Author's posts
Lakeland Regional Health to exit Orlando Health after one year
Lakeland Regional Health and Orlando Health lasted less than a year as integrated partners and will break up on Sept. 30.
CMS awards $26.6 million to groups developing quality measures
The CMS has awarded seven organizations a total of $26.6 million to develop quality measures that address areas of care that aren’t currently included in the Quality Payment Program.
CMS made error when calculating MIPS payments
The CMS is telling providers it made a mistake when processing payments under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System program. It’s urging doctors to check their performance and reach out to the agency if they think a mistake was made.
Commentary: In a disaster, value-based care proves even more valuable
Organizations that give incentives for value-based care principles have a distinct advantage when it comes to preparing for, and responding to, a crisis.
Medicaid spending hits $592.2 billion in 2017, 73 million in enrollment
A new federal report shows Medicaid is quickly on its way to become a $1 trillion program. However, the brunt of the spending continues to be on non-expansion enrollees, despite administration fears over costs of expansion.
Pharma push for Medicare donut hole change tangles opioid negotiations
Big Pharma wants to claw back Medicare Part D donut hole money as part of the opioids package, adding a kink to negotiations.
White House puts faith in value-based pay tweaks to save Medicare
As Medicare funds dry out, the OMB believes simplifying value-based pay models and reducing spending on care delivery could be crucial to shoring up the program.
Not-for-profit hospital operating margins continue to contract
For the second consecutive year median operating margins fell, hitting 1.9% in 2017, down from 2.8% the year prior. Still, improved liquidity measures bode well for not-for-profit hospitals.
Illinois high court affirms tax break for not-for-profit hospitals
The state Supreme Court upheld a ruling allowing certain medical centers to use charity to offset their property tax bills, a matter that drew controversy a few years ago.
Medicare hospice payment model fails its first year
A Medicare model aimed at patients who wanted hospice as well as curative care did not do well in its first year because hospice providers fled the program and doctors were not interested in participating.
