Care Process Redesign

Maryland’s all-inclusive population health payment model continues to show promise, but nonhospital spending poses a concern

An innovative payment model for Maryland healthcare providers has improved utilization, cost and quality thus far, but an increase in nonhospital spending requires further study. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) released an analysis of the first three years of Maryland’s Total Cost of Care Model, an effort to improve population health management.…

Nick Hut March 31, 2023

Healthcare News of Note: Amazon closes its deal with One Medical, touts opportunity to scale a new primary care model

Amazon closes its deal with One Medical

Deborah Filipek February 27, 2023

In federal ACO programs, advocates see signs of slow but steady progress

Growth in accountable care organization (ACO) programs has been inconsistent since the Affordable Care Act made accountable care part of the healthcare lexicon in 2010. Nonetheless, proponents are optimistic about the state of ACOs and their potential in upcoming years, even if there’s uncertainty about CMS’s ability to achieve its stated goal of ensuring every…

Nick Hut February 23, 2023

Healthcare News of Note: Is a public health crisis looming for the generation born during the pandemic?

Infants born during the pandemic, regardless of maternal SARS-CoV-2 status, scored significantly lower on the gross motor, fine motor and personal-social subdomains of the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, 3rd Edition when compared with a cohort born pre-pandemic at one hospital. Opioids were prescribed at discharge during fewer emergency department (ED) visits in 2019-20, compared with…

Deborah Filipek February 3, 2023

Healthcare News of Note: Nurses, doctors and pharmacists rank highest in Gallup’s latest ethics poll

Although nurses, medical doctors and pharmacists recently garnered the highest ethics rankings among 18 professions in a consumer poll, each group’s ratings have fallen over the past two years. There are now at least 15 private-equity-backed management companies that own orthopedic practices across the country. A substantial reduction in the odds of 30-day use of…

Deborah Filipek January 23, 2023

Healthcare News of Note: What were the 5 most-read Healthcare News of Note blog entries of 2022?

This week’s edition of Healthcare News of Note is devoted to the top five Healthcare News of Note blog posts from 2022. Find out what topics healthcare finance professionals found most interesting in this year-end wrap-up.  

Deborah Filipek December 28, 2022

Healthcare News of Note: Americans have less confidence in the nation’s healthcare system

Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Confidence in the U.S. healthcare system dips again, the median proposed health insurance premium increase for 2023 is about 10%, and improved oral care in hospitals can prevent pneumonia.

Deborah Filipek August 1, 2022

Even as costs surge, Medicare physician payments are scheduled to decrease in 2023

Medicare physician payments would decrease by more than 4% in 2023, according to a proposed rule.

Nick Hut July 11, 2022

HFMA’s Annual Conference: Aaron Crane describes the ‘underbrush and deadwood’ that hamper U.S. healthcare

New HFMA Chair Aaron Crane spoke about why healthcare stakeholders must ignite the spark to make way for a better system, while a keynote speaker discussed how to channel a warrior spirit.

Nick Hut July 2, 2022

Why treating chronic diseases may be costing us more than we think

Healthcare providers should revisit short-sighted care protocols for patients with nonconventional chronic conditions; as they stand, the protocols may save costs initially but ultimately lead to poorer outcomes and greater costs.

Martin Bluth June 24, 2022
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