Healthcare News of Note: Payers push back on CMS prior-authorization rule
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of articles from the past week, including why payers are pushing back on the prior-authorization rule and information on HHS funding to support the nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hospitals seek reversals of Trump policies, among various requests of Biden
Hospitals are urging a range of policy changes, including halting the new price transparency rules, by the incoming Biden administration.
Congress passes funding compromise with only $3 billion in provider aid
A final federal spending and coronavirus relief package includes big wins and losses for hospital finances.
Medicare Advantage concepts come to Medicare fee-for-service with Geographic Direct Contracting Model
While the MA Stars Rating program is a bonus program where plans can earn additional revenue for achieving high scores, quality in the Geographic Direct Contracting program is treated more like a penalty, says HFMA's Chad Mulvany.
Hospitals begin to receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccines
Hospitals and other providers that were prioritized in state COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans have begun to receive and administer their first doses.
CMS unveils the Geographic Direct Contracting model
The Geographic Direct Contracting model will test full-risk arrangements for healthcare entities serving thousands of Medicare beneficiaries within defined geographic areas.
Medicare phases out the inpatient-only list, backs off further 340B payment cuts
The final rule for the CY21 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System will phase out the inpatient-only list but won’t implement steeper 340B cuts.
Medicare shifts payments toward primary care physicians in PFS final rule
The final rule for CY21 Medicare physician payment will boost evaluation and management service payments while cutting rates for services provided by many specialty physicians.
5 tips to safeguard 20% payment increase for treating patients with COVID-19
Healthcare organizations should be careful to ensure their practices don't put their COVID-19 payments at risk.
For-profit hospital outlook improves to stable, according to Moody’s
Moody’s shifted its outlook for for-profit hospitals from negative to neutral in response to ongoing federal assistance and an expected volume recovery.