Effective Oct. 1, the CMS will stop reimbursing healthcare providers for 11 “never events” -- considered reasonably preventable errors in healthcare delivery. What are the "never event" policies for the various insurers and state associations? Modern Healthcare is tracking those decisions through its newly launched Never Events Tracking System. Learn More >>
Jean DerGurahian December 22, 2008 Findings within two adverse-event reports released last week by HHS’ inspector general’s office spell out what the field already knows but do not... ... FULL STORY
December 16, 2008 HHS’ inspector general’s office released two reports reviewing adverse events in hospitals and state adverse-events reporting systems, saying ways of... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian December 08, 2008 This year might be remembered for any number of historical moments, but for healthcare, perhaps this year will best be remembered for the idea of... ... FULL STORY
December 03, 2008 Two of the nation’s largest healthcare lobbying groups have raised questions over proposals from the CMS that would eliminate Medicare payments when... ... FULL STORY
October 27, 2008 More hospitals pledged this year to follow the Leapfrog Group’s policy on medical errors, or “never events,” according to the latest results released... ... FULL STORY
October 16, 2008 Medicare continues to battle implementation problems as it begins its new non-reimbursement policy for certain hospital-acquired conditions,... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian September 29, 2008 HHS’ announcement of a new infection-control action plan last week is a step in the right direction but by itself is not enough to motivate hospitals... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian September 29, 2008 More board leadership is required if hospitals are going to increase their level of performance on quality measures enough to qualify as a top... ... FULL STORY
Joan Quigley September 29, 2008 2002 was a terrible year for me, personally and professionally, because the owners of the 140-year-old hospital where I’d worked for two decades... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian September 15, 2008 When Banner Desert Medical Center realized in 2006 that its heart attack patients were not receiving timely, crucial care, staff took a hard look... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian/ HITS staff writer September 02, 2008 The pressure for hospitals to show quality improvement ramped up in recent weeks as more states released statistics from their adverse-events... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian August 11, 2008 Industry officials accuse the CMS of drifting rudderless with its new quality-improvement provisions in the final acute-care inpatient prospective... ... FULL STORY
August 07, 2008 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois announced it will no longer pay for costs related to medical errors, including hospital-acquired conditions... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian June 16, 2008 In a relatively short period for the healthcare industry, several insurers and hospital associations have adopted positions of not paying for certain... ... FULL STORY
June 05, 2008 The New York State Medicaid program said it will end reimbursements for avoidable hospital complications and medical errors deemed “never events.” ... FULL STORY
Cinda Becker April 07, 2008 The nation’s healthcare reimbursement system evolved a step further as WellPoint, the nation’s largest insurer, announced last week that it would... ... FULL STORY
Jean DerGurahian March 10, 2008 Although roundly denounced by the American Hospital Association when it was announced by the CMS last August, a new Medicare reimbursement policy now... ... FULL STORY
Dale Ann Micalizzi March 03, 2008 Editor’s note: We are marking the observance of National Patient Safety Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation, with... ... FULL STORY