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, US […]
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 […]
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 […]
Artificial intelligence (AI) has received a lot of buzz and been positioned as the central healthcare technology needed to solve many financial challenges and digitally transform internal operations. However, if you’re looking for practical solutions that can address variable activities and complete work with a high level of quality, today, healthcare organizations should look to intelligent […]
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 […]
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, […]
The Senate passed a continuing resolution that would temporarily stop the implementation of Medicaid DSH payment cuts until Nov. 22, 2019. CMS on Monday finalized a rule that will reduce Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments by $4 billion next year and $8 billion a year until fiscal year 2025. The new final rule will implement Medicaid DSH payment […]
An ad campaign opposing the move is raising eyebrows nationwide. We’re more than halfway into September, but if you’re like me, it feels like 2019 is already over. It doesn’t feel like I’ll have enough time to finish everything I was supposed to before the end of the year. Congress is in the same boat. […]
Hospitals assuming downside financial risk under value-based care models is the key to lowering healthcare costs and improving quality, CMS believes. CMS Administrator Seema Verma urged hospitals on Tuesday to accept new value-based care models and price transparency requirements or face greater administrative burden, less competition, and lower reimbursement rates under Medicare for All. “Our choices are […]
Helping patients understand their financial responsibility and pay for services continues to be driven by an outdated and unnecessarily complex experience. Last year, three in 10 Americans had an unpaid healthcare bill go to collections. As more of the financial burden falls to patients with rising costs and an increase in high-deductible health plans, consumers are frustrated […]