Health system leaders state their case for prolonging the moratorium on the Medicare payment sequester
Hospitals and health systems urgently need Congress to extend the freeze on the 2% Medicare payment sequester, industry leaders said.
Financial Sustainability Report: February 2021
The February Financial Sustainability Report, sponsored by Kaufman Hall, explores emerging issues pertaining to physicians, including physician compensation and payment for services. It also includes insight into the impact of denials on value-based payment.
Site-neutral payments could reduce healthcare spending by at least $350 billion over 10 years, report finds
If site-neutral payments were implemented throughout healthcare, the reduction in expenditures could total as much as $672 billion over a decade, according to a new report.
HHS to provide funding for administration of COVID-19 advanced therapies in vulnerable communities
HHS announced a $150 million investment to make available monoclonal antibody therapeutic treatments for patients in vulnerable communities nationwide.
For rural hospitals, affiliations with large health systems can be a mixed bag
Significant declines in inpatient admissions among rural hospitals that eventually close may be a consequence of affiliations with health systems.
Healthcare News of Note: Biden administration appears to be well-aligned with all sectors of the industry
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles, including the industry’s alignment with President Biden, why many HHS regulations could be in peril and the effect of vaccines on chronic COVID-19 symptoms.
“I’m not strong enough. That’s why I’m feeling this way.” Taking care of your mental health when you hit the pandemic wall.
Mental health is a tough issue during the best of times, but the additional stress and trauma of living through a pandemic can present new issues and exacerbate existing ones. This week, Ranga Krishnan, professor of psychiatry and the CEO of Rush University System for Health, discusses why attention to mental health is crucial now, and always. If you are having suicidal thoughts, resources are available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is toll free and available 24/7. That number is (800) 275-8255. If you’re in a domestic abuse situation, you can receive confidential support from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, also toll free and available 24/7. Their number is (800) 799-SAFE (7233).
Hospital job losses continued in February and were greater in January than previously reported
Hospitals lost positions in February, but the biggest news in the latest batch of jobs data was a negative adjustment to January numbers.
GAO report examines how pass-through status affects Medicare payments for drugs used in outpatient care
A Government Accountability Office report finds that Medicare pays more to cover drugs used in hospital outpatient settings when pass-through payment status is in effect.
Healthcare News of Note: Xavier Becerra likely to be confirmed as next U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles, including information on the likely confirmation of Xavier Becerra as HHS secretary, which specialists are seeing an uptick in patients and lingering health issues from COVID-19.