Where healthcare challenges find solutions
Azar touts new Medicare Advantage opportunities in pay models
Azar hinted that Medicare Advantage plans could see pay boosts as part of the Trump administration's strategy to tackle maternal mortality rates, social determinants of health and rural healthcare access.
Verma touts site-neutral pay policies, blasts hospital consolidation
The CMS administrator blamed hospital pay policies for spiking healthcare costs and vowed to fight rising prices through Medicare policies in order to fend off Democratic proposals on coverage expansion.
CMS proposes covering acupuncture for back pain studies
Medicare may cover acupuncture for patients with chronic low-back pain enrolled in clinical trials or other CMS-approved studies.
More clinicians received MIPS bonuses in year 2
Nearly 98% of clinicians who participated in MIPS last year will receive a positive payment adjustment in 2020. At the same time, MIPS lost nearly 142,000 clinicians.
CMS proposes home health agency pay raise
The CMS' proposal would boost payment rates for home health agencies in 2020 and implement several changes to the way it pays for the services they provide.
Trump administration abandons plans to limit drug rebates
The Trump administration has withdrawn its proposal to eliminate drug rebates in Medicare and Medicaid plans, striking another significant blow to its broader plans to curb rising drug costs.
Rural hospitals support wage index reform
Hospital presidents and employees, predominantly from rural areas, support proposed changes to the "fundamentally flawed" system the CMS uses to set hospital payments, saying the current formula has led to closures.
Air ambulance charges study could boost Senate surprise bill legislation
Median charges for air ambulance services compared to Medicare rates soared by 46% to 61% from 2012 to 2016.
N.C. standoff could leave 700,000 without in-network hospitals
The more than 700,000 teachers and other state employees who receive health coverage from the North Carolina State Health Plan could soon face higher medical bills when visiting hospitals in the state.
Piedmont now requires 25% advance payment for self-pay patients
Piedmont Healthcare's new advance payment policy requires patients who will pay their entire bills out-of-pocket to pay 25% before they can receive care.
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