Based on an analysis by our friends at Milliman, this resource comes from America's Health Insurance Plans - spoiler alert, highest spend category: prescription drugs.
Take a look at the full premium breakdown by AHIP ...Arizona News
The hospital's owner, New Vision Health, after creditors filed for involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Court documents reveal creditors were owed about $13.1 million in unpaid loans and the hospitals' leases were terminated due to nonpayment. Reports say the bankruptcy receiver tried to secure capital to keep the doors...Arizona Bricks & Mortar
Confirming its commitment to be the major hospital company in the east valley, Banner Health will build a new 120 bed facility adjacent to its existing Banner Health Center at Loop 202 San Tan Freeway and Alma School Road. Expecting an opening in the fall of 2020, Banner will spend more than $150 million on the project.
“We want...News
Healthcare costs may look like they are stabilizing, but the numbers warrant a closer look as increases are reaching unsustainable levels, climbing to rates higher than inflation--according to the Medical Cost Trend report released earlier this month by PricewaterhouseCooper's (PwC) Health Research Institute.
"The economy, wages...Arizona News
In his dual role as senior VP at Change Healthcare and president and COO of ACO Partner, John Wallace spoke with HealthLeaders Media about the model, why it works, and how it will grow.
Learn more about ACO Partner in our June newsletter, but until then this interview will shed light on the value-based initiative that now includes...National News
The 20-states, including Arizona, are urging a federal district court in Texas to hold the Affordable Care Act’s (ACAs) individual mandate unconstitutional and to enjoin the entire law.
The brief, filed June 7 by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), argues the individual mandate is unconstitutional and can't be extricated from...Arizona News
House Bill 2154, enacted earlier this year by Gov. Doug Ducey, has significantly expanded Arizona's current data breach notification law effective Aug. 1, 2018.
Changes include a more expansive definition of “personal information” that was formerly one of the narrowest in the country, according to Ballard Spahr’s Privacy and...Arizona News
An unannounced review of the Phoenix VA Healthcare System was conducted in early February 2018 by the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Office of Inspector General (OIG). These inspections occur approximately every three years and are evaluated according to the measures for that year.
The OIG’s concerns for February were centered...Arizona News
The Hertel Report is proud to celebrate our intern Veronica Graff, who shared a byline on this front page story in the Arizona Republic on Sunday about the emotional and physical damage suffered by ex-Cardinal players and their struggles with the NFL.
The news feature includes interviews from nine former players and explains how a...National News
Pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly & Co. and AstraZeneca PLC are completely scrapping trials of an experimental drug they were co-developing for the treatment of Alzheimer's. It is an unsurprising announcement among various other disappointing efforts to close the gap to the finish line in the race against the debilitating...Arizona News
Financial consulting company Deloitte will open a U.S. Delivery Center in Gilbert, Arizona. The new 102,000 square foot facility is expecting to generate approximately 2,500 jobs in the region and will focus on developing and applying emerging technologies-based solutions to its clients.
To better adapt itself to the perpetually...Arizona News
The 2019 assessment at $287 million is $3 million less than the 2018 assessment.
For the contracting year October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 (CYE 2019), select AHCCCS-registered Arizona providers which meet agency established performance criteria will receive Differential Adjusted Payments (DAP).
AHCCCS will implement DAP...National News
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) proposed an alternative payment model (APM) that includes monthly payments for care teams, including nurses, social workers and spiritual care professionals.
The Patient and Caregiver Support for Serious Illness (PACSSI) model was developed to address the gaps in...National News
Usage of brand-name drugs has declined but seniors are still paying more although they are receiving less, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS).
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found:
Total reimbursements for all brand-name drugs in Part D increased 77 percent from 2011 to...National News
Gov. Paul LePage of Maine is being forced to uphold a ballot measure that passed seven months ago when Maine voters decided to expand Medicaid under The Affordable Care Act (ACA). His administration was ordered to file the paperwork to the federal government by next week, according to POLITICO.
Supporters of the ACA sued...National News
The Washington Post’s Paige Winfield Cunningham speaks one-on-one with U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, who outlines her vision for Medicaid.
Watch the video by following this link to the Washington Post
...Arizona News
The University of Arizona’s (UA) College of Nursing is introducing a project to help improve mental health resources in rural areas and border communities. The program received a $1.7 million grant from US Health Resources and Services Administration in funding to use over four years.
Healthcare is closely tied to the economy...National News
Nuedexta is the only FDA approved drug to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a rare disorder affecting less than one percent of the population, according to a CNN investigation.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. government is now warning insurers to be aware of unethical uses of the drug. It has had an...Arizona News
Sun West Choice Healthcare and Rehabilitation is a 140-bed skilled nursing facility with an 87 percent occupancy rate in Sun City West. The acquisition became effective June 1, 2018.
Bandera Healthcare, Inc., Ensign's Arizona-based subsidiary, was enthusiastic about the addition of Sun West Choice.
"We are ecstatic to welcome to...National News
The federal review also reported subsidized coverage for marketplace plans has fallen by 3 million and projects that by 2028, about 243 million Americans will be insured while the country's uninsured rate will climb to 35 million.
The Congressional Budget Office expects the nongroup health insurance is expected to be stable in most...National News
The Government Accountability Office reported that in 2017 HHS made $36.2 billion in improper Medicare FFS payments and $36.7 billion in improper payments to Medicaid; MA received $14.2 billion improperly and Medicare Part D was improperly paid $1.2 billion.
The GAO estimated the federal government spent nearly $147 billion on...Arizona News
For the second time, the state of Arizona is pushing to oust federal judge David Duncan from overseeing a legal settlement demanding that Arizona improves healthcare for its inmates.
The request to remove Duncan from the settlement stemmed from his threats to hold Corrections Director Charles Ryan and Assistant Corrections Director...National News
Excel Health's reported that in 2017 total Medicare beneficiaries grew 2.5 percent as baby boomers continued to age into Medicare, hospice patient admissions grew 6.5 percent driven by increased utilization, and that home health patient admits grew 0.5 percent, due to growth in the last two reported quarters.
Data highlights from the...News
Select patients are now able to seek non-FDA approved experimental drugs and treatments. President Trump signed the bill May 30 stating it would provide terminally ill patients with the “hope of finding something.”
The “compassionate use” program enacted by the FDA already grants access to experimental drugs after the patient...Arizona News
After nearly a decade with Cigna, most recently as the VP of operations and effectiveness for the insurer's Total Health & Network, Bennett will be responsible for leading strategy and operations to the 120 member group practice.
Bennett was also a leader in the information technology and service operations departments at Cigna...
Arizona News
The Hertel Report
