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.
Dec. 17-21: Report Highlights Savings of Existing Medicare ACOs
Dec. 13—As the Trump administration considers a controversial overhaul of Medicare’s accountable care organization (ACO) program, a new report says the existing model has provided much more savings than previously found.
Hospital Medicare Margins Decline Further
Dec. 7—Hospitals’ overall Medicare margins deteriorated to -9.9 percent in 2017, according to an analysis by Congress’s primary advisory group.
Dec. 10-14: Overall Healthcare Spending Increases Continue to Slow
Dec. 6—Federal actuaries identified slower-than-projected nationwide healthcare spending growth in 2017, driven in part by reduced use of outpatient services.
Hospitals Sue over $380 Million OPPS Cut
Dec. 5—Several hospitals and advocacy groups filed suit this week to stop a finalized Medicare payment change that would cut 2019 outpatient payments by an estimated $380 million.
Trump Administration’s Plan to Boost Choice, Competition Draws Hospital Concerns
Dec. 4—An expansion of site-neutral payments, support for physician-owned hospitals, and changes to graduate medical education (GME) were among the newly revealed Trump administration priorities that drew early hospital opposition.
Long-Delayed 340B Rule Takes Effect in January
Nov. 30—A highly anticipated rule to require better drug company compliance with a major discount drug program will go into effect Jan. 1—following multiple delays.
Dec. 3-7: Hospitals Expected to Face Growing Margin Pressure
Nov. 29—Policymakers in Washington, D.C., next week will focus on hospitals' Medicare margins, as one rating agency warns government- and consumer-driven margin pressure will increase.