Revenue Cycle Management Healthcare News

Lawmakers Want to Tie Physician Payment Updates to Inflation

by

Several lawmakers are seeking to tie physician payment updates in Medicare to inflation to prevent potential physician shortage issues. Representatives Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA-25), Larry Bucshon, MD...

How Do Rural Hospitals Survive When Facing Financial Instability?

by

As rural hospitals face financial instability, many facilities have persevered and remained open on their own, while others have experienced mergers or closures, a study published in Health Affairs...

Hospital Chargemaster Heavily Influences Cash Prices, Payer Rates

by

While neither patients nor payers typically pay what hospitals charge for services, a new Health Affairs study finds that those hospital chargemaster rates still matter. Researchers at Johns Hopkins...

CMS Proposes a 3.7% Boost in Skilled Nursing Facility Payments

by

CMS has issued a proposed rule that includes a 3.7 percent payment update for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and changes to the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing...

Community-Level Social Risk Adjustment Did Not Address Payment Disparities

by

Despite the notion that social risk adjustment may improve health equity in value-based payment models, incorporating community-level social risk factors into Medicare risk adjustment did little to...

Proposed Rule to Boost Medicare Inpatient Rehab Payments by 3%

by

A new proposed rule from CMS would increase payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) by $335 million next fiscal year. The draft regulation would also update quality reporting and new...

AHA, AHIP Urge Supreme Court to Uphold False Claims Act Ruling

by

The American Hospital Association (AHA) and AHIP have filed an amicus brief challenging the federal government’s interpretation of the False Claims Act, stating that it would adversely impact...

CMS Proposes 2.8% Medicare Hospice Payment Bump

by

Medicare hospice payments could grow by as much as 2.8 percent, or $720 million, next year under a rule recently proposed by CMS. The federal agency released the proposed rule on Friday. It seeks to...

How CMMI Value-Based Care Models Have Impacted Costs, Quality

by

Many value-based care models have helped generate savings, reduce costs, and improve care quality, but models must incorporate health equity and clinical outcomes to achieve true value for all,...

Medicare ACO Healthcare Spending Recovered to Pre-Pandemic Levels

by

Between 2019 and 2021, healthcare spending by accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) recovered to pre-pandemic levels but shifted from inpatient to...

More Hospital CEOs Are Leaving Their Posts

by

Hospital chief executive officers (CEOs) are stepping down or leaving their positions more than last year, according to the latest data from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm...

Provider Org Recommends Changes to MA Prior Authorization Rule

by

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (the Academy) has offered recommendations to CMS on the Medicare Advantage prior authorization proposed rule that may help reduce provider burden and improve...

Hospital Margins Still Negative, But Finances See Some Stability

by

Hospital finances are seeing signs of stability after years of unpredictable ups and downs during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest “National Hospital Flash...

Healthcare Employment, Spending Continues to Grow in 2023

by

Healthcare employment has continued its steady growth in 2023, with the industry adding 44,200 jobs in February, according to Altarum’s March Health Sector Economic Indicators briefs. Healthcare...

Site-Neutral Payments Could Threaten Access to Care, Study Suggests

by

A new study released by the American Hospital Association (AHA) suggests that site-neutral payments could threaten access to care for some of the most vulnerable patients. Site-neutral payments...

Healthcare Orgs Push for Hybrid Primary Care Payment Option in MSSP

by

More than 25 healthcare organizations have urged CMS officials to establish a hybrid primary care payment option in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) to enhance primary care and boost...

Price Transparency Data Reveals Most Expensive Brain MRI Locations

by

A study of negotiated rates under the new hospital price transparency rule has identified the most expensive type of hospital to receive a brain MRI. Since Jan. 1, 2021, the federal government has...

Physician Compensation Fell, Gender Pay Gap Persisted in 2022

by

Economic challenges for healthcare workers continued in 2022, as the average physician compensation fell by 2.4 percent and the gender pay gap persisted, according to a report from Doximity. The...

Hospitals Ask Lawmakers for Well-Being, Workplace Safety Support

by

Hospitals and health systems are facing a staffing emergency, the American Hospital Association (AHA) said in response to a Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Request for...