Reimbursement

Some signs were positive, such as declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, but hospitals still have a long journey to recovery.

Three medical associations say they will continue their efforts to block implementation.

Inflation and growth in expenses for workforce, drugs and supplies continues to strain hospital resources more than two years into the pandemic.

Zak Holdsworth, CEO and cofounder of Hint Health, joins Healthcare Finance News Executive Editor Susan Morse to discuss the DPC model.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">This week's top stories include Physician Partners of America agreeing to pay $24.5M to settle a number of alleged violations, including unnecessary testing, and CMS estimates that payments to acute care hospitals will increase in 2023 by $1.6B. </span></span></p>

The rate released by CMS on Monday, does not account for inflation or hospitals' labor costs, say stakeholders.

The Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule is expected to increase hospital payments by $1.6B.  

This week's top stories include providers aiming to extend the public health emergency that ushered in waivers and flexibilities during the pandemic, and clinicians at DOD, Coast Guard and VA sites could not update medical information for hours.

The agency says it intends to issue proposed rules on minimum staffing level requirements within one year.

The progress is slow and there are still problem areas, such as discharges, patient days and length of stay.