Making patient financial responsibility clear from the get-go is an imperative for providers trying to avoid no-pays and consumer dissatisfaction.
Category: Healthcare Finance News
Medicare premiums, deductibles, increase slightly while MA rates have decreased
CMS promotes MA’s supplemental benefits as consumers increasingly choose private coverage versus government insurance.
Community Health Systems sells two-hospital Mary Black Health System as part of long-term divestitures
When the transaction is complete, Community Health Systems affiliates will still operate four hospitals in South Carolina.
Elderly housing with supportive social services can reduce hospital use, study says
Investment in housing with such supportive social services as psychological assessments, physical activity and socialization programs can reduce hospitalization for older adults.
Day of discharge does not influence heart surgery patient readmissions
The use of preoperative beta blockers, tobacco use, and surgical site infections were independent predictors of readmission within 30 days, but day of discharge was not.
Updated: CMS Star ratings for 2019 Medicare Advantage plans and Part D coverage show Kaiser on top (see list)
Cigna’s Healthspring, KelseyCare’s Kelsey-Seybold plan, Humana’s CarePlus Health Plan, Florida Blue and Martin’s Point are also on the list.
What will it take to get consumers to finally use patient portals?
Security and privacy standards and mimicking a social media approach may be the next logical steps, one expert says.
Hurricane Michael ravages Gulf Coast, damages hospitals
At least two people have died as a result of the storm as at least one hospital has been badly damaged and is currently evacuating.
CMS says health insurance premiums down by 1.5 percent under ACA
CMS takes credit for introducing waivers and a reinsurance program for insurers to submit high-cost claims into a risk pool.
CVS and Aetna merger a disruptive sign of the future
Whether consumers will benefit from clout, data, lower pricing or not is up for debate.
