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The ACA has helped hospitals by reducing the burden of uncompensated care, but all bets are off if it is repealed without a replacement.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

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

Republicans begin rocky road to healthcare reform

Repealing the ACA is a bit trickier than Republicans may have previously thought.

By Luke Gale • Jan. 10, 2017

$475,000 fine marks first HIPAA enforcement action over breach notification timing

Presence Health reported a breach but not within 60 days of discovering the problem, as is required by law.

By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 10, 2017

Trump's HHS cabinet pick went to bat for major industry donors

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) made inquiries to the Food and Drug Administration on behalf of constituents 38 times during the past decade.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 10, 2017

CMS updates home healthcare rules for Medicare, Medicaid

A new final rule includes requirements to improve information communication to patients and caregivers about services provided.  

By Luke Gale • Jan. 10, 2017

Trump wants GOP to quickly repeal and replace Obamacare

"We have to get to business. Obamacare has been a catastrophic event."

By Jeff Byers • Jan. 10, 2017

HHS Secretary poses 3 questions for GOP on ACA replacement

The damage to the individual insurance market would begin this spring with Republican's plan to repeal parts of the ACA, HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said during a National Press Club event.

By Ana Mulero • Jan. 9, 2017

Oscar looks beyond the ACA for business

Whatever the ACA’s future may be, Oscar plans to stay in the health insurance game.

By Kathleen Gilbert • Jan. 8, 2017

NQF guidance aims to reduce quality measure variation

The guidance provides a decision-logic framework for determining if variation exists and how to address it.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 6, 2017

HHS: Coverage of Americans with preexisting conditions up since ACA

Roughly 133 million nonelderly Americans — or 51% — have a preexisting medical condition.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 6, 2017

Paul Ryan: ACA repeal would strip Planned Parenthood funding

The nonprofilt reproductive health services organization launched a petition this week to ask Congress for its support.

By Ana Mulero • Jan. 6, 2017

Fairfield University to open palliative nursing center next fall

With the country's aging population growing and end-of-life care burning holes in payers' pockets, efforts to improve palliative care services are underway throughout healthcare. 

By Luke Gale • Jan. 6, 2017

UPDATE: Former Henry Ford CEO Nancy Schlichting not in VA secretary race

Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the last cabinet positions open in the Trump administration. 

By Luke Gale • Jan. 6, 2017

ACA Round-Up: Fault lines show as ACA battle wages on

Democrats work to rally public support while Republicans strive to move quickly to dismantle Obamacare in this political minefield.

By Kathleen McGuire Gilbert • Jan. 5, 2017

Risk corridor case certified as class action

The certification in a lawsuit brought against the government over money owed through the risk corridor program allows all payers who were supposed to receive payments for the 2014 or 2015 benefit years to join the case.

By Luke Gale • Jan. 5, 2017

Healthcare industry continues to weigh in on ACA reform

The Healthcare Leadership Council recommended actions that aim to "bolster the stability of the health insurance marketplace, encourage greater competition, and give all Americans enhanced choice and flexibility in their coverage."

By Ana Mulero • Jan. 5, 2017

What's at stake across the industry for ACA repeal and delay

Let's take a beat to assess the storylines behind the new "if you like your plan, you can keep it" battle.

By Jeff Byers & Meg Bryant • Jan. 4, 2017

Toby Cosgrove favors Cleveland Clinic over VA Secretary position

Cosgrove, formerly seen as the frontrunner for the nomination of secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will stay on as CEO at Cleveland Clinic. 

By Kathleen McGuire Gilbert • Jan. 4, 2017

Court rules Oregon overstepped in efforts to recover costs for Medicaid beneficiaries

State legislators and courts alike are taking aim at rules allowing governments to make claims against the estates of Medicaid beneficiaries to recoup medical costs. 

By Luke Gale • Jan. 4, 2017

Pop health vendors challenged by range of provider needs

“The world of population health is so vast that there is not one vendor that does it all for providers,” says KLAS’ Bradley Hunter.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 4, 2017