Government: Page 96
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Air Methods in talks to contract directly with large employers
One of the nation's largest air ambulance operators told Healthcare Dive the move comes amid challenges getting Cigna, UnitedHealth and Aetna to sign contracts.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 25, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Is the future of diabetes treatment better drugs or better care?
Drug manufacturers are trying to push the boundaries of glucose control, but cost concerns could rein in ambitions.
By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 24, 2019 -
CMS finalizes Medicaid DSH cuts, but Congress could still delay
The cuts are scheduled to go into effect next month, but the House voted to put off the changes last week and the Senate is expected to consider that legislation this week.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 24, 2019 -
Sutter antitrust trial opens, with implications for M&A across US
A ruling against the hospital system would send waves through the hundreds of providers that have been steadily consolidating in the past 25 years. A win could send prices both in California and the rest of the nation even higher.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 23, 2019 -
CMS not appropriately tracking quality measure spending, objectives, GAO finds
The watchdog agency issued a blunt report concluding CMS is not properly accounting for spending in its quality measurement initiatives and not managing the programs in a way that serves its strategic objectives.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 23, 2019 -
It's wait and see for hospital construction in Florida
Though the state removed a common restriction on healthcare development, there hasn't yet been a post-repeal uptick in projects, an observer told Construction Dive. The potential has some contractors ready to move quickly.
By Kim Slowey • Sept. 23, 2019 -
Medicare Advantage plans see barriers to non-medical benefits
CMS allowed MA insurers to offer such benefits this year, but deployment was hampered by lack of new funding, according to a report from the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Despite pop health buzz, few providers screen for social needs
In a new JAMA report, hospitals cited lack of financial ability, time and incentives as major barriers to screening for social determinants.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 19, 2019 -
House Democrats forge ahead with direct Medicare drug price negotiation
While drug price constraints may still become law, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's proposal looks like a long shot.
By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Infection control an issue at some ambulatory surgery centers, OIG says
More than three-quarters of ASCs had at least one deficiency during their most recent state inspection, according to a new report from the watchdog.
By Linda Wilson • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Study suggests inaccuracies in physicians' electronic documentation
Researchers found inconsistencies in doctors' documentation in their EHRs and what observers witnessed during patient encounters.
By Linda Wilson • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Tennessee unveils plan to change Medicaid funding to block grant program
The state would be the first to switch to the alternative funding mechanism if approved by federal regulators.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 18, 2019 -
Court refuses to stay or reconsider decision tossing CMS site neutral rule
The court on Monday refused to modify its earlier opinion, meaning HHS will have to work out remedies for payments withheld due to the final rule.
By Dana Elfin • Updated Oct. 21, 2019 -
Hospital market concentration on the rise, along with prices
The Health Care Cost Institute found metro areas most concentrated also had steeper increases in inpatient prices and vice-versa. The AHA pushed back.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 17, 2019 -
Dueling reports highlight payer, provider finger-pointing over healthcare costs
Three-quarters of metro areas had a highly concentrated commercial health insurance market in 2018, up from 71% in 2014, according to the study.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 17, 2019 -
Critics skewer fine print in mandatory kidney care model
The model should not be implemented as proposed, advisory board MedPAC warned, saying it had "significant methodological concerns."
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 17, 2019 -
Opioid giant Purdue files for bankruptcy to pay sweeping settlement
The Chapter 11 filing is meant to facilitate a more than $10 billion agreement in principle that the company just reached with 24 states and five U.S. territories.
By Jacob Bell • Sept. 17, 2019 -
American Kidney Fund lobbies White House on charitable premium assistance
Insurers are pushing for a reexamination of policies they argue allow financially interested third parties to steer end-stage renal disease patients eligible for Medicare or Medicaid to private plans.
By David Lim • Sept. 16, 2019 -
Air ambulance advisory panel on surprise billing takes shape
The committee is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations to improve issues related to surprise billing, transparency around charges and fees, and insurance coverage.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 13, 2019 -
Many people head to ER for quick care, poll finds
Baby boomers are less likely than their younger counterparts to head to the costlier site of care for non-emergency conditions.
By Linda Wilson • Sept. 12, 2019 -
Employers urged to get off sidelines to trim healthcare costs
"Healthcare is not their day job. They build ships. They stock groceries," the CEO of the Pacific Business Group on Health said. "But as costs go up, they're the ones paying it."
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 11, 2019 -
Without much choice on ACA exchanges, will star ratings matter?
The plan rankings are coming Nov. 1, but large swaths of the country have few carriers to choose from, raising questions about the usefulness of a rankings system.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 11, 2019 -
Insurers to deliver whopping $1.3B in ACA consumer rebates
The record amount revealed in a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis reflects how profitable payers were over the past few years, largely fueled by plans in the individual market.
By Samantha Liss • Sept. 11, 2019 -
Back in session, Congress faces industry pushback on surprise billing
Intense lobbying by industry has taken its toll on the potential for a fix, once viewed as a promising field of action with bipartisan backing and even mention from President Donald Trump.
By Shannon Muchmore • Sept. 10, 2019 -
Medicare would negotiate prices for 250 drugs under House Democrats' plan
Speaker Nancy Pelosi's proposal also finds common ground with the president in pegging U.S. prices to an international index.
By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 10, 2019
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