News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a proposed rule that would redesign the Medicare Shared Savings Program’s participation options by offering eligible accountable care organizations two tracks, which they would agree to participate in for at least five years.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday issued a proposed rule that would maintain the current methodology for calculating risk adjustment transfers in the individual and small group health insurance markets for benefit year 2018.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo yesterday launched an Ebola vaccination campaign for high-risk populations in North Kivu province, where a new outbreak of the virus was announced last week.

The number of pregnant women with opioid use disorder at labor and delivery more than quadrupled between 1999 and 2014, to 6.5 per 1,000 hospital births.

More than 43% of adults were enrolled in a high-deductible health plan through their employer in 2017, up from 15% in 2007, according to a report released today by the National Center for Health Statistics.

In a memorandum to Medicare Advantage organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday announced new flexibility related to the use of step therapy in coverage of Part B services.

Eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System may apply through Dec. 31 for a 2018 hardship exception for the Promoting Interoperability performance category or for “extreme and uncontrollable circumstances.”

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has named a committee to study and report on the scientific evidence regarding the causes of clinician burnout, the consequences for clinicians and patients, and interventions to support clinician well-being and resilience.

The Oklahoma Hospital Association has named as its new president effective Sept. 5 Patti Davis, who most recently served as senior vice president of external affairs at Oklahoma City-based OU Medicine.

In a memorandum to Medicare Advantage Organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced new flexibility related to the use of step therapy in coverage of Part B services.

About 14% of babies age one or older who were born in U.S. territories to pregnant women infected with Zika virus since 2016 have at least one health problem possibly caused by exposure to the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma yesterday challenged technology developers and insurers to make health information more interoperable and available to patients.

Large employers project the total cost of providing medical and pharmacy benefits will rise 5% in 2019 to $14,800, according to the latest annual survey by the National Business Group on Health.

2018 premiums in the federally-facilitated health insurance exchanges were an average 50% higher in areas with only one insurer and 21% higher in areas with only two insurers, according to a study.

Clinicians can apply through Sept. 6 to participate in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicare Advantage Qualifying Incentive Arrangement Demonstration.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has released a summary from its March workshop on engaging the health care system in building capacity to respond to public health and national security threats.

The AHA has elected seven members to its Board of Trustees for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1.

The Joint Commission last week recognized four hospitals and health systems as a 2018 Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributor for their efforts to advance the evolution and use of electronic clinical quality measures.

Join me in congratulating Navicent Health, recipient of the 2018 Equity of Care Award at the AHA Leadership Summit in late July.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists this week published updated guidelines for managing drug shortages.