Policy and Legislation
Peoria, Ill.-based Methodist Health Services Corp. has filed a lawsuit accusing the region's largest provider of breaking antitrust laws with "exclusionary" contracts that limit commercial insurers' ability to contract with other hospitals.
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a significant decline in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), but Consumers Union says more needs to be done, since the report also suggests most hospitals have not made significant overall infection improvements in five years.
Communication and teamwork across healthcare systems appears to be a nearly universal challenge, according to a survey of nearly 9,800 primary care physicians representing 11 nations. The Commonwealth Fund released findings of the survey in November 2012, and expanded on several drill-down topics during a webinar presented on Feb. 5.
A new report by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) comes as a warning to Medicaid providers who don't keep careful watch over their books.
A bill introduced in the House this week by Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-Penn.) and Joe Heck, MD, (R-Nev.) has once again raised hopes that the sustainable growth rate formula (SGR) payment model for Medicare can finally be repealed.
President Barack Obama re-nominated Marilyn Tavenner on Thursday to be permanent administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She has been serving as acting administrator since December 2011, when Donald Berwick, MD, stepped down.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will develop a new records system aimed at facilitating quality reporting for long-term hospital care, according to Wednesday's Federal Register.
An online clinic launched in 2010 by non-profit HMO HealthPartners for the diagnosis and treatment of 40 simple medical conditions showed an average savings of $88 per episode over care in a traditional setting, providing hope for the future of online medical care.
The growth rate of healthcare spending has continued to be slow reported the Congressional Budget Office Tuesday, but the rising cost of healthcare is still a threat to the country's future economic well being.
New research finds that many seniors who switch from their HMO-style Medicare Advantage plan to traditional Medicare have higher levels of significant health problems, fueling concerns that the private plans cater to more profitable, healthy beneficiaries but don't provide the most attractive care for the very ill.