HHS to fund small practices to help meet quality measures

Funded organizations will help small practices navigate issues such as which quality measures or EHR best meet their specific needs.

By Meg Bryant • June 22, 2016

Few consumers budgeting for healthcare, study finds

Most people don't know how much to expect to spend on their healthcare in a given year, a new report says.

By Heather Caspi • June 22, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Payer/provider relationships

As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

By Healthcare Dive staff

RWJF estimates expect healthcare spending to reduce by $2.6T

The question is what factors are driving the difference.

By Heather Caspi • June 21, 2016

Public option poised to unite Democrats

Is it the ideal compromise, or just a mirage?

By Heather Caspi • June 21, 2016

Diabetes-related spending has gone up

A Health Care Cost Institute report shows people with diabetes had twice as many doctor and ER visits as people without the disease between 2012 and 2014. 

By Ana Mulero • June 21, 2016

4 forces that will influence medical cost trends in 2017

Consumers are increasingly likely to seek treatment at retail clinics, which will lead to increasing utilization and inflate costs in the future.

By Jeff Byers • June 21, 2016

CMS continues to shake up payer landscape, seeks adjustments to payment error rate measurements

A proposed rule could tighten up the programs that measure Medicaid improper payments and eligibility.

By Heather Caspi • June 21, 2016

Healthcare insecurity hits an all-time low

The number of American adults unable to afford healthcare dropped from 2013 to the first quarter of 2016, according to a new Gallup study.

By Jeff Byers • June 20, 2016

CA reg grants Aetna/Humana merger approval, pins conditions to deal

Analysts expect the Humana/Aetna deal to have more of a fighting chance for regulatory approval than the Cigna/Anthem merger.

By Jeff Byers • June 20, 2016

Oscar attempts to hem ACA losses by expanding into provider territory

The health insurance darling is looking for a medical director and primary care physician for a member-exclusive health center.

By Heather Caspi • June 20, 2016

Patient's healthcare spending patterns established long before last months

A new study in Health Affairs shares insights into end-of-life care costs.

By Heather Caspi • June 20, 2016

Long-awaited CMS final rule updates clinical lab tests payments

Private rates will form the basis for most updates, the agency announced. Some say the impact could be substantial.

By Heather Caspi • June 20, 2016

Aetna sues Nebraska over Medicaid contract loss

Aetna wants a continued share of Nebraska’s nearly $1 billion Medicaid market. 

By Meg Bryant • June 17, 2016

Florida Blues reports $471M profit on 2015 ACA plans

The insurer is requesting a premium hike of nearly 10% despite its marketplace success.

By Heather Caspi • June 16, 2016

Popular ACA plans' premiums projected to increase by 10%

While it's still early in the rate process, complete proposals are available in 14 cities.

By Heather Caspi • June 16, 2016

CA insurance commissioner pleads to DOJ to block Anthem/Cigna

Dave Jones contends that the merger would highly reduce competition in the state, where three insurers constitute 75% of the insurance market.

By Jeff Byers • June 16, 2016

Slavitt shares 3 tips to improve value-based payments

CMS wants to give practices more flexibility to adapt the Quality Payment Program to their unique needs and make adjustments over time.

By Meg Bryant • June 15, 2016

CMS puts up $32M to target kids' enrollment in federal health programs

The Obama adminstration is continuing its efforts to get as many eligible children covered as possible.

By Heather Caspi • June 15, 2016

MedPAC proposals could bring reforms to Medicare Part D program

If implemented, the changes could bring both pros and cons for beneficiaries.

By Heather Caspi • June 15, 2016

Enough is enough: Maryland co-op sues feds over risk adjustment flaws

Evergreen wants to end the advantage of large insurers over small. 

By Heather Caspi • June 15, 2016

Lack of patient data, quality measures slowing shift to value-based care

Only 33% of physicians believe the U.S. healthcare system should be value-based, according to a new study.

By Meg Bryant • June 15, 2016

ACA repeal would cause 53.5M to be uninsured, study finds

Employer-sponsored coverage is expected to decrease regardless of the presence of the ACA due to the costs of healthcare outpacing income.

By Heather Caspi • June 14, 2016

Antibiotic resistance: Can the clock be turned back?

For years, doctors took a “better safe than sorry” approach to antibiotics. That may be wrong, a CDC official posits.

By Meg Bryant • June 14, 2016

UnitedHealthcare to reimburse kidney donors up to $5K for travel, lodging

The move aims to reduce one of the financial barriers people face in becoming living donors.

By Heather Caspi • June 14, 2016

You can't do that in healthcare: Antitrust compliance paramount in avoiding patient-steering suits

In light of the recent Carolinas HealthCare System antitrust suit, "the way things have always been done" is not sufficient to protect a provider from government investigations or civil suits.

By Julie Henry • June 14, 2016