Tag: Healthcare spending

How a Medicare Out-of-Pocket Cap Could Reshape Healthcare

For millions of Americans relying on Medicare, the specter of high out-of-pocket healthcare costs looms large. Unexpected illnesses, chronic conditions, and even routine medical needs can quickly erode savings and create significant financial strain. The idea of a Medicare out-of-pocket spending cap has long been a topic of discussion, promising a shield against catastrophic expenses. […]
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Automating Claims Management Processes

How Automated Claims Management Significantly Reduces Healthcare Costs

In today’s complex healthcare environment, efficiency and cost control are critical for the financial health of providers, payers, and revenue cycle management (RCM) companies. One area that continues to experience inefficiencies is the claims management process—where errors, delays, and administrative overhead inflate operational costs. However, the rise of automation technologies is changing the game. Automating […]
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Value-Based Payment Models Can Limit Healthcare Spending

Value-Based Payment Models Can Limit Healthcare Spending

Value-based payment models, including accountable care organizations, bundled payment models, and capitation models, can generate savings for providers and limit healthcare spending. As healthcare spending escalates in the US, stakeholders have started looking at value-based payment models to address rising costs, but many payments are still tied to fee-for-service models, according to a Health Affairs […]
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Hospital Expenses Have Increased 23 Percent Since 2016

Hospital Expenses Have Increased 23 Percent Since 2016

Supply chain issues, medication costs, and labor challenges sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the spiking hospital expenses. Hospital expenses have increased 23 percent since 2016, a spike researchers attributed to continuous COVID-19 challenges, according to a recent analysis. By analyzing American Hospital Association data, investigators noticed hospital expenses increased 47 percent in 2020when […]
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Physician Practice Costs Grew 20% Per Claim

Physician Practice Costs Grew 20% Per Claim

Following a private equity acquisition, physician practices saw a 20.2 percent increase in charges per claim, an 11 percent raise in the allowed amount per claim, and a 37.9 percent increase in new patient visits. Private equity acquisition of physician practices in dermatology, gastroenterology, and ophthalmology was associated with increased healthcare spending and utilization, according […]
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Coding Drives Up Medical Billing Costs in US

Coding Drives Up Medical Billing Costs in US

Another study confirms that medical billing costs in the US significantly exceed those in similar countries, but researchers now know why: coding drives up US administrative spending. Complex coding structures in the US are driving up medical billing costs in the US, making it one of the most expensive countries to get paid, according to […]
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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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