CEO Power Panel: Despite expected gridlock, divided government may still be boon to hospitals
Although system CEOs see some benefits to the change of control in the House, the likelihood of partisan gridlock is muting their optimism.
Trump administration could leverage waivers for state CON law repeals
By Susannah LuthiHospitals that want their states to keep up their certificate-of-need laws are on the alert after last week's sweeping health policy directive from the White House shows shifting ground.
Week Ahead: ONC set to detail progress on 21st Century Cures
A House panel will question ONC leaders about progress the agency is making on implementing the 21st Century Cures Act.
Research
Physician fee schedule reform needed to bridge primary-care gap
To the dismay of many policy experts and entities like the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, updates to the fee schedule have benefited procedure-oriented specialties at the expense of primary-care doctors.
Providers
Q&A: Fairview Health CEO James Hereford on reimagining primary care
Fairview Health Services CEO James Hereford launched a reorganization earlier this year to focus on the consumer. Part of the effort involves reimagining how primary care is delivered.
Insurance
CMS finalizes plan to continue risk-adjustment program for 2018
The CMS issued a final rule that allows the agency to continue the normal operations of the Affordable Care Act risk-adjustment program for 2018.
Government
Editorial: Healthcare, our biggest trade barrier
Tariff battles, whether in 1992 or 2018, will not solve what remains one of U.S. businesses' main international competitiveness problems: the higher prices they pay for healthcare and the tab's uneven distribution.
Finance
Detailed rules, transparency should define health system CEOs' outside directorships
Experts recommend transparency and detailed conflict-of-interest policies for CEOs sitting on boards, especially as vertical integration further complicates such relationships.
Technology
Healthcare providers are teaming with chatbots to assist patients
Chatbots are gaining traction in healthcare, helping connect patients to providers and payers on an efficient, cost-effective medium: mobile devices and computers.
Transformation
Looping in home-based caregivers
This software, which complies with HIPAA, serves as a platform for everyone involved in a patient's care to send text messages, images, files, videos and other formats, keeping in touch when the patient is not in a medical facility.
Safety & Quality
New CMS star ratings ignore socio-economic factors
The CMS didn't risk-stratify hospitals by peer groups based on their dual-eligible population as it currently does in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. That can earn hospitals low ratings for caring for poor and chronically ill patients.
People
Commentary: Proposed changes to 'public charge' rule could damage public health efforts
Immigration policy changes proposed by the Trump administration have the potential to reverse gains made in healthcare access and trust earned in our communities.
Surveys
Executive Compensation: 2018
A Special Feature on the nation's compensation for healthcare executives, selected titles. Source: Sullivan, Cotter and Associates.
