Medicare beneficiaries would have new options for appealing their hospital patient status under a proposed rule from CMS
A proposed rule from CMS would affect the appeals process for some patients whose status is reclassified from inpatient to outpatient observation during a hospital stay. After a 2020 court ruling that was upheld at the appellate level in 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CMS were obligated to create additional…
Hospital, physician advocates disagree over the role of physician-owned hospitals as policymakers ramp up focus
Hospital advocacy groups hope to stanch momentum that’s building in policy circles to increase the number of physician-owned hospitals. The American Hospital Association (AHA) and Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) issued a joint statement Oct. 18, saying permitting greater numbers of physician-owned hospitals (POHs) would have adverse effects on healthcare costs, access and quality. The…
Healthcare News of Note: 3 factors increase the likelihood that a physician has been sued
Some46.8% of physicians over the age of 54 report they have been sued compared to 9.5% of physicians under the age of 40. The revenue cycle management segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global healthcare finance solutions market in 2022. Greater representation of Black primary care physicians (PCPs) in the PCP workforce…
CMS issues RFI to gather best practices for identifying and supporting safety net hospitals
As part of the FY24 proposed rule for hospital inpatient payments, CMS is seeking healthcare stakeholder input on how to best support safety net hospitals in the Medicare program. The agency is considering ways to reimburse safety net hospitals via supplemental payments that may be better targeted than disproportionate share hospital (DSH) and uncompensated care…
Hospitals push back against a coordinated effort to revamp the 340B program
A lobbying fight has started over the future of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, with hospitals seeking to protect what they view as an essential source of cost savings. The advocacy group 340B Health and prominent hospital associations are seeking to repel an effort led by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to…
Seeking to phase out Medicare DSH payments, MedPAC outlines potential changes to reimbursement for safety net providers
Revamped formulas for hospitals and physicians would be designed to better target payments to providers that treat larger shares of low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Northwell Health Tackles Patient ID Matching
Patient-identification-matching problems are increasing as the healthcare industry consolidates. However, solutions are available to reduce duplicate record backlogs as demonstrated by an intensive effort at one health system.
Engaging the next generation of physicians in the business of healthcare
Improved scheduling procedures and education on coding bolstered revenue at one academic medical center.
17 Seconds: Referential Matching Helps Reduce Duplicate Patient Records
Referential matching allows healthcare organizations to identify patient matches that their own records would not reveal.
Digital Initiative at Meadows Health Improves Patient Communication and Reduces Errors
Use of patient engagement technology, such as check-in kiosks can streamline the registration process, improve patient satisfaction, and increase revenue.