Policy and Legislation
Healthcare spending in the United States grew 4 percent in 2009 to $2.5 trillion, or $8,086 per person, the slowest rate of growth in the 50-year history of the National Health Expenditure Accounts.
As part of its Accountable Care Organization collaborative, the American Medical Group Association is partnering with South Bend, Ind.-based Press Ganey Associates to measure patients' experiences across the continuum of care.
According to a new survey, employers believe the new healthcare law will increase their benefit costs, and they say changes are needed to improve quality, reduce expenses and reward health system performance.
The MED Group has launched a new website aimed at answering Medicare beneficiaries' questions and offering sources for durable medical equipment under the new competitive bidding rules that took effect on January 1.
Although no official word has been handed down regarding exactly what fines our federal government may slap against healthcare organizations that fail to comply with HIPAA 5010 or ICD-10, it appears likely that there will be fines, and they will be sizable.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical industry to address the growing shortage of prescription medications, especially those meant for treating cancer.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched the first phase of its Physician Compare website, which provides online tools aimed at helping Medicare beneficiaries and other consumers choose doctors in their communities.
CMS has posted an "emergency update" to the 2011 Medicare physician fee schedule (MPFS) files, reflecting recent statutory changes and certain technical corrections.
The Senate and House have passed a bill that provides $4.2 billion to treat workers' injuries and illnesses resulting from exposure to toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
HHS has now released its final set of draft regulations for provisions of the Affordable Care Act scheduled to go into effect early in 2011. This last regulatory publication - actually a "notice of proposed rulemaking" inviting comments prior to implementation - provides proposed rules for disclosure and justification of "unreasonable" premium increases.