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Aetna, Ascension join blockchain alliance targeting provider directories
Aetna and Ascension have joined Synaptic, the blockchain-focused alliance launched earlier this year by UnitedHealth, Humana, Multiplan and Quest Diagnostics. A pilot analysis by Synaptic’s founding members shows the organization may be able to capital…
Sen. Alexander favors 21st Century Cures oversight over new legislation
The lawmaker behind the landmark 21st Century Cures Act isn’t interested in hashing out follow-up legislation. “We’re more likely to make adjustments to it than we are to pass another big new bill like that in the next few years,” Sen. Lamar Alexander,…
Verma says interoperability rule is coming, backs data sharing as a Medicare requirement
Health systems should have more clarity on a much-anticipated proposed interoperability rule “hopefully in the next couple of weeks,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma told reporters on Tuesday. She also said adding data-sharing requirements to Medicare Co…
Unsealed whistleblower lawsuit accuses Molina of fraud in Illinois SNF program
A newly unsealed whistleblower lawsuit accuses Molina Health of deceiving state and federal regulators by neglecting to provide mandatory nursing home care, which violated managed care contracts with the state of Illinois.
Theft and disclosures account for most healthcare data breaches. But hackers took 3 times as many records
Healthcare data breaches due to theft or unauthorized disclosure have been far more common than hacking incidents, according to a new study. But cyber attackers made off with nearly 133 million patient records.
New Jersey physician charged in $20M telehealth scheme involving expensive pain cream prescriptions
A New Jersey doctor has been arrested for fraudulently prescribing $20 million worth of compounded medications through an elaborate telehealth scheme that targeted Tricare beneficiaries. The arrest comes weeks after the CEO of a Florida telehealth comp…
CMS approves value-based drug payments in Michigan’s Medicaid program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow Michigan’s Medicaid program to enter into outcomes-based drug payments with manufacturers. It’s the second state to receive approval from the agency to move forward with such arrangements.
CMS increases Healthcare.gov breach total to 93,600
More than 18,000 additional people were added to the final number of consumers impacted by the Healthcare.gov breach last month. A CMS spokesperson said the agency has reached out to all affected consumers.
WellCare, Spectrum Health join new blockchain effort focused on provider credentialing, directories
Several large payers and providers are joining a new pilot project that plans to find out just how much well blockchain can shave time off the monthslong credentialing process and improve the accuracy of provider directories.
Week 1 ACA exchange enrollment sluggish, but analysts aren’t worried
Just over 370,000 people signed up for health plans on Healthcare.gov during the first week of open enrollment, which began on Nov. 1. Those numbers are lower than last year, but after accounting for timing, analysts are bullish that some insurers coul…
