CMS estimates 41.5M people affected by innovation center models since late 2020

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is currently operating 33 models studying potential improvements in healthcare payment and delivery.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 14, 2022

Maternal health services suffer in states with abortion bans, report finds

States risk driving away healthcare providers who are reluctant to work where their practices will be restricted, according to a Commonwealth Fund analysis.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 14, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals need nurses so desparetly they're offering massive sign-on bonuses and staffing firms say open positions for both temporary and permanent nursing roles are at all-time highs

By Healthcare Dive staff

CMS tackles provider availability, exchange regulations in proposed rule

The regulation comes after the ACA exchanges, spurred by financial incentives during the COVID-19 pandemic, reached record enrollment numbers.

By Sydney Halleman • Dec. 13, 2022

COVID-19 vaccine saved millions of lives, study calculates

The vaccines also reduced infections and hospitalizations, which freed up hospital resources, researchers at the Commonwealth Fund and Yale School of Public Health concluded.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 13, 2022

Variability in Medicare direct contracting savings illustrates promises, pitfalls of value-based care

Accountable care organizations' net savings rates ranged from -29.4% to 29.2% in the 2021 Global and Professional Direct Contracting Model.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated Dec. 13, 2022

Progressive lawmakers call on CMS to cull companies with history of Medicare fraud from ACO REACH

At least 10 organizations with records of healthcare fraud and abuse participated in the direct contracting program last year despite CMS screening requirements, the letter said.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated Dec. 20, 2022

OSHA moves ahead with permanent COVID-19 standards for health workers

The submission for permanent COVID-19 safety standards comes after temporary pandemic requirements for medical facilities were withdrawn last December.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 9, 2022

Payers, providers applaud new CMS prior authorization rule

Provider groups, including the AHA, asked the Senate to codify measures proposed by the CMS by passing bipartisan legislation imposing more prior authorization requirements on Medicare Advantage plans.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 8, 2022

AdvaMed asks FDA to withdraw divisive draft guidance on LASIK surgery

Some comments were more positive, though, with the American Optometric Association calling the agency’s proposal “timely and beneficial.”

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 8, 2022

Patient discharge delays pose threat to health outcomes, AHA warns

The hospital lobby is asking Congress to establish a temporary per diem Medicare payment to help ease healthcare capacity issues.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 7, 2022

HHS to lift mpox emergency declaration as cases drop

New reported daily cases of the virus in the U.S. have dwindled to under 10 from more than 600 per day in August.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 6, 2022

18M projected to lose Medicaid coverage at end of COVID-19 emergency

Many people who are currently enrolled in Medicaid will transition to other coverage, but 3.8 million people will completely lose insurance, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 6, 2022

Key healthcare stories from 2022

This year has been especially tumultuous for healthcare, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, numerous labor disputes and major M&A announcements.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 5, 2022

Advocate Aurora and Atrium complete merger, creating $27B system

The new system, Advocate Health, will operate 67 hospitals and more than 1,000 sites of care in six states.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 2, 2022

As complaints roll in, ‘complexity’ holding up HHS information blocking enforcement, health IT coordinator says

The HHS has yet to finalize disincentives for providers or say how the OIG will go about investigating and applying civil monetary penalties to health IT vendors. “We’re working really, really hard,” Micky Tripathi told Healthcare Dive.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 1, 2022

What to make of Eisai and Biogen’s latest Alzheimer’s drug data

At a medical conference, the companies detailed clinical trial results that could help support approval of their drug lecanemab. However, some doctors aren’t convinced the medicine’s risks are worth its potential benefits.

By Jacob Bell , Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 29, 2022

CMS warns hospitals must protect staff, patients from violence

Hospitals must effectively mitigate risks to ensure patients and staff are safe as part of their Medicare certification, the agency said in a Monday memo, noting that some facilities have received citations for failing to do so.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 29, 2022

HHS proposed rule targets substance use stigma

The American Hospital Association backed the new rule, saying it would improve the exchange of patient records in the treatment of substance use disorders.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 29, 2022

Bernie Sanders poised to lead Senate health committee

The longtime proponent of universal healthcare is set to become chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is in line to be the committee’s ranking member.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 28, 2022

Lawmakers object to latest surprise billing rule, call for changes

House Ways and Means Committee leaders “are severely disappointed to find that the August 2022 final rule violates the No Surprises Act in the same ways as before,” they wrote in a letter to regulators last week.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 22, 2022

Epic ensnared in Texas probe of parental access to teen medical records

The state is at the forefront of an intensifying legal battle over the rights of transgender and non-binary children to gender-affirming healthcare.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 21, 2022

HHS to look at MA risk adjustment as upcoding in spotlight

Regulators have considered changing how they calculate patient risk and provider reimbursement, work that the HHS head said is continuing.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 17, 2022

Divided Congress after midterms will allow HHS to execute on policy priorities, Becerra says

The department will focus on implementing drug price negotiation in Medicare and surprise billing regulations, according to the secretary.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 16, 2022

Medical group asks Congress to offset Medicare payment cuts

The Medical Group Management Association wants Congress to take action to help physician practices by the end of the year.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 15, 2022

HHS cybersecurity center warns of new ransomware threat

The ransomware has attacked targets worldwide, including at least one U.S. health group, since it was first identified in mid-August.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 14, 2022