Articles Tagged With: Medicare
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Hospitals Without Walls
In April, CMS unveiled “Hospitals Without Walls,” a COVID-19 pandemic-specific policy likely to affect both hospitals and surgery centers. It provides a path for a Medicare-approved ASC to change its status to a hospital, thus allowing just about any Medicare-approved procedure permitted in a hospital to be performed in a surgery center — and at hospital reimbursement rates.
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Health Insurance Competition, Choice Declining in Many U.S. Markets
Annual analysis revealed commercial insurance became more concentrated between 2014 and 2019.
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CMS Releases Preliminary Data for Accountable Health Communities Model
One-third of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries screened so far have reported at least one health-related social need.
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Patients with Chronic Conditions Put Off Needed Care
More “near older” patients (age 50 to 64 years) with chronic health conditions are putting off needed care they cannot afford. Researchers found lack of coverage is a particular problem for this group, which lives with more chronic health conditions than younger groups, but is not old enough for Medicare. Their income, especially for those who still work part or full time, is too high to qualify for Medicaid.
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Remote Monitoring Technology Can Improve Efficiency
Community case management and care coordination services are important in the care of at-risk seniors. But healthcare organizations sometimes find it challenging to leverage resources. One potential solution is to use technology, such as remote patient monitoring, to increase case management efficiency and improve outcomes. Using a remote monitoring system can streamline services by warning case managers when patients’ vital signs are outside expected ranges.
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American College of Surgeons Opposes New Fee Schedule
How might this proposed fee schedule affect surgery centers?
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American College of Surgeons Opposes New Fee Schedule
How might this proposed fee schedule affect surgery centers?
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How to Harvest Big Data to Reduce Readmissions
“Big data” is a buzzword in healthcare these days. The term refers to the vast amount of electronic data healthcare providers have accumulated over the years. While the concept can seem pretty abstract, big data is more relevant than ever and potentially at every case manager’s fingertips if provided with the right tools to harvest it.
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Decline in Medicare Readmissions Likely Not Caused by Reduction Program
Results of a comprehensive study, analyzing more than 6 million Medicare admissions, revealed declining 30-day hospital readmissions from 2009 to 2014. Some policymakers have attributed the decline to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, introduced in 2010. But researchers found the declining readmissions also could be explained by declining hospital admission rates over the same period.
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CMS Relaxes Telemedicine Regulations
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals received the go-ahead to expand telemedicine/telehealth services via a waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This was focused on limiting community spread of the virus, as well as reducing the exposure to other patients and staff members to slow viral spread.