$1.1 Billion in Provider Regulatory Relief Proposed
Sept. 17—A large portion of the $1.1 billion in ongoing annual regulatory relief proposed this week for providers would come from lower costs for hospital outpatient departments.
Mandatory Bundle Gets Early Positive Results
Sept. 14—Hospitals in Medicare’s first mandatory bundled payment model succeeded in cutting Medicare gross spending in their first year, according to a new analysis. The results come as Trump administration executives say they plan to introduce more mandatory models.
Sept. 17-21: Transparency Garnering Increased Attention
Sept. 13—The Senate will undertake a review of price transparency in health care next week, shortly after hospital advocates urged caution in Medicare’s transparency push.
Hospitals Express Opposition to E/M Code Changes
Sept. 12—A Medicare proposal to simplify evaluation and management (E/M) codes could hit hospitals’ bottom lines, hospital advocates recently warned the Trump administration.
Will New ACO Findings Save Upside-Only Models?
Sept. 11—A new analysis joins other research in reaching new conclusions about the extent of savings that accountable care organizations (ACOs)—especially upside-only models—provide Medicare. It’s a data battle that could determine whether many ACOs continue.
PTAC Recommends New Models Amid HHS Promises
Sept. 10—Amid Medicare promises to soon introduce new physician-focused payment models, its leading advisory panel recently approved new models for consideration.
Amid Full Employment, Hospitals Keep Hiring
Sept. 7—Hospitals, like much of health care, continued their steady hiring streak in August, even as the pool of potential new hires appeared almost dry.
Sept. 10-14: Unified Post-Acute Payment System Emerging
Sept. 6—As post-acute care leaders gather outside Washington, D.C., for a conference next week, a major payment overhaul is coming together.
Medicaid Plans, Hospitals Clash over Proposed Kids Model
Sept. 5—Medicaid insurance companies and hospitals squared off in Congress this week over legislation to expand children’s medical homes nationally.
Congress Seeks Answers on Hospital Consolidation
Sept. 4—The trend of hospital consolidation has drawn increased scrutiny from members of Congress who are concerned about increasing costs for Medicare and the program’s beneficiaries.