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

Politics & Healthcare: Azar & Verma Resign, Stakeholders Withhold Donations, Arizona Budget Notes

As the Biden Administration prepared for its new role leading U.S. health policy and Arizona became the new national poster child for the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, political lines were drawn and Governor Ducey listed his budget...

MFAR Officially Dead

Last year, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pitched the proposal as an effort to improve Medicaid accountability and transparency, AHCCCS countered the rule could cost the Arizona Medicaid program about $2 billion in funding. The rule was officially withdrawn Jan. 19, 2021 as posted on the Federal Register; in...

CMS Rules

New Rule Gives Web-based Brokers Access to 2023 ACA Exchange Markets

Last Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed that states could use Section 1332 waivers to customize their Exchanges and allow web-based insurers to sell insurance by 2023; some stakeholders contend the changes undermine key tenets of the Affordable Care Act. The agency's final rule, Notice of Benefit and...

2019 Next Generation ACO Results: $462M in Shared Savings

The 2019 data, just released by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, shows financial and quality performance results for 37 of the 41 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) who participated in Performance Year (PY) 2019 of the Next Generation ACO (NGACO) model, including the Phoenix-based Arizona Care Network. Four...

January Newsletter is Here!

We begin 2021 with a look back on the most important stories of 2020 complemented by relevant Arizona data and market insight along with a full page of local healthcare Comings & Goings. JANUARY NEWSLETTER SPONSOR ...

Arizona News

MA Open Enrollment Ends March 31

For Medicare beneficiaries who enrolled in a MA plan starting in 2021, the open enrollment period from Jan. 1 through March 31 gives them an opportunity to switch to a different plan, go back to Original Medicare or join a PDB plan. If you're one of the nearly 587,000 Arizona MA beneficiaries and want to switch to Original...

National News

Congress' Year End Spending Bill & Stimulus Package: Healthcare Highlights

Along with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill, Congress finalized and President Trump signed the second largest piece of emergency relief in the country's history. After nine months of wrangling, the 5,600 page, $900 billion pandemic relief package includes a surprise billing ban with a 2022 roll-out, addresses concerns from...

Arizona News

Arizona YOY Enrollment Bump on HealthCare.gov

Despite the Trump Administration's attacks on the Affordable Care Act, about 1,400 more Arizonans signed up for health insurance on HealthCare.gov during the 2021 open enrollment period bringing the total to 154,265 versus last year's total of 153,020. National enrollment declined from 8.3 to 8.2 million this year, but analysts...

News

COVID-19 Weekly Update: December 24, 2020

This is a grim holiday season in Arizona with COVID-19 cases spiking 52% in the two weeks following Thanksgiving. Healthcare workers are managing increasing hospitalizations and deaths; capacity is tightening with 92% of inpatient and 93% of ICU beds in use - the state's largest healthcare system expanded its morgue capacity with...

Arizona News

Magellan Health Acquires Majority Interest in Arizona's Bayless Integrated Healthcare

The integrated outpatient behavioral health and primary care provider was founded in Arizona in 1982. The purchase agreement spells out that both parties will make a decision regarding the remaining 30% equity within the next three years. CEO of Bayless Integrated Healthcare, Justin Bayless, I'm excited about this new...

State of the State

Winter State of the State: 2021

Winter State of the State Friday, January 22, 2021 8 to 10:30am Followed by a Live Q&A Via Zoom 10:40 to 11am Join us for a virtual Winter State of the State conference including robust Arizona market discussions, full conference program, data reference pages, post-conference video access and a directory to support...

Arizona News

HealthCare.gov Week Five Snapshot - Arizona Enrollment Up YOY

From Nov. 29 through Dec. 5 about 915,000 Americans selected plans, up nearly 82% YOY; Arizona residents have selected about 58,000 plans on the platform, up 36% YOY, since open enrollment began Nov. 1. In most states OEP ends next week, Dec. 15, and in past years, enrollment numbers peek during the final push as latecomers finalize...

Arizona News

COVID-19 Weekly Update: December 10 - Pima County OEM Tweets Hospitals at Capacity

The death count rolled over 7,000 in Arizona this week and daily state death tolls are climbing with some Southern Arizona communities under curfew and ICU staffed beds on short supply at Maricopa County's safety net hospital Valleywise Medical Center. Positive cases also jumped this week across Arizona to 23% of those tested for the...

National News

The Art of Negotiation: SNF Contracts

A great read from Skilled Nursing News about how skilled nursing facilities can better manage new contracts with multiple payers during the pandemic. Chad Bogar, the founder and CEO of the law firm sb2 Inc., told Skilled Nursing News that it's critical skilled nursing facilities' (SNFs) contract negotiators sharpen their pencils...

National News

UnitedHealth Group's 2021 Earnings Forecast Takes Expected Hit From Pandemic

UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health insurance providers in the country along with Anthem, Humana, Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) and CVS Health Corp., together they control more than 38% of the American market. UnitedHealth Group (UHG) cited treatment and testing costs tied to the pandemic. The insurer expects it...

Data Resources

MEMBERS ONLY: 2020 Arizona Hospital & Health Systems Data Edition is Here!

Nearing 20 pages, our annual data edition provides readers with an overview of major hospital systems including revenue, employees, 2020 annual highlights, executive leadership, community benefit contributions for non-profits, new hospital construction projects, value-based contracting partners, facility-level data highlights, pandemic...

Arizona News

Scottsdale-based Senior Connect Acquisition Corp launched as a SPAC

Senior Connect Acquisition I, a blank check company formed by the founder of UnitedHealth targeting the senior market, filed in late November with the SEC to raise up to $300 million in an initial public offering. In reporting from Home Health Care News, the special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is focusing on senior care,...

News

Phoenix Business Journal's 2020 Healthcare Heroes

The virtual event was held Nov. 9, recognizes excellence in the medical community- excellence practiced by physicians, administrators and volunteers. Health Care Heroes are selected and judged based on nominations from those in the profession and the business community. Check out the Phoenix Business Journal Health Care Heroes...

Arizona News

HealthCare.Gov Enrollment Week Three, November 15 - November 21, 2020

During the third week of the Open Enrollment period, 758,421 people selected plans using the HealthCare.gov platform, about a 3% bump year-over-year; Since Open Enrollment began Nov. 1, Arizona has reported 35,068 plan selections; enrollment weeks are measured Sunday through Saturday. Open to shoppers in 36 states since November...

Arizona News

Valleywise Comprehensive Health Center Set to Open in Peoria January 25

Valleywise Community Health Centers in Glendale and El Mirage are scheduled to move in January 2021. The services and most of the care team will transition to the new Valleywise Comprehensive Health Center – Peoria, located at the corner of Grand Avenue and Cotton Crossing. The new facility located at 8088 W Whitney Drive in...

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