Category: Healthcare Finance News

Black, Hispanic patients more likely to be brought to safety-net hospital emergency rooms

The largest differences were seen in larger urban areas with multiple emergency rooms and hospitals within the vicinity.

Uninsured rate on the rise for the first time since passage of the Affordable Care Act

The findings come at a time when the fate of the ACA is in the hands of a federal appeals court.

SDOH: Horizon BCBS New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health and state partner on value-based model

Racial disparities show New Jersey’s maternal mortality rate is 38.1 deaths per 100,000 births, but among African-American women, it’s 102 deaths.

SDOH: Emergency department openings and closures have an impact on heart attack patients

Hospital closures represent a not-often reported social determinant of health, as they stress patient resources.

CEO of telemedicine company pleads guilty to Medicare fraud in $424 million scheme

CEO Lester Stockett was among 24 telemedicine executives charged in schemes billing Medicare $1.7 billion, according to DOJ.

All healthcare is local: Blue Shield of California and L.A. Care invest $146 million in community health

Plans will jointly operate 14 community resource centers across Los Angeles that will leverage personalized technology solutions to improve health and identify disparities.

Rural hospital closures having an impact on mortality rates

Because access to health services can be an issue in rural locales, rural hospital closings had a profound impact.

Hospital medians show revenues topping expenses for first time in 3 years

Revenue growth remained a hurdle due to hospitals’ ongoing reimbursement challenges, but overall stability has increased.

Cigna offers new coverage program for expensive gene therapy

Employers, health plans and unions may enroll; Covered consumers have no out-of-pocket payment for medication.

When physicians integrate with hospitals, costs go up, Rice study says

In 2003, about 29% of U.S. hospitals employed physicians, a number that rose to 42% by 2012.