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Shrinking rural hospital margins aided by COVID-19 relief funds
COVID-19 federal relief funds helped rural hospitals’ financial performance but raises questions going forward about the 48% of these providers that consistently experience negative operating margins, according to a new issue brief released by the Amer…
In two deals, Intermountain’s Saltzer Health finds buyers
Saint Alphonsus Health System has agreed to acquire an ambulatory surgery center and two urgent care centers from Intermountain’s Saltzer Health.
Intermountain announced in January that it would close Saltzer Health in Idaho on March 29 if no buyer was…
CMS finalizes 3.7% payment increase for Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare Advantage plans are getting a 3.7% rate increase for 2025, or over $16 billion, from 2024 to 2025.
CMS proposes 2.6% payment increase for hospices
Hospice providers get a 2.6% increase in 2025 the proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
This represents an estimated increase of $705 million in payments from 2024.
The increase results from the 3% market basket per…
HIMSSCast: Direct contracting streamlines prior authorization
Jaja Okigwe is CEO of First Choice Health, headquartered in Seattle. The company is a benefits administration business that has one of the largest direct-contracted networks in the Upper West with nearly 1 million members in its network.
It’s a provid…
Proposed rule gives skilled nursing facilities a 4.1% increase
Skilled nursing facilities get a 4.1% payment increase for 2025, according to a proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Skilled Nursing Facility
Inpatient rehab facilities get a 2.8% proposed increase for 2025
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities get a payment rate increase of 2.8% for 2025 in a proposed rule released late Wednesday.
The amount is based on a proposed market basket update of 3.2%, less a proposed 0.4% point productivity adjustment.
HHS overturns Trump’s extended short-term plan coverage
The Department of Health and Human Services, joined by other departments, are cracking down on what they call junk insurance plans, in a final rule released today.
Optum Care to buy physician group from troubled Steward Health Care
Troubled Steward Health Care in Massachusetts has a deal to sell its physician group to Optum Care, according to a statement from Sen. Edward J. Markey D-Mass.
CMS final rules standardizes Medicaid enrollment and renewal
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released a final rule to standardize the Medicaid enrollment and renewal process nationwide.
Currently, each state is responsible for operating its own Medicaid program within federal requirements. Thi…
