News

Amid a falling stock market, nuclear disaster and the difficult recovery efforts following last week's massive earthquake and devastating tsunami in Japan, several healthcare companies with facilities on the island nation are saying they and their workers are relatively unscathed and that they are keeping a close eye on the evolving situation there.

Anthem Blue Cross and two medical groups from Sharp HealthCare will launch a pilot accountable care organization focused on serving Anthem's San Diego-based group, small group and individual plan PPO members.

MEDecision, a developer of health management and decision support technology, and Health Language, Inc. (HLI), which specializes in medical terminology management, have joined forces, allowing MEDecision to help payers and providers comply with and capitalize on forthcoming ICD-10 requirements.

Congressmen Charles Boustany (R-La.) and John Larson (D-Conn.) have introduced a bill that would allow consumers more time to withdraw and pay taxes on their medical flexible spending accounts instead of forfeiting the remaining balance to their employer at the end of each year, as current rules require.

There is one small part of the Affordable Care Act that both Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on: A desire to repeal the provision that requires small businesses, including physicians, to file an IRS 1099 form for each vendor purchase of $600 or more.

The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative has launched a new Center for Accountable Care. The goal, according to PCPCC officials, is to help ensure that a strong, robust, patient-centered primary care model is at the foundation of accountable care organizations nationwide as a way to deliver better care and lower costs.

Emory Healthcare and St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta have joined forces, creating the largest health system in Georgia with major hospital campuses in DeKalb County, Johns Creek, midtown Atlanta and Sandy Springs.

The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) has launched a new Center for Accountable Care. The goal, according to PCPCC, is to help ensure that a "strong, robust patient-centered primary care model is at the foundation of accountable care organizations nationwide, and that programs and policies related to ACOs help maintain this focus."

Premier Purchasing Partners, based in Charlotte, N.C., has announced a new agreement for waste management products and services with Trinova Medical Waste Solutions of Corona, Calif.

The Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury have proposed new rules to help states receive a State Innovation Waiver under the Affordable Care Act.