From Kaiser Health News: Tennessee and Virginia regulators are considering approval of a merger between Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System under their state laws. If they allow it, the Federal Trade Commission would be powerless to stop it.
Two hospital giants seek state-sanctioned monopoly in Appalachia
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5 lesser-known Medicaid changes in Senate healthcare bill
Though much of the debate about the Better Care Reconciliation Act has centered on its repeal of Medicaid expansion and shift to a per capita cap financing system, the bill also includes other changes to the Medicaid program worth noting.
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3 ways to improve patient scheduling
Excellent patient access and continuity of care at your physician practice aren't mutually exclusive, says Sam Weir, M.D., executive medical director at UNC Health Care. Just think of appointments at your physician practice like a bathtub.
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Health insurers try paying more upfront to pay less later
From Minnesota Public Radio: 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 money in the long run. Yet one major obstacle to this approach, known as “value-based health insurance,” is an IRS rule that does not allow such care for chronic conditions for the 20 million Americans with health savings account-qualified, high-deductible insurance.
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Trump: 'There’s been enough talk and no action' from Senate on ACA repeal
So far, Senate Republicans have been unable to deliver on their promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act—and President Donald Trump said in no uncertain terms on Monday that it’s time for that to change. Trump made his remarks one day before senators plan to hold a crucial procedural vote that would let the chamber begin debate on a bill to repeal the ACA.
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Newport Hospital and Health Services executive: Outsourcing our ER turned out to be a 'fiasco'
Hospitals that hire outside help to staff their emergency departments might want to brace for angry phone calls from patients hit by surprise medical bills. It was a "fiasco," says Tom Wilbur, Newport Hospital and Health Services' chief executive. “Hindsight being 20/20, we never would have done that.”
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Law enforcement using prescription drug databases to track physicians with improper prescription habits
While doctors use state prescription drug monitoring programs to identify patients with drug problems, law enforcement is also using the databases to help track down prescribers guilty of improperly distributing drugs. In New Jersey, for instance, the state’s prescription database helped police break up a physician-led opioid ring.
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Patient-generated data could be the missing piece to new payment models for drugs and devices
A new consortium of payers, providers and manufacturers at the Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy looks to tackle some of the complex barriers to new value-based payment arrangements for drugs and devices. A major issue will be finding ways to integrate patient-generated data.
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Democrats revive calls for Medicare to negotiate drug prices
As part of their newly unveiled “Better Deal” agenda, congressional Democrats are pledging to tackle one of healthcare’s thorniest issues—the high cost of prescription drugs. Yet policy experts have long said that one of the core parts of their proposal, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers, may not make that much of a difference.
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Journal pulls article over gender gaffe that refers to surgeons with only male pronouns
A medical journal is apologizing and has pulled an article that referred to surgeons using male pronouns only. The editors of Annals of Surgery issued a statement after retracting the article on “the modern surgeon” after readers pointed out the gaffe.
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Study shows Medicaid expansion hasn't led to significant reduction in ER visits
New research suggests Medicaid expansion has not significantly reduced emergency department visits in Maryland, though it has changed the mix of payers. The Johns Hopkins study tested the hypothesis that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act would encourage more patients who used the ER for care to seek out primary care providers instead.
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New bill would incentivize EHR adoption among behavioral health providers
Representatives from California and Kansas have introduced a new bill that would mimic the Meaningful Use program for behavioral health providers by offering incentives to those that adopt certified EHRs. The lawmakers said the bill would "put mental health on a level playing field" with the rest of the industry.
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Report sees potential for evolution of prior authorization models, payer-provider collaboration
New technology and evolving payment models may offer relief for providers fed up with the current state of prior authorizations, according to a new report.
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House measure to cover Veterans Choice shortfall fails
A House of Representatives bill aimed at providing stopgap funding for the Veterans Choice program was spiked Monday, leaving Congress with little time to address a looming budget shortfall in the program.
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Jury orders Olympus to pay $6.6M in damages to Virginia Mason Medical Center for scope-linked superbug outbreak
Olympus Corp. was ordered to pay Virginia Mason Medical Center $6.6 million in damages Monday for its role in a superbug outbreak that led to the death of a pancreatic cancer patient. But a jury also found that the hospital was partly responsible and must pay $1 million to the patient’s family.
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Boston Children’s CEO says 70% of its patients have data on outside networks
Boston Children's Hospital CEO Sandra L. Fenwick says with 70% of patients coming from other healthcare providers, most patient data "reside in another system's network." This reflects a common problem in the industry where hospitals are forced to piece together "sporadic" data from patient encounters.
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Scandal involving medical school dean shines light on doctors and addictions
Allegations that the prominent dean of the University of Southern California’s medical school used illegal drugs has not only rocked the campus but has also put a spotlight on the problem of drug use and addiction among physicians.
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Senate votes to begin debate on a replacement for the Affordable Care Act
Despite opposition from Democrats, healthcare leaders and the public, the Senate voted 51-50 to begin debate on a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. The vote was a crucial procedural step known as the motion to proceed. And it’s just the first step in what will likely be a complicated process through budget reconciliation.
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Senators begin a 20-hour debate on ACA repeal but unclear which bill they intend to pass
The Senate began a 20-hour debate Tuesday on a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act shortly after a 51-50 vote to allow the discussion. Although all Democrats voted against the motion to proceed—a crucial procedural step in the budget reconciliation process—many were heartened by the words of Senator John McCain, who urged Republicans and Democrats to work together on a bipartisan measure.
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With tie between health and wealth, doctors work to help patients’ financial picture
What’s a person’s health got to do with wealth? Turns out a lot, which is why it’s important that doctors try to help low-income patients with their finances. A number of programs are already doing that, says Andrea Levere, president of a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit called Prosperity Now.
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