Category: Healthcare Finance News

Hospitalizations for homeless individuals are on the rise, driven by mental illness, substance abuse

Homeless adults were more often white, male, around 46 years old, and either uninsured or insured by Medicaid.

Average outpatient visit in U.S. approaching $500, study finds

Between 1990 and 2016, inpatient admissions globally increased by more than two-thirds, while outpatient visits increased by more than half.

CVS Health defends merger and integration of Aetna

CVS Health said it is maintaining a firewall to prevent the exchange of competitively sensitive information with Aetna.

Texas judge strikes down Affordable Care Act

Supreme Court hearing all but certain as Democrats say they will appeal the ruling that is also decried by insurers and providers.

Small percentage of uninsured patients generate most of hospitals’ self-pay revenue

If hospitals aren’t optimizing their revenue cycle, they could potentially be leaving millions of dollars on the table.

Cigna, Express Scripts merger clears state hurdles

The deal awaits another state approval; It has already received the go-ahead from Department of Justice.

Emergency responders to California wildfire used a patient lookup system to harness volunteer providers

The tool, Patient Unified Lookup System, enabled volunteers to access patient information and and deliver quality care, especially crucial medications.

Veterans’ Affairs hospitals show quality equal to or greater than their private sector counterparts, data shows

The analysis found that VA hospitals were likely to provide the best care in a local healthcare market and rarely provided the worst care in local markets.

What to know about the telehealth upsides of Medicare Advantage plans

Forthcoming policies from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will open up the home as a covered site of care in which hospitals can earn payment for delivered services.

ACA insurer ready for 2020, even as enrollment drops by half a million

Individual mandate is not the reason most consumers buy insurance, says insurer in New Jersey, which has its own individual mandate.