News Briefs: Hospital labor costs rose by almost 40% between 2019 and early 2022
As published in hfm magazine, a monthly roundup of top news for healthcare finance professionals.
10 states file lawsuit to halt CMS’s new rule requiring healthcare staff to be vaccinated
The suit says CMS didn’t have a good rationale for implementing the mandate and failed to follow required procedures for handing down such regulations.
Provider Relief Fund updates: First reporting deadline is imminent, and new distributions have been sent to rural providers
Providers have until Nov. 30 to report on their use of distributions received from the Provider Relief Fund during the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Provider Relief Fund distribution formula may have left some higher-need hospitals at a disadvantage, study finds
Critical access hospitals generally received lower allocations from a targeted distribution pool compared with hospitals that had a better asset mix.
Hospital groups urge changes to Provider Relief Fund distribution and reporting processes
HHS should send out the upcoming Provider Relief Fund distribution as quickly as possible and offer flexibility in the ongoing reporting process, hospital groups said.
Recipients of COVID-19 vaccine boosters won’t have to pay anything out of pocket, CMS confirms
Medicare beneficiaries will owe nothing out of pocket for receiving an authorized booster dose, and the same applies to almost all Medicaid beneficiaries and most commercial health plan members.
The hospital industry is projected to finish 2021 with a $54 billion loss, report finds
The financial turmoil that has affected hospitals and health systems throughout the COVID-19 pandemic won’t be alleviated during the remainder of this year, according to projections.
COVID-19 vaccination of staff now a condition of participation in Medicare and Medicaid, CMS announces
In a major expansion of COVID-19 vaccine requirements, the Biden administration announced Sept. 9 that all staff working at Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities must receive the vaccine.
Most health plans have stopped waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments, report finds
Researchers with the Kaiser Family Foundation said more and more people likely will receive “significant medical bills” for COVID-19-related care.
The Provider Relief Fund portal is now open: Providers can successfully navigate the PRF reporting process with these tips
Best practices can help providers navigate the Provider Relief Fund reporting process and related audit requirements.