Jeff Lagasse
The most rapid increase was in direct-to-consumer advertising, which increased from $2.1 billion in 1997 to $9.6 billion in 2016.
One-third discuss charge capture weekly, while 18 percent discuss it twice a month, 8 percent discuss it daily, and 2 percent don't discuss it at all.
U.S. healthcare venture fundraising reached $9.6 billion, marking four straight years of healthy activity.
The report identifies gaps in treatment and related benefits administration based on the National Alliance's annual eValue8 survey of health plans.
The model has shown promise in creating new reimbursement streams for providers, as well as in improving the health of rural residents especially.
The model has resulted in just over a 3 percent reduction in costs, and analysts forecast this will increase as the model matures.
The goal is to reduce the company's debt, and while it still owns four hospitals in South Carolina, that's expected to change soon.
The AHA and FAH said they believe a policy solution to resolve such surprise bills should prohibit balance billing and limit patients' cost-sharing.
The administrator's business goals, the amount of education offered and access allowed, are all factors to take into account.
The agency is worried the demonstration program could disrupt patient access to care and exacerbate geographic disparities in access to medical care.