Government: Page


  • Lawmakers prod CMS to collect Meaningful Use overpayments

    A recent HHS Inspector General’s investigation found CMS paid more than $700 million to healthcare professionals who did not meet the program's requirements.

    By July 18, 2017
  • Politico: Nonprofit hospitals cut back community spending despite revenue increases

    The top seven hospitals had a combined revenue increase of 15% over two years after the ACA’s coverage expansions, but their charity care spending went down 35%.

    By July 17, 2017
  • Trendline

    Surprise Billing

    Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

    By Healthcare Dive staff
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    Deep Dive

    Despite federal delays, bundled payments will be entrenched in US healthcare

    Bundled payment models serve as an entry to value-based care because of the relatively low risk providers take on. While these programs aren't yet proven to be successful, there is enough positive data to support participation.

    By Les Masterson • July 17, 2017
  • UnitedHealth requests federal court dismiss Medicare Advantage lawsuit

    The payer is involved in two whistleblower lawsuits involving alleged MA overpayments.  

    By Les Masterson • July 17, 2017
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    Report: US healthcare system worst among 11 wealthy nations

    The Commonwealth Fund study found the U.S. has the highest healthcare costs and lowest overall performance for all the nations studied.  

    By Les Masterson • July 15, 2017
  • CMS proposes big 340B drug payment cuts, outpatient rate changes

    The agency is also requesting ideas on regulatory and policy changes to advance flexibility, administrative simplification and innovation.

    By , July 13, 2017
  • Senate Republicans' new draft of healthcare bill makes few changes

    The revised draft includes an amendment that would allow insurers to sell plans that do not meet minimum ACA requirements so long as they offer at least one plan that does. The insurance industry has opposed this idea.

    By July 13, 2017
  • Major barriers remain to value-based implementation, survey finds

    Smaller organizations were least likely to report using value-based reimbursement initiatives in a recent EY Health survey.

    By July 13, 2017
  • HHS reports 'largest healthcare fraud takedown in history'

    This month more than 100 medical professionals were among those charged in false billing schemes involving more than $1.3 billion.  

    By Les Masterson • July 12, 2017
  • Anthem Blue Cross expands program that denies claims for unnecessary ED services

    The American College of Emergency Physicians and its Missouri chapter said rejecting ED claims is a “clear violation of the national prudent layperson standard.”  

    By Les Masterson • July 12, 2017
  • Report: Cutting essential health benefits won't save much money

    Republicans on Capitol Hill have raised the idea of cutting EHB requirements as they seek to replace the Affordable Care Act.  

    By Les Masterson • July 11, 2017
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    Medicaid beneficiaries report high satisfaction, access to care

    The survey comes as the program faces a potential restructuring, including massive funding cuts and an end to expansion.

    By July 11, 2017
  • Individual insurance market shows signs of stabilizing, report finds

    A new Kaiser Family Foundation report found improved medical loss ratios and payer margins in the first quarter of 2017, but also rising premiums. CMS on Monday announced fewer payers have signed up for ACA exchanges for 2018. 

    By Les Masterson • July 10, 2017
  • Senate looking at Plan B if BCRA fails

    Republican leadership is having a hard time deciding how it should proceed if the votes aren't there to pass their ACA replacement bill, which is increasingly the case.

    By July 10, 2017
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    65% of healthcare partnerships lead to cost savings, study shows

    More than half of respondents in a survey from the Partnership for Healthy Outcomes said their partnerships include care coordination support.

    By Les Masterson • July 7, 2017
  • Report: BCRA would mean more than 900K healthcare jobs lost

    New statistics released on Friday show 37,000 added healthcare jobs in June, up from 20,600 in May.

    By Les Masterson • July 7, 2017
  • New FTC Bureau of Competition acting director has healthcare background

    Markus H. Meier has led the Health Care division within the Bureau of Competition since 2006.  

    By Les Masterson • July 6, 2017
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    Deep Dive

    Seeking greater flexibility, MACRA's MIPS could be more confusing for clinicians in 2018

    “The point is to find a smart way to minimize the burden without undercutting the point of the whole effort,” says Numerof & Associates managing partner Michael Abrams of CMS’ 2018 Quality Payment Program proposed rule.

    By July 6, 2017
  • UK watchdog: Google DeepMind, NHS out of step with patient privacy laws

    DeepMind used patient records to test an app to monitor kidney disease.

    By July 5, 2017
  • MedStar stumps to keep D.C. Medicaid contract

    The D.C. Department of Health Care Finance didn't choose MedStar as one of three companies for its new five-year managed care Medicaid contracts.

    By Les Masterson • July 5, 2017
  • CMS pulls Medicare Advantage data release

    The agency said there were problems with the data's accuracy. 

    By Les Masterson • July 3, 2017
  • Centene will fill Missouri ACA exchange gaps

    The payer will offer plans in 25 "bare counties" that would have no ACA exchanges options in 2018 after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City announced it is dropping out of those areas. 

    By Les Masterson • July 3, 2017
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    Hospital outpatient payments lower in states with fixed fees, study finds

    Workers' compensation payouts in Alabama for common outpatient surgeries were as much as 527% higher than Medicare rates.

    By June 30, 2017
  • CBO: Senate healthcare bill will reduce Medicaid spending 35% by 2036

    Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 before the July 4th recess after failing to garner enough Republican support for the bill. 

    By Les Masterson • June 30, 2017
  • Survey: Few clinicians prepared for Quality Payment Program

    The American Medical Association found just 8% of physicians said they were “deeply knowledgeable” about QPP.

    By June 29, 2017