Paula Blankenship, Author at The Hertel Report

Paula Blankenship

Communications professional with two decades of award-winning work in journalism, corporate communications, promotional video, public relations and higher education. Always seeking opportunities to serve the public good.

Author's Posts

Arizona News

OIG Flags Flagstaff Medical Center for Nearly $80K in Medicare Billing Errors

According to the Office of the Inspector General, Northern Arizona Healthcare's (NAH) Flagstaff Medical Center failed to comply with Medicare billing requirements for three of 100 audited inpatient and outpatient claims from 2016-17. The OIG...

Arizona News

Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital Designated Level 1 Trauma Center

The Southern Arizona hospital received the designation from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The new status went into effect Sunday, Sept. 20 for the hospital at 350 N. Wilmot Rd. in Tucson and allows staff to provide critical care for patients with life-threatening injuries. Reporting from Tucson.com pointed out...

Arizona News

Arizona COVID-19 Update: Improving Conditions, New Vaccine Trials & New Student Warnings

Hospitalizations and cases continue to decline from Arizona's July surge, but even so the state reported 695 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, 25 newly reported deaths and a 12% positivity rate in Maricopa County. Total coronavirus deaths in Arizona are now 5,371, with most occurring in Maricopa County. As of Wednesday, September 16, 2020...

Arizona News

IBM Watson Health Rates Valleywise Health Medical Center Among Nation's '100 Top Hospitals'

Valleywise Health Medical Center made it on the prestigious list this summer earning recognition as one of the top-performing major teaching hospitals in the nation and the only teaching hospital in Arizona to receive the honor. Formerly Maricopa Medical Center, the medical center is the centerpiece of Valleywise Health, the...

Arizona News

ACA Exchange Insurers Expanding Markets & Newcomers - UHC Poised to Re-Enter The Competition

During a time when millions are losing employer-sponsored health insurance, shoppers in Arizona and across the nation may have more plans to choose during the 2020 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace that begins November 1 and continues through December 15. This week Cigna and Centene announced...

National News

COVID-19 Vaccine Update - A Halted Trial, Safety Concerns & US Costs

Don't count on an Election Day vaccine, said the NIH on Wednesday, a day after several drug companies developing a COVID-19 vaccine pledged to follow rigorous efficacy and safety guidelines prior to mass inoculations against the infection and AstraZeneca suspended a large clinical trial after one patient's severe adverse reaction....

Arizona News

HonorHealth & FastMed Urgent Care Form Joint Venture to Operate 30 Arizona Clinics

Phoenix and Tucson area clinics provide urgent care and occupational health services, in person and via telemedicine, and will be clinically integrated with HonorHealth’s five acute-care hospitals, physician practices, outpatient surgery centers and other network services. The seven existing HonorHealth Urgent Care locations...

Arizona News

Valley Fever Vaccine Push Continues as Threat Pushes Past Arizona Boundary

Valley Fever may begin to spread north through the West as the climate warms, and for now the majority of cases are contracted in Arizona, but with a low case rate nationally, the infection is considered an orphan disease. More than two decades have passed since a promising vaccine candidate failed its clinical trials, but at the...

Data Resources

2020 AHCCCS Data Edition

As Arizona Medicaid tops the 2 million member mark, this data filled, 10-page data edition provides membership, market share, growth, value-based payment trends and more. Get the latest on AHCCCS and all Medicaid managed care organizations doing business across the state's 15 counties. AHCCCS DATA EDITION SPONSOR ...

Arizona News

Simon Med Imaging Out of Mercy Care Network September 21

Providers received notice from Mercy Care on August 28 that Simon Med would no longer be part of its radiology provider network. The notice applies to Mercy Care Complete Care, Mercy Care RBHA, Mercy Care Long Term Care, Mercy Care DD and Mercy Care Advantage. Mercy Care patients from the plans above with scheduled appointments...

CMS Rules

CMS Releases Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) FY2021 - Hospitals Get 2.7% Boost

On September 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for acute care and long-term care hospitals that increases Medicare spending on acute care inpatient hospital services by about $3.5 billion and ties Medicare FFS inpatient hospital pay to MA negotiated rates in FY 2024. Long-term care...

Arizona News

Valleywise Health Recognized as LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) designated the healthcare system for the second year in a row, but it's the first hospital in Arizona to achieve the honor. HRC recognizes the healthcare facilities that participate in its Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), now in its 12th year. The organization recognizes healthcare...

Arizona News

Arizona COVID Update August 27: ADHS Predicts Relaxing Business Restrictions in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties

Based on current data, ADHS anticipates all three counties will be in the moderate range for business reopening when the agency's Business Data Dashboard updates Thursday, Aug. 27. This would allow certain establishments to reopen after complying with all requirements, including limiting occupancy and enforcing mask...

National News

CMS Gets Tougher, Strengthens Testing & Reporting Regs for Nursing Homes, Hospitals & Labs

On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services warned providers in an interim rule to prepare for fines or funding losses if they don't comply with new requirements. CMS on Tuesday strengthened its COVID-19 testing and reporting requirements for nursing homes, hospitals and labs, warning the providers could get fined...

Arizona News

Yavapai Regional Medical Center Joins Forces With Dignity Health Arizona

The Prescott-based Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) said the affiliation agreement with Dignity Health will bring to Yavapai County innovative medical technologies and treatments and reinvestment in the community through grants and the creation of clinical programs to keep aging populations and those suffering from chronic illness...

White Papers, E books, Reports and more

Milliman Report: Patients With BH Needs Drive High Total Healthcare Costs

The report also found behavioral health patients spur 57% of commercial healthcare spending. Milliman identified the prevalence of patients with behavioral health conditions (mental health conditions and substance use disorders) within the total patient population and among the highest-cost patients; the contribution of...

National News

Proposed 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The CMS proposal is getting mixed reactions from providers; some are expecting payment increases, others are anticipating losses and almost everyone is expecting the expansion of telehealth will be here to stay. On Monday, August 3, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed the physician fee schedule (PFS), which...

Arizona News

Bright Health, Aetna and Banner-Aetna Propose 2021 Average Rate Increases of 15% or More in Arizona

The state and federal filings include the individual and small group markets offering ACA qualified health plans; rate change increases impact at least one plan for each insurer. In the individual market, Oscar Health Plan and Health Net of Arizona all proposed average lower rates in 2021 while BCBSAZ and Cigna asked for average...

Arizona News

AZ HFMA Announces Virtual Fall Conference - Health Plans, Hospitals & Providers Invited to Attend at No Cost

The Arizona chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (AZ HFMA) is hosting its annual fall conference on September 16-17. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this live event will be delivered virtually to your computer! So that cost is not a barrier during these challenging times, hospital, health plan, physician group,...

National News

ACO Toolkit for Effective Provider Engagement Strategies

The third in a series of CMS created toolkits, the report features innovative strategies Medicare ACOs use to help primary care and specialty providers in the ambulatory setting improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) designs the reports for public consumption to help...

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