Author's posts
House extends moratorium on 2% Medicare sequester cuts through 2021
In a vote of 384-38, the House on Tuesday passed a bill that eliminates the 2% cut to Medicare payments until the end of 2021.
However, the bill proposes to offset the change by increasing the sequester cuts in 2030.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The cuts were tri…
CDC and FDA pause Johnson & Johnson vaccine over rare blood clot concerns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced they are pausing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to concerns of several rare blood clotting cases in individuals who have received the vaccine.
Microsoft doubles healthcare market with acquisition of Nuance
Microsoft is acquiring Nuance Communications in an all-cash transaction valued at $19.7 billion, inclusive of Nuance’s net debt.
The transaction is intended to close this year.
Nuance is a cloud and software provider of conversational AI and cloud…
CMS increases hospice payments by 2.3%
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a proposed rule that updates hospice base payments and the aggregate cap amount for 2022.
As proposed, hospices would see a 2.3%, or $530 million increase in their payments for FY 2022. The pro…
BCBS of Rhode Island partners with Diagnostic Robotics to identify members with chronic conditions
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has partnered with Diagnostic Robotics to use artificial intelligence to identify and monitor members with certain chronic conditions.
Health risks targeted include congestive heart failure, obesity and behavior…
Hospitals and health system pharmacists urge FDA to take a closer look at ‘white bagging’
The practice known as “white bagging” is exacerbating supply chain security challenges and jeopardizing patient safety, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Hospital Association told acting Food and Drug commissioner Dr. J…
A look at the pandemic’s effect on supply chain, with McKesson’s Craig Dolan
A year after the COVID-19 pandemic sent the country into lockdown, there is light at the end of the tunnel with more than 15% of the U.S. population now fully vaccinated.
U.S. Anesthesia Partners files lawsuits against UnitedHealthcare
U.S. Anesthesia Partners has filed lawsuits in Texas and Colorado against UnitedHealthcare, alleging the nation’s largest insurer is “like a boa constrictor squeezing USAP-TX from all sides,” according to the Texas lawsuit.
UnitedHealthcare is driving …
ACAP wants Supreme Court to rule for full coverage of cost-sharing reduction payments
This week, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans filed an amicus brief backing Maine Community Health Options and Community Health Choice in their request to the Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision on cost-sharing reduction payments.
AHA wants HHS to issue waivers to 340B hospitals
The American Hospital Association is asking Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to ensure that hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program continue to have access to the program despite changes in their payer mix as a result…
