Tag: Healthcare Costs

Expanded-Telehealth-Services-Won’t-Lower-Healthcare-Costs

Expanded Telehealth Services Won’t Lower Healthcare Costs

  Contrary to widespread hopes, the growth in telehealth brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic probably won’t lower health care costs. But it may make some services more widely accessible. A new Kaiser Family Foundation study compares average 2020 commercial insurance payments for evaluation and management and mental health therapy claims for services provided via […]
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Inflation-Driving-Financial-Challenges-for-Consumers

Inflation Driving Financial Challenges for Consumers

Almost a third of consumers cited inflation as their top reason for being concerned about covering unexpected healthcare costs. More than 70 million adults feel unprepared to pay for healthcare costs, while health systems are facing a tight labor market and ongoing supply chain issues, highlighting the financial repercussions of inflation in the healthcare industry. […]
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High-Cost-Connection-to-Support-Better-Health-Equity

Breaking the High Tech/High Cost Connection to Support Better Health Equity

Healthcare costs continue to rise in this country. Healthcare spending totaled $3.8 trillion in 2019, $11,582 per person. In 2028, it projects that spending will rise to $6.2 trillion, or $18,000 per person. These increases are happening at the same time the COVID-19 pandemic revealed systemic inequities in health equity, and how difficult it is […]
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Biden Appoints HHS Staff

Biden Administration Shares Latest Round of HHS Staff Appointments

Today the Biden Administration announced its latest group of appointments to the Department of Health and Human Services. The new appointees join tens of thousands of career officials throughout the agency at a time when expertise is critical to tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. WHAT’S THE IMPACT? Kristina Schake will serve as HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s […]
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Hospital Price Transparency Rule

Preparing for Hospital Price Transparency Rule Compliance

  In the latest Healthcare Strategies podcast, a healthcare lawyer explores hospital price transparency rule compliance and different strategies for solving the healthcare cost problem for patients. A global pandemic may not be enough to stop one of CMS’ more controversial rules from taking effect in just a couple of months. On January 1, 2021, […]
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Healthcare Price Transparency Rule

New Healthcare Price Transparency Rule – The Best, Worst, and Most Realistic Case Scenarios

The American Hospital Association has filed a lawsuit to block the rule. On Nov. 15, 2019, the Trump Administration proposed a new healthcare price transparency rule that would basically require hospitals to explain how much a medical service would cost before a patient receives treatment. This rule is due to become effective in January 2021. The […]
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MIPS 2020

Exploring MIPS 2020: Keys for Physicians To Know

In August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed modifications to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). As physician practices work to understand what’s changed, there are certain aspects of which they need to be aware. The following sections provide key takeaways and offer strategies for meeting the coming year’s requirements. Threshold […]
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Affordable Care Act

Affordable Care Act Plans Will Be Able To Offer Wellness Incentives Under CMS Pilot

Insurers can offer premium discounts or other incentives to engage in healthy activities, but questions remain as to whether wellness programs work. Affordable Care Act plans in 10 states will be able to offer wellness programs, as employer-sponsored plans have been doing for years. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday announced the opportunity for […]
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Optimizing revenue cycle management

Optimizing Revenue Cycle Management For 2020

With patients seeing higher medical bills than ever and healthcare costs continuing to rise, healthcare organizations need to stay on top of the revenue cycle to ensure they can capture payments and be prepared for changes in 2020. Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in Chicago, Cassi Birnbaum, […]
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