Government: Page 97


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    CMS warned Trump policies would hike taxes, cause ACA disruption, internal memo says

    Democratic leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter Friday to HHS Secretary Alex Azar inquiring into the harmful effects of administration policies in light of what they called "damning" evidence.

    By June 14, 2019
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    FDA taps IBM, Walmart for blockchain pilot project

    Merck and KPMG will also be part of the initiative, which aims to track medicines and ensure their integrity across the supply chain.

    By Kristin Jensen • June 13, 2019
  • 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
  • Payers, providers dig in on surprise billing proposals

    Industry groups are testifying on the issue before Congress again Wednesday at the third hearing in as many months.

    By June 12, 2019
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    AMA affirms opposition to single-payer in close vote

    Other proposals the physician group adopted encourage a focus on vulnerable patients in alternative payment models, more scrutiny on pharmacy benefit managers' role in the drug supply chain and tweaks to the Affordable Care Act.

    By June 12, 2019
  • Congress warns industry to hurry on surprise billing fix

    "If you don't solve the problem, then we will solve the problem and none of you will like it," Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, told payer and provider reps testifying Wednesday.

    By June 12, 2019
  • Industry balks at Senate proposals to boost competition, price transparency

    Employers and health policy experts argued banning certain contract clauses and making more information available to consumers would benefit patients in comments to the Senate HELP committee this week.

    By June 7, 2019
  • Price transparency proposals raise thorny questions

    One hospital CEO is bucking the trend and embracing price disclosure, but the effectiveness of such requirements is unclear.

    By June 7, 2019
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    CMS calls for ideas to cut red tape

    Federal health regulators want to reduce the administrative burden and "needless paperwork" baked in the system and they're asking the public to submit ideas.

    By June 7, 2019
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    Industry cheers spirit but not fine print in HHS interoperability rules

    The comment period of two wide-ranging regulations to promote interoperability in healthcare closed Monday night. Here's what industry's biggest players had to say.

    By Updated June 5, 2019
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    Utah wants capped Medicaid enrollment, spending

    In a new demonstration waiver, the state proposes capping the growth rate of federal payments for its limited Medicaid expansion at the rate of medical inflation, rather than the usual, lower rate of consumer price inflation.

    By June 3, 2019
  • ONC exploring ways to streamline electronic prior authorization

    The HHS IT chief criticized the current state of electronic prior authorization at Academy Health's conference Monday, calling it a "non-computerized kabuki of payment" that "needs to get rethought."

    By June 3, 2019
  • In win for hospitals, Supreme Court rules DSH change violated law

    The nation's highest court, in a 7-1 opinion, vacated an HHS policy that would have cut reimbursement to hospitals with high shares of low-income patients, saying the government did not follow proper procedures in issuing the policy.

    By Dana Elfin • June 3, 2019
  • What's at stake in CVS-Aetna merger hearing: 4 questions

    Judge Richard Leon will hear testimony from proponents and opponents of DOJ's settlement agreement with CVS and Aetna at what is shaping up to be a contentious hearing starting Tuesday in federal court.

    By Dana Elfin • June 3, 2019
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    In disaster response, health supply chain egos melt away

    A speedy post-hurricane return to normal requires competitors to become collaborators to effectively manage inventory and cold chains.

    By Gary Wollenhaupt • June 3, 2019
  • DOJ loses bid to change contours of CVS-Aetna settlement hearing

    The government argued the procedures for the three-day hearing set to start next week needed to be modified but the judge rejected the bid late Thursday, calling it an "eleventh-hour request to reshape next week's hearing."

    By Dana Elfin • Updated May 31, 2019
  • Safety net hospitals fall behind in Medicare joint replacement model

    The results could be because of inferior, higher-cost care from safety net hospitals or because the program "does not account for the increased social vulnerabilities of patients" in those facilities, the study authors wrote.

    By May 29, 2019
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    Seniors' out-of-pocket spending on cancer drugs continues to climb

    Despite efforts to limit Medicare Part D beneficiaries' financial exposure to high-cost drugs, price increases have wiped out some of the expected savings.

    By May 29, 2019
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    US healthcare spending estimated to grow to $3.6T this year

    Fitch Solutions anticipates a 4% growth rate, below a CMS forecast from earlier this year but still driven heavily by Medicare. Private insurance is not expected to be a primary contributor to spending growth.

    By Tony Abraham • May 29, 2019
  • Senate health committee takes on surprise bills, price transparency in legislative package

    The American Hospital Association said it was "concerned about several of the proposals that would allow the government to intrude into private commercial contracts between providers and insurers."

    By May 24, 2019
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    Novartis gene therapy approved, but will come at cost of more than $2M

    Zolgensma is designed to be a cure for spinal muscular atrophy, but its steep price will pose difficulties for a system designed for chronic therapy rather than one-time treatments.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated May 24, 2019
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    CMS home-based primary care model yields mixed results

    The model had some success in lowering Medicare expenditures over the four-year term but resulted in significantly higher spending, according to an outside analysis.

    By May 24, 2019
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    AHA argues nonprofit hospitals more than make up for lost tax revenue

    Tax-exempt facilities are under scrutiny, and, in some cases, caught up in litigation over their status and the perks that come with it.

    By May 23, 2019
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    ONC advisory committee finalizes interoperability rule recommendations

    The group is recommending a two-tier payment system to help health IT vendors recoup costs associated with making their systems interoperable.

    By May 23, 2019
  • Industry groups square off on surprise billing

    A Congressional hearing on the topic Tuesday came after President Donald Trump highlighted the issue earlier this month and called for a bipartisan solution that protects patients in all insurance markets.

    By May 22, 2019
  • Show me the evidence, judge tells short-term health plan rule challengers

    The government and patient advocate groups faced off in court over a final rule expanding access to short-term health insurance plans. A ruling is not expected until later this summer.

    By Dana Elfin • May 22, 2019