Jeff Lagasse
In the end, the program has shifted money away from physicians who treated sicker, poorer patients to pay for bonuses that rewarded practices treating richer, healthier populations.
Physicians often lack training on how to deal with patient requests, which can impact patient satisfaction survey results that help determine physician payment.
Despite growth of these plans, price shopping, cost discussions with doctors are rarely happening, researchers find.
But study suggests the U.S. as a whole is not doing particularly well when it comes to pulling back on outdated procedures.
Hospitals and other providers spend nearly $39 billion a year solely on the administrative activities associated with regulatory compliance, AHA says.
Pending developments in government policy around access to virtual care and reimbursement for services delivered are opening doors for hospital executives.
Testing certain individuals instead of the patient population for diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C, can be more cost-effective, the researchers said.
Advanced clinical trials are underway for at least 10 investigational therapies that have shown promise in slowing or blocking development of Alzheimer's disease.
Hospitals wrote off 90 percent more denials than six years ago, The Advisory Board found, a difference of $3.5 million for a median 350-bed hospital.
Physicians will coordinate care across primary care, specialists, hospitals, laboratories and other services necessary to improve the health status of members.