Government: Page 58
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FDA staff tight-lipped on booster shot views ahead of consequential meeting
In a briefing document released Wednesday, agency reviewers did not make a strong case either for or against the broad authorization of boosters for the general public.
By Shoshana Dubnow • Sept. 16, 2021 -
Providers balk at MIPS value program, Medicare rate in physician pay rule comments
While providers strongly support the telehealth coverage increases in the proposed rule, they asked the agency to go further by putting the services that are now going to be covered through the end of 2023 on the permanent list.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 15, 2021 -
Trendline
Labor
Hospitals are navigating persistent labor shortages with the need to cut costs — a source of contention that could leave patients caught in the middle.
By Healthcare Dive staff -
In rare move, DOJ intervenes in MA fraud case against data mining company
Defendants Independent Health, an MA payer, and its now defunct medical analytics subsidiary DxID denied all allegations of wrongdoing and said they planned to defend themselves "vigorously" in court.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 15, 2021 -
CMS moves to scrap Medicare coverage of breakthrough devices due to clinical evidence concerns
AdvaMed said the repeal of the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology rule is the wrong decision for patients. Analysts noted the reimbursement pathway could be resurrected in Cures 2.0 legislation.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Sept. 14, 2021 -
Biden pushes forward on Medicare price negotiation
But opposition from the drug industry and Republicans could make the Democrats' signature proposal an uphill battle.
By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 13, 2021 -
Departing FDA officials, WHO leaders argue against broad rollout of COVID-19 booster shots
Marion Gruber and Philip Krause, two top FDA vaccine reviewers who are unexpectedly departing this fall, joined senior WHO officials in saying booster vaccine doses are not yet widely needed.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 13, 2021 -
HHS to release $25.5B in COVID-19 relief funding for providers
Some providers have been anxiously waiting on additional disbursements from the provider relief fund, especially for the period of the pandemic that saw the highest hospitalization rates.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 13, 2021 -
Insurers to disclose relationships with brokers, agents in new CMS proposed rule
Other proposals would require air ambulances to disclose additional data to HHS and outline how CMS can enforce surprise billing protections if states fail to act.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 13, 2021 -
Retrieved from Shutterstock.Sponsored by Consensus Cloud Solutions
4 ways ADT event notifications improve payer performance
Our all-in-one real-time health event notification solution allows payers to work alongside providers to ensure that their members are on a path to better health outcomes that reduces waste and frustration.
By Bevey Miner, Health IT Strategy/CMO for Consensus • Sept. 13, 2021 -
Biden, industry groups mandate COVID-19 vaccines for most healthcare workers
CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are requiring that all provider facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs vaccinate their workers, according to a Thursday release.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 10, 2021 -
Surprise Billing
Industry pushes for more time before surprise billing ban enforced
Payers and hospitals say with the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing and key elements still unreleased, it will be difficult to comply by Jan. 1. Key sticking points include arbitration and qualified payment amounts.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 9, 2021 -
Moderna expands mRNA vaccine supply in deal with new biotech producer
The company had previously said it could make up to 3 billion vaccine doses in 2022, depending on how booster shots are authorized.
By Shoshana Dubnow • Sept. 9, 2021 -
Biden admin shells out $452M to boost state reinsurance programs
The funding is aimed at getting more individuals to enroll in insurance at a lower cost, swelling coverage as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 8, 2021 -
Feds sue UPMC, heart surgeon for billing multiple surgeries at same time
The False Claims Act litigation also accuses the health system of ignoring or minimizing complaints by employees and staff.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 7, 2021 -
Sponsored by Zelis
The low-down on the latest NSA Member ID and Advanced EOB Requirements
What you need to know about new NSA requirements for Member ID cards & AEOBs to reach compliance.
Sept. 7, 2021 -
AHA presents Congress with laundry list of requests for budget reconciliation bill
The hospital lobby asked that some of the funding be used to address the ongoing labor shortage, shore up mental health services and address ongoing coverage gaps.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 3, 2021 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Pfizer, Merck launch large new trials of oral COVID-19 drugs
Both companies are racing to prove their oral antivirals are effective as treatments for COVID-19. Key clinical results could come later this year.
By Kristin Jensen • Sept. 2, 2021 -
Medicare insolvency still expected by 2026, unchanged by COVID-19, trustees say
The forecast is a bit of a bright spot for the otherwise grim financial prospects of the program, as experts worried COVID-19 would result in the fund that finances Medicare Part A running out of money faster than previously expected.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 1, 2021 -
Hospital lobby urges Congress to extend Medicare cut relief
The cuts, if they go through, will result in an estimated loss of $36 billion in funding in 2022 alone, the Federation of American Hospitals said.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 1, 2021 -
Hospitals lose legal challenge over changes to DSH payments
A federal judge sided with HHS, pointing to a portion of the Medicare law that prohibits any administrative and judicial review of how the department arrived at its calculations.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 1, 2021 -
Sutter to pay $90M in largest False Claims Act settlement against a health system for alleged MA fraud
The record payment comes on the heels of another massive settlement for the nonprofit, adding to the hit on its already stressed bottom line.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 31, 2021 -
FDA restarts distribution of Lilly's COVID-19 drug in 22 states
Use of the treatment had been halted due to weakened efficacy versus an early coronavirus variant. Now, with delta widely prevalent and demand for antibody treatments surging, Lilly's therapy will be available again.
By Shoshana Dubnow • Aug. 31, 2021 -
Carol Highsmith. (2005). "Apex Bldg." [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
New Jersey hospitals appeal FTC merger challenge
Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest health system in New Jersey, wants to to acquire a close competitor. The Federal Trade Commission won an injunction to stop the deal, which is now headed to an appeals court.
By Samantha Liss • Aug. 30, 2021 -
Philips sleep apnea, ventilator recall triggers US lawmaker scrutiny, legal woes
Patients seeking class-action status and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are questioning the medtech's timing of the recall and outreach to patients. Philips has not quantified the impact of the suits but said it could be material.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated Aug. 28, 2021 -
North Carolina amends certificate of need in bill headed to governor's desk
The laws came under scrutiny as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the nation last year and overwhelmed hospital resources, raising questions about the value of the restrictions.
By Samantha Liss • Aug. 26, 2021