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An apparent glitch in enrolling Pennsylvania residents into that state’s Medicaid expansion, which was championed by former Gov. Tom Corbett, limits mental health and addiction services for enrollees.
As part of their effort to improve quality while cutting costs, federal officials announced Monday that they want programs such as accountable care organizations and bundled care to account for 50 percent of traditional Medicare spending by the end of 2018.
At an Irvine, Calif., conference, Vice President Joe Biden told hospital executives and other health care leaders that it’s time to “double down” on making patients safer in hospitals and reducing infections and readmissions.
The Cleveland Clinic, serving mostly insured patients, sees its Medicare fines go down, while fines go up at the city’s hospitals in low-income neighborhoods. The National Quality Forum is beginning a trial to adjust the program for hospitals that serve more poor people.
Healthcare.gov only allows insurance plans to list cost sharing details for four drug tiers, but many plans on the website have more than that, potentially leading to consumer confusion, according to an analysis by Avalere Health.
A California judge has ruled that the state must make timely decisions on Medi-Cal applicants, and that those who have waited more than 45 days for approval from the state can get temporary coverage.
A fourth insurer in Florida, Preferred Medical Plan, was hit with a federal civil rights complaint for discriminating against people with HIV. All have now agreed to lower drug costs.
Penalties for readmissions and patient injuries erase bonuses hospitals earn for meeting stiff quality criteria. Fewer than 800 will end up with higher payments.
Local initiatives offer free care and legislation proposes coverage for all regardless of immigration status. Will other states follow suit?
Patients gained access to primary care doctors as a result of the health law’s pay increase, according to the analysis.
An influential Texas group says Arkansas’ experiment using federal money to buy private insurance for the poor has cost more than expected and should not be emulated by other states.
Groups urge women to tell their own abortion stories to helps change the public view of abortion.
With Affordable Care Act open enrollment ending Feb. 15, taxpayers could find themselves shut out of health insurance – and saddled with big fines – if they don’t do their taxes early this year.
The Idaho case is being closely watched by states that want to stop such lawsuits, as well as by patient advocates and providers who say patients’ access to care depends on fair rates.
The new Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee says the GOP will chip away at Obamacare “piece by piece.” Still, he says he will work with Democrats to continue funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and overhauling Medicare pay for doctors.
Hospitals in the state are among the leaders in developing new medical liability initiatives and a recently enacted law helps consumers who want to challenge hospitals and doctors.
With same sex marriage legal in 35 states, some employers say they will no longer provide benefits to unmarried partners.
Supporters say the proposed changes would lead to clear and thorough explanations of the dangers studies involve, but some advocacy groups warn they could have a chilling effect on innovation.
Get Covered Illinois, the state’s enrollment arm, is spending about $150,000 this winter to help 13 insurance brokerages pay for co-branded marketing materials.
Only about a third of an estimated 150,000 people who applied for the program so far have been enrolled, say officials.
