Healthcare Headlines Blog

Do Concerns About Costs Impact ICU Care?

Findings in a new study suggest that financial considerations can shape care of ICU patients. Increased prevalence of cost discussions were found in patient notes the longer the hospital stay of a patient in the ICU and when there was a change in treatment or discharge plans. Read more

93% of participants earned a MIPS bonus payment this year. (But it could be harder next year)

CMS Administrator Seema Verma recently announced that 93% of clinicians eligible to participate in MACRA's Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) received a bonus payment for the 2017 performance year. Read more

Virtual Doctor Visits Are Getting More Popular, But Questions Remain About Who Pays

Provisions within the federal budget law Congress passed this year expands the use of telemedicine, which could go mainstream within 5 to 10 years. Read more

Study: More Practices Employing Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants 

According to a study reported in JAMA Internal Medicine, more practices are employing nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Read more

Advisory Panel Recommends Physician-Focused Payment Models to HHS

The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee recently submitted four recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services. Read more

CMS Says Quality Payment Program Exceeds Year 1 Participation Goal

A recent publication from Administrator Seema Verma of the CMS states that more than 90% of clinicians eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System participated in the first year of the Quality Payment Program. Read more

Report Highlights Hospital Quality Improvement Gains

According to the latest report, unplanned hospital readmissions dropped by 70,000 for Medicare Part C patients between 2011 and 2015, avoiding more than $1 billion in healthcare costs. Read more

Report: Hospitals Enhance Antibiotics Stewardship, Continue To Reduce MRSA

According to a report released yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services, hospitals are enhancing their antibiotic stewardship programs to incorporate the core elements recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more

Verma announces CMS initiative to revise, simplify quality measures under federal health care programs

CMS recently announced a new federal initiative aimed to simplify quality measures, reduce regulatory burdens, and prompt innovation in the health care industry as it moves toward value-based payments. Read more

CBO Predicts Rise In Deficit If Trump Cuts Payments To Insurance Companies

The CBO estimates that ending cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers will raise the deficit $194 billion over 10 years, something President Trump is considering. Read more

End-Of-Life Advice: More Than 500,000 Chat On Medicare’s Dime

2016 was the first year health care providers were allowed to bill for an advance-care planning session and nearly 575,000 Medicare beneficiaries took advantage. Read more

Healthcare Pricing Falls To Lowest Growth Rate In A Year

Prices across hospitals and in other healthcare sectors rose just 1.6% in May compared to a year ago, which is the slowest rate of increase since June 2016.Read more

Health Insurers Try Paying More Upfront To Pay Less Later

Some health plans are beginning to offer free maintenance care for people with chronic health problems, hoping that spending a little more early on will save a lot of money in the long run.Read more

One In Three Beneficiaries Now In Medicare Advantage Program

Medicare Advantage hit a milestone this year, with 19 million beneficiaries enrolled in an MA plan. Enrollment has increased 71% since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. Read More   

Number of Seniors Who Need Personal Care Help Increasing, CDC Says

A "significantly" increasing number of adults over age 65 need help with personal care, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More      

Federal Agency Offers $15 Million to Support Aging In Place

In yet another move signaling the federal government's intention to increase home health services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making $15 million available to test a new model to help seniors age in place. Read More

As Population Ages, Where Are the Geriatricians?

Geriatrics is one of the few medical specialties in the United States that is contracting even as the need increases, ranking at the bottom of the list of specialties that internal medicine residents choose to pursue. Read More