Medicare’s much-hyped Direct Contracting model faces an uncertain future
Medicare’s Direct Contracting model, touted as representing the evolution of alternative payment models, could be shelved less than a year after getting started.
Small study finds health systems lagging in providing value-based payment incentives to physicians
Despite the increasing proliferation of alternative payment models, a new study finds that health systems generally don’t give physicians financial incentives to improve the value of care delivery.
Healthcare News of Note: Amazon Care’s virtual health services are now available nationwide, and in-person care services are launching in more than 20 new cities in 2022
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Amazon Care plans to expand in-person care to 20+ new cities in 2022, GAO raises concerns about HHS’s leadership and coordination of public health emergencies, and a new study shows more physicians suffered burnout in 2021 than in 2020.
Healthcare News of Note: Drug manufacturers reap $6.7 billion in provider relief funding, leaving hospitals and health systems with no aid allotted for the delta and omicron surges
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: $7 billion from the Provider Relief Fund was used by the Biden administration to pay drug manufacturers, HHS takes a strong stance on requiring health plan/insurance issuers to deliver parity for mental health and substance-use disorder benefits, and investors show continued interest in healthcare M&A in 2022.
Cost-Reduction Strategies Boost, Sustain Recovery
Persistent pandemic conditions are forcing hospitals and health systems to stretch their thinking as they set strategic goals. They are adjusting to managing fluctuating levels of care along with addressing shifts in payer mix, consumers’ demands and increasing cost pressures. These changes, combined with the challenge of inconsistent patient volumes, is putting unprecedented financial pressures…
Newly released financial data show pandemic-related challenges intensifying for hospitals
Issues with expenses and unstable volumes hindered hospital finances and operations as 2021 drew to a close.
Healthcare News of Note: Many health system boards find they are poorly equipped to institute DEI changes, says survey
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Health system boards are willing to change but slow at implementing DEI measures, international nurses are filling the workforce gap, and youth mental health has suffered during the pandemic.
Healthcare News of Note: McKinsey analyzes a range of scenarios based on the infectiousness, immune evasion and severity of disease linked to the omicron variant
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: An in-depth analysis looked at what the U.S. can expect with the onslaught of the omicron variant, CMS rescinded a drug pricing model, and total healthcare utilization in 2020 dipped below 2019 levels.
As COVID-19 vaccination deadlines arrive for healthcare providers, CMS offers explanatory resources
As the deadlines arrive for providers to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, CMS has made various resources available to help healthcare entities determine whether and when the regulations apply to them.
Hospitals need federal support to handle the ongoing staffing and financial crunch, industry leaders say
The hospital industry issued its latest plea for additional federal help to mitigate the financial and operational strain of COVID-19, including surging staffing costs.