Reimbursement

An Employee Benefits Research Institute survey indicates employer contributions to account-based health plans declined for the second year in a row in 2010.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced $37,570,328.55 disbursed under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs so far this year.

Overall U.S. healthcare prices increased minimally from January 2011 to February 2011, rising 0.1 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Hospitals in New Hampshire are continuing to see an increase in the number of patients who are unable to pay for their care.

Experts say facilities could lose negotiating power

In a speech to the Nashville Health Care Council, Marilyn Tavenner, principal deputy administrator and COO of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, highlighted programs that provide a "bridge" to full implementation of healthcare reform in 2014.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) formally launched its innovations website, where it plans to gather and test new ideas to improve the healthcare system for its Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Less than a week after Blue Shield of California shelved its planned increases for individual members, Anthem Blue Cross has decided to decrease its planned rate hike and increases in co-payments and deductibles for more than 600,000 members enrolled in its family plans.

The Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy has signed a five-year, $176 million agreement with HP Enterprise Services to strengthen Medicaid operations and help position the state for healthcare reform.


Less than a week after Blue Shield of California shelved its planned increases for individual members, Anthem Blue Cross has decided to decrease its planned rate hike and withhold increases in co-payments and deductibles for more than 600,000 members enrolled in its family plans.