Susan Morse

Author's posts

Hospitals face a rocky recovery to financial health, AHA says

The American Hospital Association has released a blog on research it said confirms what hospitals and health systems have been saying: That 2022 was among the most financially challenging years the hospital field has experienced and that recovery remai…

HIMSSCast: Collecting out of pocket expenses a challenge for hospitals

PayMedix CEO Tom Policelli knows the challenges faced by hospitals in collecting payments from patients after the procedure or service has been performed. This is not from uninsured patients, but from consumers who have employer coverage, but who may s…

LCMC Health’s purchase of three HCA hospitals upheld by court

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Louisiana Children’s Medical Center’s purchase of three HCA hospitals.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana delays sale to Elevance Health

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has chosen to withdraw its plan of reorganization and Elevance Health’s acquisition application from the Louisiana Department of Insurance, according to the nonprofit health insurer.
Elevance Health, formerly kno…

10 leading health systems join Transcarent’s direct contracting ecosystem

Ten leading health systems have joined Transcarent’s first National Independent Provider Ecosystem, setting the foundation for increased direct contracting.
Direct contracting between employers and health systems has historically been a challenge to do…

HHS awards $131.7 million to support behavioral health

The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has announced $131.7 million in grant programs for behavioral health services. 
The $131.7 million awarded this month include:

HIMSSCast: Medicaid disenrollments plague federal health officials

As of September 20, more than 7 million people had lost Medicaid coverage due to state redeterminations that haven’t always gone smoothly.

Half a million children and families will regain Medicaid coverage

Half a million children and families will regain their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance coverage due to improper disenrollment, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

Number of uninsured could rise under Biden’s proposed three-month limit to short-term plans 

The Biden administration’s proposal to limit the duration of short-term health  plans to three months would likely increase the uninsured rate, according to Mackenzie Wallace, a partner in Thompson Coburn’s Dallas office.
“Limiting the length of covera…

Commercial payers trail Medicare in the coverage of digital medicine

The lack of commercial coverage for digitally enabled care is a roadblock to affordable access to these medical services, according to the American Medical Association.
The model of integrating digitally enabled care with in-person care is not yet real…