Azar Pledges ‘Ending’ Surprise Medical Bills
Feb. 4—The lead federal healthcare official pledged Monday to stop surprise medical bills—one of the few healthcare issues garnering bipartisan support in Congress.
Hospitals Look to Move Beyond Charge-Listing Requirement
Feb. 1—Publicity has surged around the new federal requirement for hospitals to post charges online. But some hospitals have managed to exceed that mandate in ways that provide more effective price transparency.
Feb 4-8: CMS Developing ESRD, Cancer Models
Jan. 31—Federal changes coming in 2019 to healthcare payment models slowly emerged this week, as federal healthcare leaders prepare to address a national policy meeting in Washington D.C.
Anti-Fraud Overhaul ‘Sprint’ Coming
Jan. 30—In 2019, the Trump administration plans to implement regulatory overhauls of several administrative barriers to the proliferation of value-based payment, according to a senior administration official.
Provider Payments Among Drug Costs Targeted by Congress
Jan. 29—Two provider payment systems were highlighted by members of Congress this week as areas in which policy changes are needed to control drug costs.
Health Plan, Practices Focus on Care Overuse
Jan. 25—Although cost and quality are common features of value-based payment, a less common component is ensuring the provision of appropriate care.
Jan. 28- Feb. 1: Promising Early Results from Integrating Mental, Physical Health
Jan. 24—Healthcare payers and providers have found good clinical outcomes from pilots that integrate mental health care, but financial analyses remain unfinished.
Uninsured Rate Highest Since 2014: Survey
Jan. 23—The uninsured rate rose in fourth quarter of 2018 to its highest level since the first year of the coverage expansion provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a Gallup survey.
Medicare Expands Value Pay in MA and Part D Plans
Jan. 21—Medicare is expanding its value-based insurance design (VBID) model and creating a new drug plan model.
Missing, Lagging Charges Lead Provider Revenue Concerns
Jan. 18—Provider organizations’ leading challenges in the revenue cycle are missing and lagging charges, according to a new survey.