Restrictions to be waived in the joint replacement model.
Stakeholders convinced CMS that the costs of email interaction was not covered by other sources and did entail additional costs to deliver of telehealth services such as maintaining the...National News
It is an interactive tool called the "MIPS Action Plan".
MIPS (Merit-based Incentive Payment System) is one of the two components of the Quality Payment Program, which was created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Surveys have shown most physicians are not ready to participate in MIPS, nor do they have...National News
After failure of "Repeal & Replace" measures, Harvard researchers examine the state of public opinion,
The New England Journal of Medicine published a report analyzing 27 national opinion polls by 12 survey organizations. It provides a look at four critical issues relevant to the previous House and recent Senate health care...National News
Notable gains were noted in patient safety and person-centered care.
About 80% of the person-centered measures, two-thirds of the patient safety measures, 60% of the healthy living measures and half of the care coordination measures tracked in the report have improved since 2000, the agency said. While 20% of measures showed...National News
The web site shows how more than 3,800 hospices perform on seven quality measures related to patient treatment preferences, managing pain and treating symptoms.
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) was established at section 1814(i)(5) of the Social Security Act. The Act also requires the Secretary to publicly report, on a...News
Carrying a $15 billion debt load, the Tennessee-based firm began to sell off hospitals in a turnaround plan.
Chinese billionaire Tianqiao Chen has increased his investment in CHS from a 13.8 percent stake to 22.1 in transactions totaling $71 million.
This in a company that ended the second quarter of this year with a net loss of...National News
In 2008, 58 percent opposed. Latest survey shows 56 percent support.
Merritt Hawkins, a physician recruitment firm, surveyed 1033 responding physicians August 3. Red tape, billing and paperwork distractions were cited as negatives in the current system. The trend to fewer physicians owning practices also may also play a...National News
HHS Secretary Tom Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma have access to powerful tools.
HHS can help states combat the problems of raising rates and shrinking individual marketplaces. Here are four ideas that HHS and the states can explore and expand:
Expand state reinsurance options
Allow innovative pilot plan designs for high...National News
Uncertainty over possible Congressional and Trump administration actions leave carriers uncertain whether to stay in marketplaces and what to charge,
The last six months have been anything but predictable for an industry based on ability to foresee risks and costs. Friday insurers received a letter from the federal Centers for...News
Steve Narang, MD wants to collapse silo's and be more patient-centric. Academic medical centers are special organizations with their own struggles. Traditional structure is focused on education, research and physician hierarchy. Costs are high and patients are disconnected.
Narang says Banner is embarking on a new structure based...News
American Medical Response, Maricopa Ambulance and ABC Ambulance join effort to persuade Arizona Department of Health to not grant a license to Dignity's Community Ambulance.Dignity Health, which operates Community Ambulance in the Las Vegas market, filed its application in June of 2016, saying the market lacked competition.
Current...News
IPA and value-based provider advocate organization sends 21 page letter to CMS Director Seema Verma in response to the MACRA Quality Payment Program proposed rule. CAPG, which uses the tagline: The Voice of Accountable Physician Groups, outlines the reasons groups that take risk from capitation should have that work qualify them for the...Arizona News
CMS proposal could decrease hospital revenue, hospital officials say
Orthopedic surgeons and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are excited by a new proposal by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pay for joint replacement surgeries performed in an outpatient setting.
CMS announced in mid-July that it was...Arizona News
Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix cracks the top 20 nationally for first time.
For the second year in a row, Mayo Clinic Rochester topped the best hospital rankings list by U.S. News and World Report. For the first time, an Arizona hospital makes the top 20 on the national list, called the "honor roll". That hospital? Mayo Clinic...Arizona News
To make sure AHCCCS providers have time to participate in the program, the Arizona Medicaid agency pushed its application deadline to August 18, 2017.
The program, which The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), calls “one-time opportunity to support integrated and coordinated care for AHCCCS members” is part of...Arizona News
CMS withdraws rules it hoped would increase transparency
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decided it will not require accreditors to publish hospital and home health agency (HHA) inspection reports for public viewing after private accreditors and providers pushed back against the proposed rules.
The...
To participate in MIPS, clinicians and groups must possess certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) to participate in the advancing care information performance category of the program.
Under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scoring, MIPS-eligible clinicians and groups may qualify for a re-weighting of...
The public comment period ended August 7, 2017; advocacy groups made a last-ditch effort to plead their case on behalf of patients.
More than 75 consumer advocacy groups spoke out to save an Obama-era rule allowing patients to sue nursing homes over neglect, sexual assault, or abuse.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...Arizona News
Appellate Court decision allows states to defend ACA's cost-sharing reductions.
A Washington, D.C. appellate court ruled that state's attorneys general have legal standing to sue to receive the Affordable Care Act's cost-sharing reduction subsidies.
The decision adds some clarity and relief to state-level officials as President...National News
Jerome Adams M.D., replaces Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams who became acting surgeon general after Vivek Murthy, M.D., was fired by the Trump administration in April.
Adams is an anesthesiologist from Indiana and teaches at Indiana University School of Medicine. He was appointed Indiana's health commissioner by Vice...Arizona News
The five-point agreement seeks to add a degree of certainty in health care markets.
Congressman Tom O'Halleran, D-Sedona and Representative Martha McSally, R-Tucson, saw an opportunity to bring some reason to the process.
The biggest proposal calls for mandatory funding of cost-sharing reduction payments, which help insurers reduce...National News
Insurance industry lists changes that can support the markets.
Since attempts to stabilize the individual market through legislation are at an impasse, major insurance companies, including Centene, Cigna and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, say there are things that can be done by HHS administratively to bolster the...Arizona News
MGMA members can view this comprehensive overview of 2018 proposed rule changes to MIPS/APMs and physician fee schedules
This policy analysis by MGMA explains the intricacies of 2018 proposed rules for MIPS/APMs and physician fee schedules.
The 2018 proposed rule revises three central tenets of the MIPS/APM programs:
Increase...National News
After the "Repeal & Replace" attempt failed, Trump tweeted "let ObamaCare implode, then deal" .
There are six things the president can do to hobble the Affordable Care Act. Here is the status of each:
Weaken enforcement of the individual mandate. IN PROGRESS
Impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients. IN PROGRESS
...Arizona Comings & Goings
Health Current Announces
Board of Directors
Health Current has announced a new Board of Directors following a unanimous vote at the Board of Director's meeting July 25, 2017. The Board of Directors of Health Current, formerly Arizona Health-e Connection, voted to change its bylaws on March 28, 2017, changing from a membership...
National News
