Medicare To Penalize 2,217 Hospitals For Excess Readmissions
Too many patients are returning to the hospital soon after being discharged, a costly problem the government is tackling.
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Too many patients are returning to the hospital soon after being discharged, a costly problem the government is tackling.
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The government is testing new hospital payment rules to see if fewer beneficiaries will be classified as observation patients, which can be a costly designation for seniors.
Welcome to the world of Internet-enabled health apps. The question, however, is whether these new tools will bring about fundamental health system change.
The joint venture seeks to coordinate patient care and cut costs for employers and health plans.
Accretive Health has agreed to pay a $2.5 million fine and leave the state for years as part of a settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by state Attorney General Lori Swanson.
Child life specialists help sick children and their families navigate difficult medical situations emotionally and psychologically while in the hospital.
Medicare data show little improvement in curbing the number of beneficiaries who are readmitted despite threats of financial penalties to hospitals.
Officials say the strategy helps patients, as well as providers. But critics complain it's about revenue generation, not about improving health.
Physicians are often nervous about patient reviews but they supported this effort.
The Supreme Court ruling shifts the focus to states. But between 20 and 40 may be unable to set up new online insurance markets by fall 2013.
The decision to let states opt out of the Medicaid expansion means hospitals serving the poor could still be stuck with unpaid care.
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On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department released new proposed rules to protect patients from abusive debt collection practices at nonprofit hospitals.
There are 40,000 medical applications available for download on smartphones and tablets. Here's a list of the most popular medical apps for iPhones in the iTunes store.
The market has been something of an unregulated Wild West; for doctors and patients alike, it is difficult to know which apps actually live up to their health claims or provide accurate information.
President of MinuteClinic, the nation's largest chain, says his facilities help fill the void caused by a shortage of primary care doctors. But they also help patients find physicians and coordinate care.
Critics say the price gap between Kaiser Permanente and other companies has narrowed for unclear reasons.
Catholic Health Association chief Sister Carol Keehan, a key ally of President Obama on the health law, said last week that the organization could not support a compromise on the free birth control provision of the law.
Some big employers are beefing up their clinic offerings with a host of new services, including physical therapy, dental and vision exams, mental health counseling and even acupuncture and massage.
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