gale • Jan. 23, 2017 -
JAMA: Providers stumbling when it comes to sepsis readmissions
The common, deadly condition cost the healthcare system more than $23 billion in 2013, and preventing it has become a public health priority, according to the CDC.
By Luke Gale • Jan. 23, 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 -
$54B Anthem-Cigna deal could be blocked
Anthem is extending the deadline for completion of its merger agreement with Cigna, which is considering its options.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 23, 2017 -
On Day One, Trump starts unwinding ACA
In an executive order issued on Friday, federal healthcare agencies are instructed to "waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay implementation of any provision or requirement" that imposes a burden on individuals, payers, healthcare providers, among others.
By Ana Mulero • Jan. 23, 2017 -
NIH Director Francis Collins to remain, but for how long?
Francis Collins is positioned to lead NIH into an exciting era of improved funding and research, but Trump has yet to officially offer him the post.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 23, 2017 -
US recovered $3.3B in fraudulent healthcare claims in 2016
One of the year’s biggest settlements was with Tenet Healthcare for $390 million.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 20, 2017 -
CMS reins in pass-through payments
Safety-net hospitals, clinics and physicians will be looking for new income streams to replace billions in payments that are being phased out.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 19, 2017 -
CMS' new Office of Clinician Engagement aims to reduce regulatory burden
The formation of the new office could stem from a provision in the 21st Century Cures Act.
By Luke Gale • Jan. 19, 2017 -
Preventable hospitalizations on the decline
Quality measures helped reduce preventable hospitalizations by 31% among consumers eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
By Luke Gale • Jan. 19, 2017 -
McKesson settles alleged CSA violations for record $150M
The Fortune 500 healthcare services and IT company must hire an independent monitor to assess compliance with controlled substances regulations as part of the settlement.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 19, 2017 -
We may be able to avoid casualties in the ACA battle, according to one proposed replacement plan
A new set of ideas offers more detail than we’ve seen before but will require buy-in from employers.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 19, 2017 -
MedStar Ambulance settles False Claims Act investigation for $12.7M
It is important for providers to implement robust whistleblower compliance programs, as the National Law Review's Joe Harper and Jaci Overmann cautioned.
By Luke Gale • Jan. 18, 2017 -
Deep Dive
No punches pulled during Tom Price's HHS courtesy hearing
From healthcare stocks and ACA repeal to EHRs, committee members weren't shy while interrogating Trump's HHS Secretary nominee.
By Ana Mulero • Jan. 18, 2017 -
ONC, CMS offer roadmap for continued shift to value-based payments
Barriers and frustrations around the digitization of healthcare remain, National Coordinator for Health IT Dr. Vindell Washington and CMS acting Administrator Andy Slavitt wrote in a recent blog post.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 18, 2017 -
Can Baker get Massachusetts' rising healthcare costs under control?
Facing dramatic price variations and unsustainable financing challenges, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker proposes to take drastic action to rein in healthcare costs in the state.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 18, 2017 -
CBO: 18M would lose coverage, premiums would rise first year after Obamacare repeal
The report used HR 3762 to estimate how an ACA repeal could affect health insurance coverage.
By Ana Mulero • Jan. 17, 2017 -
Price's healthcare stocks continue to raise ethical questions
This narrative could have big implications for ACA replacement if Price's stock trading delays his confirmation as HHS Secretary.
By Jeff Byers • Jan. 17, 2017 -
HHS finalizes substance abuse patient record sharing rule
With concerns about the epidemic of opioid abuse growing daily, the final rule regarding the confidentiality of patient substance abuse records seems to fall short for some industry stakeholders.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 16, 2017 -
Study: Missouri hospitals reported cause of death inaccurately in 45% of cases
Some hospitals were found to underreport cancer and overreport heart disease and renal disease.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 15, 2017 -
Uncompensated hospital costs reach new low
The ACA has helped hospitals by reducing the burden of uncompensated care, but all bets are off if it is repealed without a replacement.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 15, 2017 -
Price to cut ties to healthcare companies if confirmed for HHS
The Senate HELP Committee has scheduled a hearing for Price on Jan. 18.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 13, 2017 -
Trump chooses David Shulkin for Secretary of Veterans Affairs post
The Department of Veterans Affairs undersecretary for health, a longtime hospital administrator, could bring a fresh perspective to the agency.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 12, 2017 -
Senate takes first big step to repeal ACA
President-elect Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would like for an ACA repeal and the implementation of a replacement coverage plan to occur "essentially simultaneously."
By Ana Mulero & Jeff Byers • Jan. 11, 2017 -
Cal INDEX-Empire Health Information Exchange merger will boost big data
The merger of these two California data exchanges will result in the country’s largest database of insurance claims and medical records.
By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 11, 2017 -
Deep Dive
Mind the gap: Bridging care coordination, IT infrastructure no easy feat
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General identified backend IT infrastructure as a critical vulnerability for the implementation of the Quality Payment Program in the coming year.
By Meg Bryant • Jan. 11, 2017