The Arizona Medicaid program had advanced $41 million in provider payments to address the COVID-19 emergency.
On Oct. 27, AHCCCS received federal approval from CMS to increase Arizona hospital reimbursement rates by more than 30%. The Hospital...Arizona News
On Oct. 20, CMS approved a waiver that allows adult Medicaid beneficiaries in Nebraska to receive additional benefits, including vision and dental, if they participate in work requirements. The program is set to go into effect in April 2021.
Nebraska’s new Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration called “Heritage Health Adult" is...Arizona News
On Oct. 20 Healthgrades published its 2021 Specialty Excellence Awards, including the top hospitals for neurosciences, spine surgery and cardiac care.
Healthgrades 2021 report to the nation evaluates the risks associated with outcomes in elective care and shows why consumers should research hospital quality to make informed...Arizona News
On Oct. 12, Phoenix-based Abrazo Health opened a hospital in Surprise, Arizona. The Abrazo Surprise Hospital has a 13-bed emergency department, eight inpatient rooms, one operating room, ultrasound, x-ray, CT scan, laboratory and pharmacy.
The neighborhood hospital provides 24/7 emergency care and surgical services, with inpatient...Arizona News
Last week CMS said it has taken steps to advance a package of state-led reforms that could result in thousands of uninsured Georgians gaining access to coverage. Specifically, CMS announced the approval of Georgia's new Medicaid section 1115 demonstration called "Pathways to Coverage."
CMS began implementing work requirements for...National Reports & Surveys
The annual Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey is the benchmark survey of the cost and coverage of employer-sponsored health benefits in the United States. The 2020 survey included 1,765 interviews with non-federal public and private firms.
This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in...Arizona News
In the early months of the pandemic, the federal Medicare program and private health insurance companies wanted to encourage people to use alternatives to in-person care by talking with a doctor over video or by telephone. There has been a 3,200% spike in telemedicine visits in Arizona, according to AHIP.
Now, some Americans will...Arizona News
Medicaid work requirements, which the Trump administration has strongly backed, are on hold in many states following federal district court and appellate court rulings holding that such policies are not consistent with the statutory objective of the Medicaid program to provide coverage, according to Modern Healthcare.
Of the 10...CMS Rules
The new model now requires providers to get prior authorization (PA) before scheduling a non-emergent ambulance transport for a patient and pays ambulance services for taking patients to non-hospital facilities.
A ride in an ambulance can cost between hundreds and thousands of dollars depending on locations, services and the...Health Related Groups
According to an undercover audit completed by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, some health insurance brokers provided misleading or false information to potential customers about whether their plans covered preexisting conditions.
The audit was requested by Senate Democrats with the intention of determining whether...Arizona News
The Commonwealth Fund’s Scorecard on State Health System Performance assesses all 50 states and the District of Columbia on 49 measures of access to healthcare, service use, costs and quality of care, health outcomes, and income-based healthcare disparities.
Prior to COVID-19’s emergence, the 2020 scorecard documents state-level...Arizona News
Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, Aspire Transitional Care is now managed by The Goodman Group, a Minnesota based company with over 50 years of experience designing and managing senior living and health care communities, residential communities and commercial properties.
Aspire is a transitional care community featuring 50 private rooms...CMS Rules
On Thursday, Sept. 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Care Compare – an online consumer-facing database of provider quality information.
In January, CMS originally announced its plan to merge Home Health Compare with its seven other Compare sites. Agency officials said the goal was to create one...Arizona News
Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, CommonSpirit’s Lab alone will increase the country’s COVID-19 test capacity by up to 70,000 tests per week.
CommonSpirit, a national health system serving communities in 21 states, including Arizona, announced the opening of its Reference Lab, which will more than triple current COVID-19 testing...CMS Rules
On Aug. 31 CMS issued a proposed rule that aims to make innovative devices and breakthrough technologies more accessible to Medicare beneficiaries.
Once the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology final rule goes into effect, national Medicare coverage will begin on the date of a breakthrough device’s FDA market authorization and...Arizona News
ACA-enrollment has dropped each year of the Trump presidency, a trend that’s also been seen in Arizona. The most recent data from Kaiser Family Foundation reports there are 153,020 Arizonans enrolled in marketplace plans. The Trump administration has dramatically cut funding for Navigators tasked with getting the word out about ACA...Arizona News
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has strongly encouraged nursing homes to increase their efforts in controlling COVID-19 inside facilities after the number of residents infected reached a record high, and as new deaths have started rising once again.
Arizona is close to reopening nursing homes to visitors after...Arizona News
In April, Mayo Clinic was preparing for a $3 billion loss, but for the second quarter and the first six months of 2020, Mayo Clinic publicly reported its “Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Reports," which showed stronger than expected financial results, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the report, the non-profit Mayo...Arizona News
Modern Healthcare honored Scott Nordlund, chief strategy and growth officer at Banner Health, as one of this year’s Top 25 Innovators nationwide. This national award is given to those who "shape the industry."
Modern Healthcare noted that this year’s Top 25 Innovators were incredibly successful at creating solutions that are...Arizona News
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) received a $900,000 grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration to increase treatment services and support for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders. Services supported by this grant are not limited to Medicaid...
