Veronica Graff

Business journalist and recent graduate from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication with minors in business and philosophy. Emphasis in financial, economic and market reporting. Regular contributor to The Hertel Report.

Author's Posts

Arizona News

How Arizona's Congress Voted on Major Healthcare Issues

Last week, members of the Arizona House and Senate voted on some major issues. The following round-up of healthcare legislation recently proposed includes votes by Arizona's delegation to the House of Representatives: Ban on “Junk Insurance” Health Plans or Short-Term Insurance  The House blocked a Democratic bid to...
Arizona News

Walgreens Launches New Digital Marketplace

As healthcare accelerates faster toward the digital era, healthcare retailers and players are facing the ticking clock of innovation. Walgreens recently launched Find Care Now, a platform for its mobile and online users to find local and digital healthcare with numerous services offered.  Walgreens is currently working with 17 health...
National News

Another Sudden Move From Kentucky Medicaid: Copays Suspended

Following last week's decision to reinstate dental and vision benefits to the state's Medicaid recipients, Gov. of Kentucky Matt Bevin's administration has made the call to suspend Medicaid copays priced from $1 to $50 by Aug. 1. Many Medicaid healthcare providers are being kept in the dark as the agency makes sudden changes, but...
National News

CMS Resumes Risk Adjustment Program Payments

A sudden reversal of the Trump administration's decision to suspend risk adjustment payments just three weeks ago means the program paying billions to insurers in order to stabilize health insurance markets is back.  On Tuesday night, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that gave the...
National News

MA Innovation May Fuel Better Care for Seriously Ill Beneficiaries

Medicare Advantage plans have faced obstacles providing customized care for complex and seriously ill patients, but a recent report found it was primed to provide innovative ways to improve care for the seriously ill. A report published by the Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University found "Medicare Advantage’s...
National News

Modernizing Stark Law in Pursuit of Value

Congress has shown a vested interest to start modernizing Stark Law to support the Medicare reimbursement transition to a value-based system. In a hearing last week, U.S. House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Health expressed their dedication to making necessary changes to update the law that prohibits...
National News

Flat Fee for Doctor Visits Under Medicare Plan Proposal

The Trump administration's Medicare proposals could mean big changes how physicians are compensated. A standard cold and Stage 4 cancer would offer doctors identical payments regardless of a patient's medical  complexities. Essentially, the government would pay one of two rates depending on if the patient is new--higher rate--or...
National News

Thousands Failing to Report Medicaid Work Requirements in Arkansas

One of the first states to implement Medicaid beneficiary work requirements has reported more than 7,000 people failed to report at least 80 hours of work for the month. Consequences are crucial for recipients, as they face the possibility of losing Medicaid coverage if they do not comply for at least three months of a calendar...
National News

Doctors Push Back on 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Following the hefty 1,400 page proposal released on July 12 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), doctors warn it may hinder the transition of Medicare to a value-based system. Combining the annual proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) rules, doctors...
Arizona News

Flagstaff Residents With AHCCCS Prepare for Move to New Health Plan

By the end of the month approximately 10,500 Coconino County residents receiving healthcare benefits from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) will have the opportunity to choose a new health plan. Care1st Health Plan Arizona was awarded a new contract for the northern Arizona geographic service area (GSA),...
National News

Predicting BPCI Participation - Safety Net Hospitals May Opt Out

A study published by JAMA Cardiology, aims to determine if participants of Medicare’s Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) can be generalized to outcomes of U.S. acute care hospitals. The retrospective cross-sectional study published in JAMA Cardiology involved hospitals participating in BPCI model 2 bundles for...
National News

Microsoft & Walmart Partnership: Potential in Health IT

Earlier this week, Walmart and Microsoft announced a five-year partnership centered on using cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) to overtake retail territories. Up against competitor and e-commerce giant Amazon, the partnership may be waging a war on various battlefields--including healthcare. Cloud computing is at...
Arizona News

Banner Hospital Leaves Behind 'Magnet' Status After 15 Years

Banner-University Medical Center (UMC)  Tucson will not be sporting "magnet" status like it has for 15 years prior, choosing to focus on its new $443 million facility opening in April of 2019. The designation is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a prestigious title given to less that 10 percent of hospitals...
Government

State of Hawaii Ensuring its Residents Don't Lose ACA Benefits

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed into law last week a bill that ensures Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefits for residents of Hawaii. The benefits protected include extending the coverage age to 26-years old, coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions and prohibiting the determination of premiums or contributions by using...
National News

U.S. Court Ruling: Risk Adjustment Payments On Hold

Insurers claim the Trump administration's decision to withhold billions of dollars in risk adjustment payments could result in higher premiums for millions.  It was confirmed Saturday that $10.4 billion in payments to insurers under Obamacare is suspended due to a court's ruling over the risk adjustment program in New Mexico....
Funding Again Slashed for ACA Navigators National News

Funding Again Slashed for ACA Navigators

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Tuesday that insurance navigators who help Americans sign up for ACA plans will only receive $10 million for the 2019 open enrollment season. This is the second cut in the last two years, down more than $26 million from the previous year. Navigators also took a cut last...
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