Nick Hut

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Nick Hut

Latest Work

Government agencies issue the first set of regulations restricting surprise billing

In a development that many healthcare stakeholders have awaited for months, four federal agencies on Thursday, July 1 released new regulations prohibiting surprise billing in many scenarios.

Nick Hut July 2, 2021

Hospital groups raise red flags about spending offsets in bipartisan infrastructure bill

The bill would be paid for in part by extending the duration of the 2% reduction in Medicare payments and by tapping into the Provider Relief Fund.

Nick Hut June 29, 2021

Medicare should update its policies for separately payable drugs in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System, MedPAC says

Worthwhile changes include requiring drugs to be proven clinically superior before granting them pass-through payment status, according to a new report.

Nick Hut June 27, 2021

The state of the 340B program: What the Supreme Court’s Affordable Care Act ruling meant, and which issues still loom

An under-the-radar aspect of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act involved hospital eligibility for the 340B program, an industry expert says.

Nick Hut June 25, 2021

In response to requests, HHS offers accommodations on deadlines for Provider Relief Fund spending and reporting (updated)

The new deadlines apply to allocations received after June 30, 2020. Reporting on use of funds is required only for designated time periods during which a provider’s payment exceeded $10,000.

Nick Hut June 23, 2021

HFMA survey of healthcare finance professionals highlights continuing pandemic-related challenges and some reasons for optimism

Results of HFMA's Outlook Survey show that the healthcare industry is still coping with the challenges of COVID-19 but has started to adapt to a post-pandemic future.

Nick Hut June 22, 2021

Medicare indirect medical education payments to teaching hospitals should be overhauled, MedPAC says

Although the proposals represent a significant change, most hospitals wouldn’t be projected to experience a large impact on their payments.

Nick Hut June 21, 2021

Supreme Court leaves Affordable Care Act intact, but stakeholders say healthcare reform still has a ways to go

Hospital advocates applauded a Supreme Court ruling June 17 that left the Affordable Care Act in place.

Nick Hut June 18, 2021

PwC report anticipates a 6.5% increase in healthcare costs in 2022, roughly in line with recent years

As the healthcare industry emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, annual costs are expected to increase by slightly more than they did in recent pre-pandemic years.

Nick Hut June 17, 2021

MedPAC report: Cost-based reimbursement isn’t an ideal way to sustain rural hospitals

An extensive healthcare policy report by the Medicare Payment and Advisory Commission includes a discussion about the drawbacks of cost-based Medicare reimbursement for rural hospitals.

Nick Hut June 16, 2021