Coronavirus

Medicare’s final $9 billion remedy plan for 340B providers doesn’t address hospitals’ key concerns

Hospitals received final details on a $9 billion remedy payment plan for participants in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, with advocates expressing disappointment that corresponding reductions to other payments will go through as previously proposed. CMS issued a Nov. 2 final rule describing the terms of the remedy payment, which was necessitated after the Supreme…

Nick Hut November 3, 2023

HRSA curtails pandemic-era 340B flexibilities for hospitals’ off-campus outpatient facilities

In an expected move that stands to affect the savings reaped by health systems from the 340B Drug Pricing Program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is tightening participation requirements for off-campus outpatient facilities. In a published alert, HRSA announced plans to end pandemic-related flexibilities that have made it easier for off-campus outpatient facilities…

Nick Hut October 31, 2023

Published data quantify how cost increases will continue to affect the healthcare industry next year

The cost to treat patients will accelerate next year, with ramifications across the healthcare industry, according to newly published projections. PwC’s Health Research Institute reported that the cost of providing care will increase by 7% in 2024, up from a 6% increase this year and 5.5% in 2022. A 7% increase would tie 2021 for…

Nick Hut September 7, 2023

Money received through the Provider Relief Fund could be at risk as audits ramp up

Recipients of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) distributions and COVID-19 Uninsured Program payments should be girding themselves for audits, legal experts say. The programs represent “a two-front audit fight that providers are facing and will face in the coming years,” Brian Lee, partner with Alston & Bird, said during an Aug. 24 webinar hosted by the…

Nick Hut September 1, 2023

As anticipated, the start of the Medicaid unwinding process has taken a toll on coverage

Fears among healthcare policymakers that the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency would sow chaos in Medicaid have been realized, leading the Biden administration to intensify its mitigation efforts. The end of Medicaid continuous-enrollment provisions is affecting the program in many states. In 21 states that had begun the “unwinding” process since April 1,…

Nick Hut June 15, 2023

News Briefs: The expiration of the COVID-19 PHE brings an end to key provisions

The termination of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11 meant providers lost many of the accommodations and regulatory flexibilities that were in place since Jan. 31, 2020. For example, Medicare’s 20% add-on payment for treating COVID-19 cases in the inpatient setting no longer is available. With reported cases and hospitalizations steadily trending…

Nick Hut May 30, 2023

The COVID-19 public health emergency is over: Here’s what healthcare providers should know

An era ends for the U.S. healthcare industry with the termination of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) at the close of the day on Thursday, May 11. The termination means providers are losing many of the federal waivers and flexibilities that have been in place for all or most of the PHE, which took…

Nick Hut May 10, 2023

Creative solutions to tackling top challenges in healthcare: 3 key insights

In this roundtable, several healthcare leaders shared lessons they learned navigating through major challenges due to COVID-19 including data security concerns, high rates of burnout and workforce shortages.

HFMA May 1, 2023

5 issues that are keeping healthcare compliance professionals up at night

Rarely has the compliance landscape been more muddled or presented more of a challenge for healthcare organizations. “I’ve been a compliance officer for about 20 years now, and I’ve been in healthcare forever,” said Kirsten Wild, RN, a nurse by background who now owns a healthcare compliance consultancy. “But the volume and the pace of…

Nick Hut April 28, 2023

Hospitals are facing a long slog to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, panelists say

The logjam of patients who cannot be seen expeditiously at hospitals is becoming an entrenched problem with no imminent solutions, a CMS leader said this week. “The data tells us healthcare services, particularly for the Medicare population, have not come back to pre-pandemic levels,” said Jonathan Blum, principal deputy administrator and COO with CMS. “We’re…

Nick Hut April 21, 2023
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