Readmissions Penalty Program May Be Having Little Effect
Jan. 9—Medicare’s $500 million readmissions penalty program may have cut readmissions by only half as much as the half-million that previously was estimated—or not cut them at all, according to new research.
Medical Bundles Get Another Look
Jan. 8—Despite concerns that savings and quality improvements are elusive in bundled payment episodes for chronic medical conditions, one of the largest health systems aims to expand its use of such payment models.
Q&A: ACO Executive Expects Impacts from New Rules
Jan. 7—HFMA recently talked with the leader of one of the largest accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) about impacts she and other ACO leaders expect from the recently issued 2019 final rules for the program. Early industry reaction to the changes was mixed.
Jan. 7-11: Providers Mull ACO Regulatory Changes Ahead of Deadlines
Jan. 3—An overhaul of Medicare’s main accountable care organization (ACO) program was finalized in mid-December, and many providers looking to join or continue participating will be required to begin the process this month.
Judge Rejects 2018 Cut to Medicare 340B Payments
Jan. 2—A federal judge recently ruled against a year-old 30 percent cut to Medicare payments for 340B drugs. But the ruling’s implementation—including the effect on 2019 payment—remains to be decided.
ACO Overhaul Issued Amid Looming Regulations
Dec. 21—An overhaul of Medicare’s accountable care organization (ACO) program, issued today, is among several far-reaching federal regulations that hospital leaders and advocates have been anxiously awaiting, all of which could be released within the next week.
2019 Bipartisan Pushes Expected on Transparency, Surprise Billing
Dec. 20—The newly divided Congress is expected to agree on little about healthcare policy, with the likely exceptions of legislation to require greater transparency and to address surprise bills, according to a legislative tracking firm.
How CVS Plans to Change Its Provider Role
Dec. 19—Among the potential healthcare disruptors that providers are closely watching is CVS Health, which recently completed a historic acquisition of a national insurer.
Hospitals Issue Warnings on ACA Repeal Ruling
Dec. 17—Hospital advocates raised a range of concerns about the expected impacts of striking down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) after a federal judge’s recent decision that the law was invalid.
Hospitals Plan Responses to Rising Uninsured Rates
Dec. 14—New data showing that the number of uninsured increased in 2017 for the first time since 2010 have left hospitals to find responses to protect their finances.