Category: Healthcare Finance News

2019 was the year of the patient

From HIMSS19 in February, when CMS Administrator Seema Verma said patients need immediate access to their health information, the hits have just kept on coming.

UnitedHealthcare to open 14 Medicare services centers in Walgreens stores

Companies are also partnering on AARP Medicare Advantage Walgreens plans from UnitedHealthcare.

Emergent technologies are allowing consumers greater control and access to care

The shift happening in healthcare is similar to trends in personal wealth management, with beneficiaries assuming greater control.

Legislation to stop surprise billing could negatively affect air ambulance operators

A decrease in private payer rates without an increase in government payment would threaten the air ambulance industry, Moody’s says.

CMS Innovation Center is testing direct contracting model

This model is part of a strategy to use the redesign of primary care as a platform to drive broader healthcare delivery system reform.

Pennsylvania partners with GetInsured to build and operate state-based health insurance exchange

Chief among the partnership’s goals is higher quality service and better affordability for people in the state purchasing insurance on the exchange.

To engage patients, understand their needs and wants

There is often a disconnect between what health plans provide and what patients want, according to Keith Roberts of Change Healthcare.

High out-of-pocket costs can make medications out of reach for millions of Americans with cardiovascular disease

Non-compliance has several causes, but recent years have seen patients assuming a greater share of healthcare costs, likely fanning the flame.

HIMSSCast: CMS price transparency rule, telehealth parity laws, and healthcare consumerism

The HFN team discusses some recent pieces of news from federal and state governments, and speculates on how these developments might fit into a more patient-centric healthcare future.

Benefit design, higher deductibles will increase bad debt for hospitals

Legislative proposals could reduce bad debt, but would likely introduce additional complexity to billing processes.