Category: Modern Healthcare

An independent report estimates Hurricane Maria caused 2,975 excess deaths in Puerto Rico through February 2018. It also called gaps found in the island’s death surveillance capabilities a major contributor to the initial, grossly underestimated…

As medical technology improves and payers reward doctors and hospitals for outpatient care, health systems and providers are spending millions of dollars on urgent care and larger multi-specialty ambulatory medical centers.

Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga claimed Tennessee’s Medicaid program purposefully siphoned money from hospitals that treat the neediest patients to favor insurance companies that often employ former TennCare employees.

While 59 of the eliminated positions were already vacant, Intermountain said 67 people in jobs that were cut “left Intermountain because there was not another suitable position.” The health system also created 107 new positions.

At Epic’s users group meeting, Epic leaders touted new software features, including those that further interoperability. They also warned against sharing data too freely with third parties.

HRSA has asked for more authority to manage the controversial 340B drug discount program, but top Republicans and Democrats on key House and Senate committees say the agency hasn’t done enough with the authority it already has.

A new study found that paying long-term care hospitals at the same rate as skilled-nursing facilities would save taxpayers $4.6 billion per year with no harm to patients. Providers are pushing back on that idea.

HHS’ Office of Inspector General is following in the CMS’ footsteps to determine what legal protections it can provide to encourage providers to pursue value-based care arrangements.

An ACO model that requires doctors to face major downside financial risk generated significant savings for Medicare in its first year of operations, the CMS revealed in a new report.

Clover joins a slew of other health insurers that are busy investing in the lucrative Medicare Advantage market, where enrollment has grown steadily over the past decade and shows no signs of slowing.