Author's posts
Whistle-blower accuses HCA of fraudulent billing practices
In an unsealed False Claims Act case in California federal court, a former Regional Medical Center nurse alleges that administrators billed ICU, medical-surgical and telemetry services on an inpatient basis when the patient was still located in the…
Editorial: More doom and gloom from the CMS
Over the past decade, CMS actuaries have consistently overestimated future healthcare spending. They failed to foresee the great moderation that in fact took place.
CHS shrinks loss in fourth quarter
Community Health Systems reported a $328 million loss in fourth quarter,, which compares favorably with the year-earlier quarterly loss of $2 billion.
House lawmakers to investigate measles outbreak
A key congressional health committee will launch an investigation into the measles outbreak next week, as FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb warns federal action may be required because of lax state vaccination laws.
Industry, analysts clash over scope of balance billing legislation
As congressional lawmakers work on legislation to end surprise medical bills, industry wants to keep it simple. And narrow.
Healthcare spending will hit 19.4% of GDP in the next decade, CMS projects
Healthcare spending growth will rise at an annual average of 5.5% over the next decade, slightly faster than in the past few years, due to the aging of the baby boomers and healthcare price growth, the CMS reported Wednesday.
CMS lost $84M in two years for ineligible nursing home stays
The CMS pays millions of dollars a year to nursing homes for taking care of older adults who do not qualify for coverage, according to an investigation by HHS’ inspector general.
Insurers, hospitals agree in telling CMS to keep ‘silver-loading’
Insurers, hospitals and state regulators are wary of the CMS ending “silver-loading” on Affordable Care Act plans.
Dignity Health saw rocky end to 2018 as revenue and investments tumble
Dignity Health weathered investment losses in the latter half of 2018, but its revenue also took a hit.
Nearly a quarter of rural hospitals are on the brink of closure
Twenty-one percent of rural hospitals are at high risk of closing, according to a new report. That equates to 430 hospitals across 43 states that employ about 150,000 people and generate about $21.2 billion in patient revenue.
