Author's posts
Week Ahead: Senate to vote on opioid legislation; docs comment on pay rule
The Senate is expected this week to vote on legislation aimed at combating the opioid crisis. Meanwhile, physicians submit comments on the CMS’ massive 2019 fee schedule rule.
REIT-owned post-acute providers attractive to private equity investors
Private equity firms increasingly see post-acute providers as lucrative investments, buying skilled-nursing and senior housing facilities from REITs that are willing to sell because of the sectors’ financial struggles.
Commentary: Trump’s immigration policies could exacerbate physician shortage
The Trump administration’s immigration stance could have unintended yet significant consequences for the delivery of quality healthcare in the U.S. by exacerbating the challenges of a growing physician shortage.
Prominent NYC hospitals making millions through captive insurance companies
Some New York hospitals, including Montefiore Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital, continue to collect millions of dollars from companies that New York state regulators found hid hundreds of millions of dollars, funds that ultimately went back…
Caring for Latinos requires more than knowing Spanish
The relative growth in the number of Latinos in the U.S. is creating pressure to target more services to the Latino community, but few health systems are making the needed investments.
Q&A with Virginia Mason CEO Gary Kaplan on creating value-based care regardless of payment model
Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Dr. Gary Kaplan says health systems can’t sit around waiting for the payment model to change; they need to act now to drive more efficient, higher-value care.
Ken Burns turns his camera on Mayo Clinic for PBS documentary
Famed documentarian Ken Burns’ latest project is a history of the Mayo Clinic and how it’s founders’ values still inform the system today.
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will require some researchers to share data
PCORI will require some researchers to disclose the data they use in their studies so others can recreate them. There are ongoing challenges to making research data more widely available including patient privacy concerns and reluctance by…
Sutter Health boosts operating income despite high-profile legal battle
Sutter Health’s ongoing lawsuit with California’s attorney general doesn’t appear to be hampering the massive health system’s financial position. The health system posted an $87 million operating income for the second quarter of 2018.
Doctors may sit out Medicare Advantage advanced pay model
The CMS’ proposed Medicare value pay experiment isn’t playing well for some physicians who feel the administrative burden is too high. Their concerns come after years of lobbying to have MA plans count as an alternative pay model under MACRA.
