Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Watchdog Says Medicare Saved $1B Through Program That Coordinates Care
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Shared-Savings ACOs Cut $1 Billion In Costs Over Three Years
Accountable care organizations participating in the CMS' Medicare shared-savings program reduced spending by about $1 billion in three years, HHS' Office of Inspector General reported Tuesday. Most of the 428 ACOs in the first three years of the shared-savings program reduced Medicare spending compared to their benchmarks, and a small group of those ACOs produced "substantial" savings. (Livingston, 8/29)
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Panel Gives Low Vote Of Confidence To Weight-Loss Treatments
A panel that advises the CMS on Medicare coverage decisions said there wasn't enough information available on whether weight-loss surgeries and devices are beneficial for the program's enrollees, making it unlikely Medicare will expand coverage for more of the treatments. The Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee, or MEDCAC, voted Wednesday that it had low confidence that current weight-loss interventions are successful in treating the Medicare population. (Dickson, 8/30)
