Government: Page 84
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CMS to cut COVID-19 test pay by 25% for delayed results, labs cry foul
The American Clinical Laboratory Association, which includes LabCorp and Quest, argued the new policy fails to address the root of delays: fluctuating demand and supply chain disruptions.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 19, 2020 -
The hazy post-pandemic future of telehealth
"The effective application of technology and data to healthcare is the foundation for efficient healthcare, but has so far failed to deliver on its potential," the managing partner of Blue Ox Healthcare Partners said Thursday.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 16, 2020 -
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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 -
Elective surgeries seen coming back in Q3, but can it last?
Analysts forecast a recovery in procedures in the third quarter as patients rescheduled, but some now see a leveling off in hospital activity. The flu season also poses a risk going into the winter.
By Susan Kelly • Oct. 15, 2020 -
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CMS expands Medicare emergency telehealth coverage with 11 new services
The agency also said more than 36% of those in traditional Medicare used a virtual visit between March and August and usage among Medicaid members has skyrocketed.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 15, 2020 -
Payer competition shrinks in already scarce markets, AMA survey finds
The five insurers with the biggest share in the most markets were Anthem, Health Care Service Corp., UnitedHealth Group, Florida Blue and Highmark.
By Hailey Mensik • Updated Oct. 15, 2020 -
Hospitals warn of 'devastating' impact from CARES funds reporting change
The problem centers on how the agency is now defining "lost revenue." AHA bashed the change as "simply unfair and unrealistic" and added it would create an "administrative and accounting disaster."
By Samantha Liss • Oct. 14, 2020 -
Medicare coronavirus vaccine pay rule predicted by month's end, Verma says: HLTH 2020
It's unclear whether CMS has the regulatory power to reimburse for a vaccine if approved by the FDA under an emergency use authorization, as public health officials expect. The rule will likely tackle that.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 13, 2020 -
HHS says hospitals must now report flu data as well as COVID-19 numbers
Facilities will have 14 weeks to comply with the requirement that will inform distribution of treatment and supplies as public health officials worry about a dangerous clash of flu season and the pandemic.
By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 7, 2020 -
Courtesy of Target
More than 14M may have lost health coverage after historic job losses, study finds
Not all lost jobs result in a loss of coverage, so researchers have been keen to figure out how historic unemployment has ultimately affected insurance status.
By Samantha Liss • Oct. 7, 2020 -
Brian Tucker/Healthcare Dive
Citing COVID-19, providers push back on CMS payment rule rate cuts, telehealth rollback in 2021
The AMA and AHA are among those lobbying hard against any payment reduction amid the pandemic. Stakeholders also spoke out against rolling back coverage of audio-only virtual visits and nixing the inpatient-only list.
By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 6, 2020 -
Medicare advisers toy with MA payment overhaul as major payers expand for 2021
MedPAC commissioners floated a new methodology in the Medicare Advantage program blending local and national spending, but pushback from payers is likely if the change is finalized.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 5, 2020 -
MedPAC commissioners urge condensing, revamping advanced alternative payment models
Many of the models have not produced the results stakeholders and policymakers had hoped for as the group tries to push more providers away from fee-for-service reimbursement.
By Samantha Liss • Oct. 5, 2020 -
[Photograph]. Retrieved from Regional Health Command Atlantic.
Patients give high marks to telehealth, J.D. Power says
The survey of more than 4,300 people ranked Amwell and Doctor on Demand as well as insurers. Sicker patients were less likely to report a positive experience.
By Ron Shinkman • Oct. 1, 2020 -
Photography by Adam Schultz/Photo edit by Kendall Davis/Healthcare Dive
Deep DiveElection 2020: Trump and Biden's starkly diverging views on healthcare
Spoiler: the two nominees diverge on almost everything.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 1, 2020 -
4M added to Medicaid rolls due to coronavirus pandemic
The job market — which many rely on for commercial insurance coverage — is likely to remain strained as long as the U.S. fails to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The resulting shift in payer mix is unfavorable for providers.
By Samantha Liss • Oct. 1, 2020 -
HHS launching effort to better track office-based EHR use
Office-based physicians' responses to surveys tracking health IT utilization have been waning. A new partnership with the American Board of Family Medicine is meant to revitalize data collection to inform future rulemaking.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 30, 2020 -
Rangel, David. [photograph]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/4m7gmLNr3M0.
Anthem to pay almost $40M to settle 2015 cyberattack investigation
The settlement ends a long-standing investigation into the payer following a series of targeted hacks that exposed the health information of almost 79 million people. Anthem continues to deny any wrongdoing.
By Hailey Mensik • Sept. 30, 2020 -
6.5M Abbott COVID-19 antigen tests to reach states this week
Initial distribution of the rapid point-of-care diagnostics is meant to help reopen economies and schools, President Donald Trump said. It's still far short of the 200 million some experts say are needed each month.
By Greg Slabodkin • Sept. 30, 2020 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
HHS says nearly $106B in CARES aid has been distributed to providers
Health systems are concerned, however, that new reporting guidelines issued by HHS could stanch the flow of money in the near future.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 28, 2020 -
Trump administration may push back interoperability rules, again: Rucker
HHS is "looking at needed changes" to deadlines for its information blocking rules, ONC head Don Rucker said last week. His comments followed a rule quietly sent to OMB with a title implying extension of certain compliance dates.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 28, 2020 -
The White House/Healthcare Dive, data from WhiteHouse.gov
Trump health plan called 'pixie dust' on pre-existing conditions, builds on transparency bid
Despite talk by President Donald Trump to preserve pre-existing condition protections, his administration has undermined those protections through litigation and policy decisions.
By Hailey Mensik • Sept. 25, 2020 -
Experts seek answers on why few Medicaid providers sought COVID-19 relief
Just $2.2 billion of the $15 billion set aside has been paid out as of Sept. 11, a presentation by MACPAC staff found. Commissioners asked if a deadline should be reopened.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 25, 2020 -
CMS touts dip in Medicare Advantage premiums for 2021
SVB Leerink analysts point to Centene, Humana and UnitedHealthcare as payers best positioned to pick up more share next year.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 25, 2020 -
Biden preferred over Trump on COVID-19, pre-existing conditions, poll finds
Those younger, Black and Hispanic were more likely to list the pandemic as the top concern while older and White voters choose protecting health insurance coverage, The Commonwealth Fund survey found.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 24, 2020 -
Primary care docs call for federal aid as 1/3 still face significantly low revenue
The new weekly survey from the Larry A. Green Center and Primary Care Collaborative shows a slightly rosier snapshot for primary care providers but suggests trouble ahead amid zero action from Congress and the flu season.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 23, 2020
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