News

Commentary by John Toussaint, MD, president of the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value and Dan Ariens, president of Ariens, Inc.

Editorial by Editor Richard Pizzi

California's sprawling size and the diversity of its regional healthcare systems result in care that is organized, delivered and financed differently throughout the state, according to the non-profit California HealthCare Foundation.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun auditing two of its four regions, affecting 32 states and two U.S. territories.

When Congress returns from summer recess on Sept. 9, passing a health reform bill will be at the top of the agenda. And it won’t be easy, experts say.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced in late July that acute care hospitals would receive a 2.1 percent inflation update in their payment rates in fiscal year 2010.

A Commonwealth Fund survey on the individual insurance market revealed that high premiums, lack of needed coverage and pre-existing conditions have kept many Americans from purchasing individual policies.

A five-year pay-for-performance project involving 10 large physician practices across the country has shown increased revenue savings and improved quality of care.