The Politics of Healthcare : Management

CMS Proposed Rule Updates Medicare Payment Policies and Rates for Hospitals in Fiscal 2012

Frank Irving — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:15:00 GMT

Ties annual update amount to participation in Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, and supports efforts to lower costs. On April 19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies...(read more)

Proposed Rules Give Guidance on ACOs

Frank Irving — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:48:00 GMT

Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward organizations that meet quality standards in five areas. On March 31, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released proposed new rules for formation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)....(read more)

Agency Report Reveals Need to Increase Access to Medical Homes

Frank Irving — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:50:00 GMT

HRSA says model represents fundamental change in provision, coordination and management of care. According to a report released March 18 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 57 percent of children in the United States have access...(read more)

Federal Partners Offer Guidance for Child Care as an Element of Emergency Planning

Frank Irving — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:10:00 GMT

Report recommends that states develop child care disaster plans in coordination with state/local managers and agencies. Grantees across the country are receiving help from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to develop emergency preparedness...(read more)

ACO Forms in San Francisco

Frank Irving — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:10:00 GMT

Effort modeled after Sacramento pilot, which has netted an estimated $20 million in savings. A new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) formed in San Francisco this week with the approval of an employee benefits agreement between the City and County of...(read more)

Report Examines Measures Needed to Support Payment Reforms

Frank Irving — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:34:00 GMT

NQF commissioned RAND to review 90 different payment models across the country. A report from non-profit researcher RAND Corporation, commissioned by the National Quality Forum (NQF), provides direction for achieving payment reforms designed to improve...(read more)

OIG Offers Free Medicare/Medicaid Compliance Training

Frank Irving — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:38:00 GMT

First session will be in Houston on Feb. 16; other sessions through May in Tampa, Kansas City, Baton Rouge, Denver, and Washington. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) will hold a series of free Medicare/Medicaid compliance training sessions in six...(read more)

Expanded Care Settings Impacted by New CMS Rule

Frank Irving — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:45:00 GMT

Under current rules, only beneficiaries admitted to hospitals as inpatients must be notified about how to report quality-of-care issues. On Feb. 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would require most Medicare-participating...(read more)

AMA Releases Brochure to Promote Preventive Services for Medicare Patients

Frank Irving — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:19:00 GMT

Resource outlines preventive care recommendations and how they are covered by the new Medicare benefit. The nation's largest physician organization, the American Medical Association (AMA), has released a brochure designed to help doctors guide patients...(read more)

Hospital Companies and Systems Invest in Innovation Fund

Frank Irving — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Up to $10 million in individual investments will go to early- and growth-stage health care businesses. Three hospital companies and two major hospital systems -- together representing more than 400 hospitals throughout the United States -- have invested...(read more)

CMS Establishes Performance Standards and Payment-Adjustment Process for Dialysis Facilities

Frank Irving — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:02:00 GMT

Final rule sets out the scoring methodology for rating providers' quality of dialysis care, and scale for payment adjustments based on facility performance. On Dec. 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that will...(read more)

National Cancer Institute Revamps Clinical Trials Program

Frank Irving — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:58:00 GMT

Changes will enable researchers to take advantage of advances in molecular oncology. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of the Department of Health & Human Services, announced on Dec. 23 major changes to the Clinical Trials Cooperative...(read more)

EHR Incentives Registration Starts January 3

Frank Irving — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:39:00 GMT

Professionals eligible for Medicare and Medicaid programs must select which program they wish to participate in when they register. On Dec. 22, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health...(read more)

IRS Releases Small Employer Health Tax Credit Forms and Guidance

Frank Irving — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:09:00 GMT

Credit generally available to small employers that pay at least half of premiums for single coverage. Included in the Affordable Care Act enacted in March, the small business health care tax credit encourages small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations...(read more)

CMS Establishes Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Frank Irving — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:55:00 GMT

Health home is a central concept among new initiatives being tested. On Nov. 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formally established the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center). Created by the Affordable...(read more)