News
A report released Nov. 29 by the Office of Inspector General calls for random audits of doctors and hospitals prior to payout through the meaningful use EHR incentive program, to ensure they have qualified. It is also calling for EHR certification changes to allow for reporting of yes/no measures.
Physicians in all care settings will see a slight pay hike in 2013, with salaries expected to rise by an average of 2.6 percent, according to a recent survey conducted by global consulting firm Hay Group.
The average premium for family health plans sold through eHealthInsurance.com was $412 a month in 2012, down slightly from 2011, amid "a relative flattening of the cost curve," eHealth Inc. CEO Gary Lauer said.
In a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, it was found that after examining patients suffering from pneumonia and heart failure, a broad range of social factors affect the risk of post-discharge readmission and mortality.
AHRQ review finds lack of evidence to determine cost effectiveness of home versus institutional care
The message that home- and community-based care is more cost effective than institutional care has been touted by federal and local governments and those within the healthcare community, but a new comparative effectiveness review of long-term care of older adults receiving home- and community-based services versus care in institutions concludes that there is not enough evidence in the literature to determine cost effectiveness.
BayCare Health System in Clearwater, Fla., has agreed to pay over $10.1 million to the federal government to resolve allegations that the health system violated the False Claims Act announced the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) last week.
The Leapfrog Group is out with its second round of hospital safety ratings, and what a difference a few months has made.
A new consumer survey of more than 1,200 voters conducted by PwC Health Research Institute (HRI) found that 69 percent want President Obama to make reducing costs his top healthcare priority in his second term.
A new report indicates that while U.S. primary care physicians still trail their counterparts in other countries in their use of electronic medical records (EMRs), they are making progress and are finding more efficiencies through EMR use.
In this week's HIX Digest, the tab for Minnesota's exchange is growing; Oregon takes public comment on proposed rules; and IT vendor Connecture unveils a plan management module for regulators.