During this current COVID-19 pandemic, physician practices across the country are experiencing significant challenges that have sprung up quickly. Significant financial challenges have burdened many practices, with most reporting significant financial impacts on revenue and in patient volume. These financial struggles have forced many physician practices to go to drastic measures and layoff or furlough [...]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released on Sunday a set of guidelines on how hospitals are allowed to reopen for non-emergent non-COVID-19 healthcare amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines show how hospitals can offer services for patients while at the same time being open to treating patients with COVID-19. To slowly transition [...]
In a survey from the National Association of ACOs, fifty six percent of risk-bearing ACOs stated that they are likely to drop out of the Medicare shared savings program. Most of these ACOs that are taking on downside risks are concerned that they may bear financial losses, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One concern that [...]
According to the statistics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, open enrollment signups is still growing, but is not as substantial as previous years' enrollment. Currently, it is Week 3 of open enrollment, which officially began on November 1, 2019, and the enrollment count is down by 13% compared to last year's numbers. [...]
According to a recent federal research study, Medicare beneficiaries are feeling the cost burden that is resulting from the consolidation of hospital systems and independent physician practices. These enrollees are paying more for their healthcare, as the hospital-physician systems are raising prices for insurers. Health systems are actively pursuing purchasing physician practices to integrate into [...]
Health insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange will experience a decline in premiums in 2020 although the health insurance marketplace will offer more plan choices. This will be the second year running that health insurance premiums on the ACA exchange will have a decrease. The marketplace is going to get larger, with [...]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have reported savings from their Medicare Shared Savings Program. According to new agency data, the CMS has retained a savings amount totaling $739.4 million in 2018. Compared to 2017, the CMS only saved a total of $314 million from the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Although more ACOs had [...]
As hospitals around the nation are shifting from fee-for-service to value based care, hospitals are also looking to revitalize their hospital board. As the industry is getting on board with major changes and improvements, such as the focus on population health and alternative payment models, the hospital board needs to provide better insight and advice [...]
At an American Hospital Association meeting on Tuesday, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator, Seema Verma, urged hospitals to comply with the payment policies being driven by the Trump administration. According to the CMS Administrator, the current industry's climate could see more challenging times, as the government is getting more involved in the healthcare [...]
In a report released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the enrollment in the health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act has been down by 1.2 million of unsubsidized enrollment in 2018. Factors that can account for the massive drop in enrollees can be attributed to the increased price for premiums, which [...]