Author's posts
Requests for brand name over generic prescription drugs cost Medicare $1.7 billion in a single year
The Medicare Part D program would have saved $977 million in a single year if all branded prescription drugs requested by prescribing clinicians had been substituted by a generic option, according to a new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloo…
New York State’s hospital nurse staffing legislation predicted to save lives and money
Improving hospital nurse staffing as proposed in pending legislation in New York state would likely save lives, according to a new study published in Medical Care, and the cost of improving nurse staffing would be offset by savings achieved through red…
A large pay gap exists between independent and hospital-employed doctors
Doctors who work for hospital outpatient facilities get much higher payments for their services from Medicare than doctors who practice independently, according to a new study.
The research, based on Medicare claims data from 2010-2016, found that the …
Health insurers commit to helping seniors receive the COVID-19 vaccine
This week, health insurers committed to supporting a new effort to promote health equity by removing barriers to vaccinations for 2 million Americans most at risk of COVID-19, adhering to the philosophy that every American deserves access to safe, effe…
Humana, University of Houston announce value-based care specialization program
Humana and the University of Houston have announced the launch of a Value-based Care Specialization online program to support providers, academia and other business and industry professionals — as well as the public — in learning about the fundamenta…
Elizabeth Fowler to lead CMMI as HHS announces new spate of hires
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced additional Biden Administration appointments, including the naming of Elizabeth Fowler to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation as director and deputy administrator.
As head…
Kindred Healthcare and Mercy acquire Everest Rehabilitation Hospital of Oklahoma City
Kindred Healthcare and Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City have acquired Everest Rehabilitation Hospital of Oklahoma City, the organizations announced today. Kindred and Mercy will operate the hospital, now renamed Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City …
Lowering anesthesiology costs is a tangible benefit of value-based care frameworks
In an effort to shift the foundation of healthcare reimbursement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is making a push for a larger percentage of reimbursements to be tied to value-based care contracts. Anesthesiology will be at or near the …
Financial incentives for hospitals spur rapid changes to opioid use disorder treatment
Hospital emergency departments not only care for patients with overdose and other complications from opioid use, but they also serve as vital touch points to engage patients into longer-term treatment. After an overdose, patients are at risk for repeat…
OIG: Hospitals are upcoding severity levels for Medicare patients
Inpatient hospital stays have become more expensive to the Medicare program, and it’s a trend that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic. A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General uncovered a possi…
