States should prepare for fluctuations in Medicaid spending on nonelderly acute care after the declaration ends. The end of the coronavirus public health emergency declaration could lead to a shift in Medicaid spending for state Medicaid programs and federal Medicaid costs, according to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute. […]
CMS encouraged Medicare Advantage plans to waive prior authorizations during the public health emergency, but AHA urged the agency to make it a requirement instead of a suggestion. The American Hospital Association (AHA) has asked CMS to work with Congress and require Medicare Advantage plans to waive prior authorization processes during the current and future […]
There are barriers to telehealth adoption that physicians must overcome to realize the technology’s promise. Telehealth clearly has crossed a threshold of acceptance and now is viewed by physicians, payers and patients as an essential part of healthcare. It’s no surprise Fortune Business Insights predicts the telehealth market will reach $636.4 billion by 2027. That’s […]
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, a federal court in Texas struck down five controversial portions of the interim final rule (“Rule”) jointly issued by three federal executive agencies (“Departments”) that implement the independent dispute resolution (“IDR”) process of the No Surprises Act (“NSA”). The portions of the Rule at issue set forth certain parameters […]
The third batch of Phase 4 COVID-19 Provider Relief Funds will offer $560 million to 4,100 providers who faced revenue loss during the pandemic and serve vulnerable populations. HHS is distributing another $560 million in Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 payments to over 4,100 healthcare providers that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Provider […]
National healthcare spending increased by 3.4 percent in 2021, while the Health Care Price Index (HCPI) maintained a year-over-year growth of around 2 percent, according to Altarum’s February 2022 Health Sector Economic Indicators (HSEI) briefs. Unlike the December 2021 and January 2022 briefs, Altarum included federal government expenditures in the February data, which significantly impacted […]
Honing your approach when negotiating with insurers can lead to better reimbursement rates. Last I checked my plumber charges me more than some physicians make for some services. It’s not to say that plumbers don’t work hard, but they certainly didn’t have to invest an inordinate amount of time and money to get specialized degrees. […]
March 1, 2022, is the date by which HIPAA-covered entities must notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of “small” breaches of unsecured protected health information that were discovered during calendar-year 2021. A small breach involves fewer than 500 individuals. HIPAA Small Breach Notification Requirements HIPAA requires covered […]
Most patients, including those with chronic illnesses, wanted to be notified via call or text that their virtual visit was about to begin rather than stand by in a virtual waiting room, per a new poll. Though patients have previously made their preference for virtual waiting rooms over traditional ones known, new survey results show […]
During a National Stakeholder Call on January 18, 2022, Ellen Montz—Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—announced that CMS had begun publishing state-specific letters (the “Enforcement Letters”) detailing anticipated Federal and state responsibilities with respect to enforcement of the […]