Quality and Safety
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has re-introduced the Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act, which would expand the use of telehealth technology under Medicare in rural and other underserved communities across the nation.
The success of an organization's employee health management program - and its impact on medical plan costs - is linked to how much support it receives from senior management, according to the nonprofit Health Enhancement Research Organization.
Three hospitals on Washington's remote Olympic Peninsula are looking into a partnership with Seattle's Swedish Medical Center to improve clinical outcomes for their patients and access new technology.
The average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance and Medicare programs increased by 6.29 percent over the year ending in January, according to Standard & Poor's S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index. It's the first time the growth rate has accelerated since May 2010.
The Department of Health and Human Services is launching a nationwide television and radio ad campaign aimed at educating the public about Medicare fraud. The focus of the campaign is to help seniors understand the importance of protecting personal information such as Medicare numbers.
Anthem Blue Cross will offer hospitalist services to its Medi-Cal members in California's Los Angeles County through a new program with medical management services company ApolloMed.
Employers with self-funded health plans may find relief from expensive and unnecessary ER visits with a new e-Health service offered by Stat Health Services.
The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts, is accepting proposals for grants to conduct health impact assessments.
Those familiar with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Recovery Audit Contractor program say the RAC audits haven't been as bad as was predicted when the controversial program was launched in late 2009.
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.