MedPAC says 2023 hospital payments shouldn’t increase in response to COVID-19
CMS shouldn’t increase Medicare payments to hospitals for the upcoming year beyond the annual update that is based on current law, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
Federal funding bill addresses 340B eligibility concerns but not some other points of interest for hospitals
An FY22 appropriations bill allows hospitals to remain in the 340B Drug Pricing Program if their eligibility had been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthcare pricing update: 2 experts call for greater regulation
Recent price increases have been slower in healthcare than in the economy at large, but two healthcare economists say the long-term price trends should be addressed through regulation.
Understanding the Healthcare Revenue Cycle Process
Revenue cycle management is the process used by healthcare systems to track the revenue from patients, from their initial appointment or encounter with the healthcare system to their final payment of balance. The most effective revenue cycle teams focus on price transparency, supporting equitable access to care, financial conversations with patients, documentation of care received, claim processing, and medical account resolution.
Latest hospital financial and jobs data reflect an environment that remains challenging
January financial data for hospitals show the continuing toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, while February labor numbers suggest an operational recovery that could further increase expenses.
Medicare coverage updates include revised criteria for lung cancer screening and a code for a newly approved COVID-19 treatment
CMS in February amended its coverage requirements for lung cancer screening and issued a code for a new COVID-19 treatment.
Healthcare News of Note: Americans living in rural areas face an increased risk of death, in part due to issues with healthcare access, says a new infographic
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Issues with healthcare access contribute to an increased risk of death for rural residents, many workers struggle to pay for healthcare deductibles, and hospital and physician office markups on certain drugs escalate consumer costs.
CMS’s overhaul of the Direct Contracting program draws praise from supporters of value-based payment
Value-based payment advocates see reason for optimism in CMS’s recent decision on the future of its Direct Contracting model.