Tag: Healthcare RCM

federal-court-strikes-portions

Federal Court Strikes Portions of Regulations Implementing No Surprises Act

  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 […]
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HHS to Distribute $560M in Phase 4 COVID-19 Provider Relief Funds

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 […]
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national-healthcare-spending-prices-saw-modest-increase-in-2021

National Healthcare Spending, Prices Saw Modest Increase in 2021

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 […]
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The Clock Is Ticking: HIPAA Small Breach Notifications Due March 1st

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 […]
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CMS Releases No Surprises Act State Enforcement Letters

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 […]
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california-lawmakers-introduce-bill-mandate-vaccinations-workplaces

California lawmakers introduce bill to mandate vaccinations in workplaces

The bill comes in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision blocking President Biden’s nationwide vaccine mandate for large employers. A group of California lawmakers, led by District 15 Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, have introduced a bill proposing that all businesses in the state mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees. Assembly Bill 1993 would require […]
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hospitals-face-medicare-payment-cuts

Hospitals Face Medicare Payment Cuts

Low-performing hospitals to see a 1 percent cut in Medicare payments under HAC Reduction Program in 2022. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last month that 764 hospitals will face Medicare payment cuts in fiscal year (FY) 2022 under the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP). The value-based program may reduce Medicare payments […]
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survey-finds-just-14-hospitals-are-compliant-price-transparency

Survey finds just 14% of hospitals are compliant with price transparency

The biggest noncompliance was non-posting or incomplete posting of all of the negotiated prices for each item and service. In a federal price transparency rule that took effect January 1, 2021, hospitals were tasked with posting all of their prices online in clear, easily accessible formats. But a new survey from patientrightsadvocate.org has found that, […]
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