Board composition discussions about diversity tend to focus on ensuring an appropriate ethnic and gender mix. But boards also should strive for diversity “in thought” to ensure a healthy way to challenge the status quo and help trustees view issues through a new lens, according to the authors of a recent article in Financier Worldwide. […]
Nine states received letters from CMS that explicitly link Medicaid waivers with the expansion of Medicaid eligibility as authorized by the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid waivers help safety net hospitals cover their uncompensated care costs and come up for renewal periodically. CMS said in the letters that federal funds for these waivers “would not […]
CMS has added a star-rating system on its Hospital Compare website to help Medicare beneficiaries’ choose a hospital and gauge the quality of the care it provides. A recently released CMS fact sheet described the initiative: “CMS believes that star ratings spotlight excellence in health care quality and make it easier for consumers to […]
After many years of postponing cuts mandated by the sustainable growth (SGR) rate formula, Congress finally repealed it last week within hours of a 21 percent fee cut for physicians. The SGR was intended to control Medicare costs by holding physician payments closer to U.S. economic growth. It was part of the Balanced Budget Act […]
Although consolidations appeared to slow in 2014, experts now report that transactions have substantially increased in the first quarter of 2015. One firm that tracks merger & acquisition activity noted 346 deals in January through March 2015, up 109 percent from the same quarter last year. A preliminary analysis of these transactions by Irving […]
Clinical Integration may be a smart addition to employing physicians. But how does a hospital/system start; where does it begin? Last week we wrote about the advantages and characteristics of a clinically integrated network. Today we focus on how to build one. Again, our source is the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s report, Taking Smart […]
As payment moves from volume to value, many hospitals/health systems have begun to employ physicians as a business strategy, seeking to align with physicians around common goals and objectives. The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) reports, however, “many health systems have found that alignment does not automatically follow employment and that the employment model can […]
Note: iProtean Connect will take a break next week because of the iProtean Symposium at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, CA. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently provided more information on its “Next Generation of ACO Model,” an initiative for accountable care organizations (ACOs) that are experienced in […]
Moody’s Investor Service analysts characterize the current legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as “significant downside risk” if the Supreme Court strikes down federal subsidies for consumers purchasing insurance on the federal health exchange. If it rules in favor of the government, there will be no impact. On March 4, the Supreme […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a proposed rate cut of 0.95 percent for Medicare Advantage plans for 2016; the cut actually would result in an average rate increase of 1.05 percent after factoring in an expected increase in risk scores. Investors were pleased. The proposed cut is smaller than […]