Government: Page 216
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Fla. hospitals finding ways to handle ER 'super users'
Using caseworkers to connect frequent fliers to primary care doctors has improved access to care — but is it enough to create meaningful savings?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014 -
HHS to limit orphan drug exclusions despite court ruling
The agency stands by its interpretation of the statute requiring drugmakers to offer discounts to hospitals on orphan drugs when used for common conditions.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 18, 2014 -
MedPAC proposes seven ways to improve Medicare payments
Implementing the recommendations could close the payment gap between primary care providers and specialists.
By Anne Zieger • June 18, 2014 -
Deep Dive
The 4 hospitals that are saving money by 'going green'
Eco-friendly efforts — from recycling tons of scrap metal to replacing inefficient toilets — are helping hospitals cut costs.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014 -
Letter to CMS: Readmission penalties unfair
Is the responsibility for reducing readmissions solely the hospital's? A June 10 letter from a group of House members says "no" and calls for relaxed sanctions.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014 -
New Chicago system is second-largest in state
Two area hospitals have joined to create a nine-hospital system, but the partnership is not a true merger.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014 -
Report: US healthcare ranks last in pretty much everything
The lead researcher called the findings "disappointing but not surprising."
By Katie Bo Williams • June 17, 2014 -
FDA will not regulate Apple HealthKit — and others
Not only will the FDA not regulate these apps as medical devices, they aren't covered by HIPAA either. Does this create liabilities for hospitals?
By Katie Bo Williams • June 17, 2014 -
Rural hospitals get Medicare pay adjustments — for a little while
This is good news for the nation's small, rural hospitals facing their own brand of financial pressures. But is it just another "patchwork" fix?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 17, 2014 -
Boeing is first customer for employer-driven ACO
Two health systems in Washington state are working directly with employers to customize coverage products, and the airline giant is only the beginning. But does this kind of relationship limit consumers' choices?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
Deep Dive5 TED Talks every healthcare exec needs to watch
TED Talks consistently produce some of the most innovative thinking in healthcare. Take a look at the five most important speakers over the last few years who echo the ideas leading executives are talking about.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 16, 2014 -
Deep Dive
Medicaid ACOs on the rise, despite challenges
With 19 states now using some form of a Medicaid ACO, the model comes with both promises and challenges.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
Do insurers have unfair advantage over hospitals buying doctor practices?
What happens as hospitals and health insurers continue to acquire physician practices, and hospitals are held to a stricter legal standard on paying fair market value?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
OIG demands $9.8M Medicare refund extrapolated from few claims
The audit revealed that about half of an Ohio hospital's 228 claims under review were compliant. But the rest of the claims spelled big trouble — after auditors extrapolated the hospital's penalty into the millions.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 16, 2014 -
AMA telemedicine policy puts emphasis on in-person visits
The model policy is cautious in tone, calling for a "valid patient-physician relationship" in advance of any treatment via telemedicine.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 12, 2014 -
Medicare poorly tracks hospital infections
Hospital infections continue to pose both health risks and heavy financial costs. And tracking them, according to a new study, is "an imprecise science." Just how big is the impact of hospital complications?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
New payment models to surpass fee-for-service by 2020
The new study by McKesson suggests two-thirds of payments will be value-based in less than 10 years — which worries providers much more than payers.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
Provider coalition opposes competitor's acquisitions
Massachusett's largest health system wants to expand, and the state AG's office is obliging. But rival providers are crying foul and urging full public disclosure prior to the deal's final approval.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 12, 2014 -
HHS allows new delay for some SHOP exchanges
Small businesses 'employee choice' option on health plans will wait until 2015 in 18 states with federally facilitated SHOP exchanges. The implications for hospitals remain unclear.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 11, 2014 -
Mercy Health System to lay off 300 across four states
The hospital blames the layoffs on state-level refusal to expand Medicaid, indicating that even large systems are not immune to the impact of recalcitrant legislatures.
By Katie Bo Williams • June 10, 2014 -
Health systems, ACOs urge HHS to lift telehealth restrictions
Increasingly, health systems and ACOs are embracing telehealth as a way to extend care and improve efficiency. But they aren't clear whether federal regulators will heed stakeholders' urging to waive restrictions on it.
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 10, 2014 -
AMA pushes for physician-led care models
Doctors want to take charge of health-care delivery, leading teams serving primary-care needs through value-based care models such as ACOs. Where does this leave hospitals in the fast-changing market?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 10, 2014 -
MD exchange reports proposals for double-digit 2015 premium hikes
...while other proposals call for premium decreases. Is Maryland's dominant insurer seeing sicker-than-average new members this year? Are other plans seeking lower rates just to compete or are their members healthier?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 10, 2014 -
Hospitals see surge of ER patients under reform
Medicaid expansion was intended shift the newly insured into primary care and away from the ER, but in some states, the opposite is happening. What factors are playing into this unexpected situation, and how can it be corrected?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 10, 2014 -
VA audit reveals 57,000 vets await appointments
But does the audit show the full extent of systemic problems? How much will VA's outlined emergency fixes actually help?
By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 9, 2014
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