Policy and Legislation
Current efforts to increase the number of primary care physicians in this country may not be enough to quickly increase the supply of practitioners according to a new policy analysis from the National Institute for Health Care Reform (NIHCR).
A new study published last week in the journal Pediatrics showed that children without special healthcare needs who received care in a medical home model had fewer visits to their physicians, had lower rates of emergency room use and exhibited healthier behaviors than those in other care models.
Even though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has taken steps to curtail fraud and abuse from Medicare suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), it needs to do more says a recently released report from the Office of Inspector General.
A vote to extend the payroll tax cut and avert a 27.4 percent Medicare pay cut for physicians was approved today.
Recently, the Care Continuum Alliance, an advocate for population health management, surveyed industry leaders to assess the market and predict trends for the coming year. Here are eight key issues facing population health management in 2012, according to the report.
As financial pressures impinge the health care system, the various players sometimes seek legislation to protect their interests. I have heard of two such situations in Massachusetts, and I offer them for your consideration and your comments.
House Republicans voted yesterday to reject a Senate deal that would have extended the payroll tax break and unemployment benefits and provided physicians a reprieve on a 27.4 percent Medicare payment cut.
Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Pennsylvania will take part in the National Governors Association's collaborative to address chronic disease prevention. Chronic disease is a major contributor to rising healthcare costs, accounting for 84 percent of U.S. healthcare spending.
The re-named Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payments, or HOP, will hold its first semi-annual meeting for 2012 Feb. 27-29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced last week.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the 32 health systems that will participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization program, which government officials say could save Medicare as much as $1.1 billion.