CMS proposes hundreds of pages of new rules for nursing homes

The new regs run the gamut from meal times to use of psychotic drugs and staffing issues.

By Julie Henry • July 14, 2015

Medicare Advantage audits reveal $3.3M in errors

Given program growth, some researchers are calling for more transparency: "It's astonishing. [CMS is] dumping huge amounts of data in other areas."

By Julie Henry • July 13, 2015

Senate warns Slavitt will face scrutiny over CMS nomination

Slavitt's previous ties to Healthcare.gov make him a target for GOP leaders.

By Julie Henry • July 13, 2015

House overwhelmingly votes to pass 21st Century Cures FDA reform bill

ICYMI: The final vote tally was 344-77. Next up: A potentially more complicated landscape in the Senate.

By Sy Mukherjee • July 10, 2015

Report finds backward slide on healthcare price transparency

45 states received an "F" in the third annual report from the Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute.

By Heather Caspi • July 10, 2015

New CMS bundled payments proposal may be 'too much, too fast'

Starting in January, hospitals in 75 different areas would be required to test out bundled payments for hip and knee surgeries.

By Katie Bo Williams • July 10, 2015

CVS Health quit tobacco—and now it's quitting the Chamber of Commerce

The business trade group has come under fire for lobbying against anti-smoking measures in other parts of the world.

By Nicole Gray • July 9, 2015

Hospitals fire back at GAO study faulting 340B program

HHS has also expressed concerns with the GAO's claim that hospitals may be over-prescribing to boost revenues. 

By Nina Flanagan • July 9, 2015

CMS proposes paying for end-of-life planning in new draft rule

As Huffington Post put it, this is the proposal that "will make Sarah Palin's head explode."

By Katie Bo Williams • July 9, 2015

NJ bill shifts local EMS contract from one hospital to its competitor

The move has pitted two south Jersey hospital systems against one another and litigation may be forthcoming. 

By Heather Caspi • July 8, 2015

Proposed rule would chop $350M in home health payments

The third year of a four-year "rebasing" of the 60-day home care episode rate kicks in. Are home health providers overpaid? 

By Katie Bo Williams • July 7, 2015

CMS to modify controversial 'two midnight' rule

The agency is standing firm in its support of the overall policy, but some requirements will be eased. 

By Katie Bo Williams • July 2, 2015

Open Payments: Docs got $6.5B from drug/device industries in 2014

Payments cover everything from product development, to R&D, to dinner speakers and various types of consulting.

By Nicole Gray • July 1, 2015

New HHS OIG fraud unit to levy fines, exclusions—and target physicians

"You're going to see a lot of kickback cases, both against the payor and the recipient, which tend to be physicians," said one OIG chief. 

By Katie Bo Williams • July 1, 2015

OSHA may soon fine hospitals to protect nurses from injury

But the agency may not have enough muscle to move the needle on workplace injuries.

By Heather Caspi • June 26, 2015

Can healthcare leaders improve public health by advocating against climate change?

A new study argues health professionals can take on "powerful entrenched interests," having already done so with the tobacco industry.

By Heather Caspi • June 24, 2015

Emails underscore Gruber's deep involvement with crafting of ACA

The House Oversight Committee provided 20,000 pages of emails to The Wall Street Journal days before SCOTUS is expected to rule on King. 

By Heather Caspi • June 23, 2015

House budget draft would drop funding for AHRQ—and two other HHS agencies

Which other innovation and quality agencies might get the axe?

By Heather Caspi • June 22, 2015

Bills would require parity for IV and oral chemo coverage

According to AHIP, such legislation would result in a commensurate rise in premiums.

By Heather Caspi • June 22, 2015

PA asks: Are insurance navigators sufficiently regulated?

One expert says: Navigators are entrusted with PHI, so they should be held to the same security standard as other insurance professionals. 

By Heather Caspi • June 22, 2015

Largest fraud crackdown in a decade centralized in Miami: 'Capital of Medicare fraud'

243 healthcare fraud suspects nationwide were arrested this week. 73 were south Florida residents. 

By Heather Caspi • June 19, 2015

Tax breaks for nonprofit hospitals doubled over the last decade

The pressure on not-for-profits to justify the chargemaster continues to grow. 

By Katie Bo Williams • June 18, 2015

FDA partners with PatientsLikeMe to access patient-generated drug data

The three-year agreement may influence how fast the FDA can react to a safety issue. 

By Nina Flanagan • June 18, 2015

New ACO rule eases skilled-nursing requirements for Track 3

It's unclear how many ACOs will be able to take advantage of the waiver—many groups wanted CMS to extend it to all tracks. 

By Katie Bo Williams , Nina Flanagan • June 18, 2015

Investors advise caution as speculation around Big Five mergers grows

"I just don't get the feeling that there is [a] thoughtful, disciplined, controlled process, and that concerns me," said one analyst. 

By Katie Bo Williams , Nina Flanagan • June 18, 2015