Government: Page
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Telehealth funds cut from 21st Century Cures, sources say
Another source suggested that the committee is simply trying to downplay industry expectations.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 17, 2015 -
CMS releases first star ratings; only 251 hospitals get five stars
Are the five-star ratings a meaningful reflection of performance? Some stakeholders say no.
By Heather Caspi • April 17, 2015 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineSurprise 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 -
Florida governor to sue feds over alleged Medicaid coercion
The debate could set a precedent for whether the federal government will be able to put pressure on other states holding out against Medicaid expansion.
By Heather Caspi • April 17, 2015 -
CMS proposes 1.4% rate increase for skilled nursing facilities
The increase matches the 2014 hike, but is a drop from the $750-million boost that SNFs received in 2015.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 16, 2015 -
Senate passes 'doc fix', repeals SGR
The bill now goes to President Obama's desk, where it is expected that he will quickly sign it into law.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 15, 2015 -
New draft rule would shorten MU attestation period to 90 days
The proposed rule would either reduce or eliminate other program requirements as well.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 13, 2015 -
Deep Dive
CMS actuary says SGR bill is short-term fix
On Friday, CMS' chief actuary released a report outlining some anticipated short-term and long-term financial effects.
By Julie Henry • April 13, 2015 -
HIMSS15: Mostashari criticizes proposed relaxation of MU rules
"For the first time I'm taking issue [with agency policy]," the former federal health IT coordinator said.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 13, 2015 -
Minnesota: State-created insurer can keep records private
The court stated that the Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association "clearly and unambiguously is not a state agency."
By Heather Caspi • April 10, 2015 -
Deep Dive
Inside the controversial transition to a new Medicare Advantage risk-adjustment model
According to one report, the new model will result in a 23% reduction in plan payments for people with chronic kidney disease.
By Julie Henry • April 8, 2015 -
Study: Changing 'next of kin' definition creates challenges for providers
If the next of kin is not recognized by state law, courts or ethics committees may have to become involved in life-or-death decisions.
By Julie Henry • April 8, 2015 -
CMS proposes rule to extend mental health parity to Medicaid, CHIP
The proposed rule would affect more than 22 million people, but some say it isn't enough to overcome barriers to care for mental health patients.
By Julie Henry • April 8, 2015 -
AZ allows patients to order lab tests without physician order
The legislation was signed in the midst of the ongoing controversy over Mark Cuban's claim that patients should get quarterly bloodwork to establish a "baseline."
By Katie Bo Williams • April 7, 2015 -
Medicare Advantage payments to rise in 2016
According to CMS, insurers will likely see overall revenue increase by about 3.25%.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 6, 2015 -
Deep Dive
Will the SGR fix impact medical malpractice?
Proponents and critics of a key provision in the doc fix bill weigh in.
By Julie Henry • April 6, 2015 -
NJ insurers fight for change to out-of-network payment rules
Health insurers say existing rules requiring them to pay for emergency care at full charge rates are imposing heavy costs.
By Anne Zieger • April 2, 2015 -
CMS delays 'two midnight' rule enforcement for another 30 days
The agency is giving Congress a chance to pass the "doc fix" bill before it takes action.
By Katie Bo Williams • April 2, 2015 -
FTC delays Advocate, NorthShore merger
The deal would create a 16-hospital system with a reported $6.8 billion in combined revenue in 2013. How likely is it to receive agency approval?
By Katie Bo Williams • April 2, 2015 -
Maryland may need to repay $30M to CMS for exchange setup
The state failed to formally update its enrollment numbers and projections on the required timeline.
By Heather Caspi • April 1, 2015 -
No more excuses: It's time to expand Medicaid
Consider that healthcare stakeholders spend nine figures annually to lobby Washington.
By Anne Zieger • March 31, 2015 -
Insurers show 'substantial' improvement in medical loss ratio compliance
MLR rebates dropped from $1 billion to $325 million in three years.
By Julie Henry • March 30, 2015 -
Obama administration releases plan to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria
The plan takes aim at pathogens that the CDC has deemed serious or urgent threats.
By Julie Henry • March 30, 2015 -
The case for national physician licensing for telehealth
When licensing requirements were solidified state-by-state, telemedicine and the physician shortages weren't necessarily considerations.
By Anne Zieger • March 27, 2015 -
Deep Dive
Pros and cons: What 3 IT experts have to say about the MU Stage 3 proposal
The patient engagement elements of the proposed rules in particular have drawn industry criticism.
By Heather Caspi • March 26, 2015 -
House passes 'doc fix' legislation
The Senate is expected vote tomorrow, but passage is a little dicier.
By Katie Bo Williams • March 26, 2015