Medicare & Medicaid

Teaching hospitals had slightly lower star ratings than non-teaching hospitals, while critical access hospitals showed high marks.

Anthem and Aetna plan to pursue in court the Department of Justice's injunction to block their respective mergers with Cigna and Humana, according to statements from both insurers.

Sources close to the deals are saying the U.S. Department of Justice is about to block the proposed mergers between Anthem and Cigna, and Aetna and Humana. Federal regulators are expected to file a lawsuit as early as this week or next on the proposed deals.

Research letter published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry found Medicare beneficiaries had the highest and most rapidly growing rate of "opioid use disorder." Six of every 1,000 recipients struggle with the condition, compared with one out of every 1,000 patients covered through commercial insurance plans.

If the law doesn't become too complicated, the CMS chief said it will lead to better care and happier doctors.

The new rule hopes to drive the mass transition to value-based reimbursement, with doctors getting paid based on the quality of their work and the steps they take to improve their practices.

Three participating providers in Next Generation have dropped out, with two citing financial targets as the reason for the departure.

Backers of Montana's seven-month-old Medicaid expansion say they're pleased with the first set of financial data released this week.

Medicaid expansion is making a difference as to whether hospitals are investing in clinics, new equipment and hiring new staff, or looking at the status quo and layoffs, according to a recent report by Georgetown University Health Policy Institute.

With Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt announcing to the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday that the implementation of MACRA may be delayed, physician groups are weighing in, generally agreeing that a delay would benefit smaller practices in particular.