Revenue Cycle Management

Governor hopes to encourage ACO formation

Jackson Health could run out of cash by July

In a speech to the Nashville Health Care Council, Marilyn Tavenner, principal deputy administrator and COO of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, highlighted programs that provide a "bridge" to full implementation of healthcare reform in 2014.

Healthcare providers considering a reprocessing program for certain supply chain items have access to a new online tool to determine the potential cost savings and reduction in waste.

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.

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.

BancTec, a Dallas-based developer of transaction automation and outsourcing solutions, has unveiled Healthcare Remittance Automation, an outsourced service for providers, aggregators and financial institutions to automate and optimize healthcare payment workflow.

Pitney Bowes' new Volly platform is designed to give the healthcare consumer better access to payers and providers, providing a secure online channel to communicate and manage bills.

Automatic Data Processing, a developer of human resource, payroll and benefits administration services, has acquired AdvancedMD, which develops practice management and electronic health record software for small and mid-sized medical practices.

Overall U.S. healthcare prices increased marginally from December 2010 to January 2011, rising 0.1 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.