New ACO designed to better serve dual eligibles strategy
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 06, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Dec. 15 it was starting an ACO pilot program aimed at beneficiaries enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare appeals backlog to be fixed by 2020, HHS says
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 06, 2016
Federal health officials say tweaks to the system will enable them to eradicate a massive backlog of Medicare decision appeals in 2019. They made the prediction in a court brief filed in U.S. District...
Camera policies held up by privacy, litigation concerns
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 06, 2016
In the battle of pros and cons for placing cameras in resident rooms, the potential negative legal and privacy implications are winning out with most providers, new research shows.
Insurers rattled by Medicaid managed care’s big changes
By
John Hall
Jun 06, 2016
The government’s first major overhaul of the Medicaid Managed Care program in 14 years is unlikely to affect provider reimbursements, but insurers continue to take exception with one provision allowing...
Analysis: PAC crucial to joint replacement bundled success
By
John Hall
May 04, 2016
Hospitals participating in a new Medicare bundled payment program for hip and knee replacements should partner with high quality post-acute care providers like nursing homes within the first 90 days following...
‘Illusion’ can raise costs
By
John Hall
May 04, 2016
In an effort to improve the use of medical treatments, a University of Pennsylvania Medical School professor is calling for more research to help doctors recognize and manage what some call a “therapeutic...
Right-to-try gains support
By
John Hall
Apr 04, 2016
Congress is considering easing federal laws prohibiting terminally ill patients from trying unapproved experimental drugs as a last-ditch effort to extend or save their lives.
Groups tout payment plans; Pallone promises legislation
By
John Hall
Apr 04, 2016
Several organizations have weighed in on how to finance long-term care services and supports for more than 12 million Americans, leading a Congressional committee to push toward a possible legislative...
CMS: Regional spending is a better benchmark for ACOs
By
John Hall
Mar 04, 2016
The government hopes to encourage accountable care organizations to extend their participation in performance-based risk arrangements by offering a new way to include payments based on regional spending...
No ‘midnight’ regulations?
By
John Hall
Mar 04, 2016
Stakeholders have until roughly mid-June to squeeze in any pressing new regulations during the current administration’s final year. But the Office of Management and Budget said it doesn’t expect...