Healthcare News of Note: S&P says outlook is stable for not-for-profit healthcare sector
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: The not-for-profit healthcare sector outlook was upgraded to stable, new research explores the higher risks facing certain racial and ethnic groups during COVID-19, and OIG finds that CMS lacks the tools to assess hospital quality and safety during an infectious disease outbreak.
Healthcare leaders offer direction on key CMS inpatient proposals for FY 2022
HFMA offers direction to CMS on several of its key inpatient proposals for 2021 as many healthcare leaders have expressed concern about these proposals.
Hospitals can use new CMS Condition of Participation regarding ADTs to enhance strategic alignment with independent physicians and post-acute providers
New requirements regarding notifications of admissions, discharges and transfers present both a challenge and a strategic opportunities for hospitals.
After OIG says hospitals may be engaging in upcoding, CMS and AHA dispute the finding
The HHS Office of Inspector General says a significant rise in high-severity inpatient admissions with no corresponding increase in length of stay indicates a possible pattern of upcoding by hospitals in recent years.
Hospitals seek reversals of Trump policies, among various requests of Biden
Hospitals are urging a range of policy changes, including halting the new price transparency rules, by the incoming Biden administration.
CMS warns a common hospital price transparency approach is noncompliant with new requirements
Many hospitals are using a rate-averaging approach to meet transparency requirements, which CMS recently deemed noncompliant.
CMS plans aggressive price transparency enforcement while hospitals urge a halt to the new rules
CMS plans aggressive enforcement of the looming hospital price transparency requirements, as hospitals urge judicial and Biden administration interventions.
HHS starts distribution of $24 billion more in COVID grants but rejects one-third of applicants
More than 70,000 providers will share in the latest round of Provider Relief Fund grants, which total $24.5 billion.
Medicare phases out the inpatient-only list, backs off further 340B payment cuts
The final rule for the CY21 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System will phase out the inpatient-only list but won’t implement steeper 340B cuts.
Stark, Anti-Kickback changes draw praise from providers
Final rules modifying enforcement of the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute aim to remove barriers to participation in value-based payment models.