SPOTLIGHT -
National healthcare spending grew in 2018
Healthcare spending grew at 4.6 percent in 2018 to $3.6 trillion, which was faster than 2017.
Survey: Patients want timely care, digital communication
Patients are unwilling to wait for an appointment with their physician and will delay care due to difficult scheduling.
Why Medicare Advantage patients don’t switch plans
A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows a small percentage of Medicare beneficiaries in private Medicare Advantage plans changed their plans during the 2016 open enrollment period.
Depressed doctors more likely to report making medical errors
A review of 11 different studies found that physicians with a positive screening for depression were highly likely to report medical errors.
Study: U.S. life expectancy dropped for third year in a row
A study of life expectancy and mortality rates in the U.S. found it has risen since 1959, but the last three years have seen a decrease.
Hospital group pays millions to settle HIPAA case
Sentara Hospitals agreed to take corrective action for an April 2017 HIPAA violation
UnitedHealthcare Member Medicare Service Centers coming to select Walgreens stores
Centers in five metropolitan areas will offer wellness services and Medicare plan resources after they open in January 2020
More than 600 hospitals sue over Medicare payment reductions
The hospitals claim HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar II illegally extended Medicare payment reductions which were meant to expire in 2017.
Google clarifies secretive health data partnership with Ascension
Google Health says the Project Nightingale partnership is aimed at creating and testing a new EHR interface.
False claims allegations lead to settlement for Kentucky hospital
Kentucky hospital will pay millions to settle allegations it submitted false claims to Medicare.
Healthcare giant pays $46 million to settle Stark Law case
Sutter Health and the Sacramento Cardiovascular Surgeons Medical Group agree to pay more than $46 million to settle allegations rising from claims made to Medicare
Physicians need more healthcare economics training in med school, AMA says
AMA expands policy aimed at medical students and residents being trained in healthcare economics.
Survey: U.S. physicians pay billions annually to maintain provider directories
Streamlining how physicians collect and share directory information can save physician practices more than $1.1 billion.
New AMA policies target improving healthcare for LGBTQ patients
AMA voted to back state and federal conversion therapy bans, fully inclusive EHRs for transgender patients and training on health issues tied to sexual and gender identity
Trump administration releases healthcare price transparency requirements
HHS releases requirements aimed at lowering drug prices and healthcare costs.
ACP calls for changes to combat rising prescription drug costs
ACP made recommendations to address prices in two new policy papers
Report: Google collecting personal health information from millions of patients without their knowledge
The search giant’s secretive Project Nightingale gathering millions of health records from Ascension hospitals.
Seriously ill Medicare beneficiaries still reporting financial hardship
Despite quality of coverage, patients still burdened by healthcare costs
FDA approves flu vaccine for use on patients over 65
Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent has been approved for use in patients over 65 to help prevent A and B strains of influenza.
Opioid crisis fallout: Physicians increasingly avoid treating chronic pain patients, survey finds
Doctors are avoiding opioids and patients who are prescribed them, despite government warnings against sudden discontinuation
Healthcare data breaches were widespread in 2019. Next year will be worse.
New survey finds that healthcare systems’ security is being wildly outpaced by hackers.
Senators, AMA urge CMS to expand diabetes programs
The AMA and a group of 19 U.S. Senators want to expand the reach of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.
Report: AI can help avoid malpractice lawsuits, but risks may emerge
AI can help physicians avoid malpractice suits due to misdiagnosis, but the risks of the new technology have yet to be seen.
Report: Number of uninsured children in U.S. grows
Despite a period of economic growth, the number of children in the U.S. who lack health insurance rose by 400,000 between 2016 and 2018.
New FDA report claims low prices contribute to drug shortages
The low price of some older generic drugs gives manufacturers less incentive to produce them.
Alternative payment models show increase in new study
The Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network found an increased number of U.S. healthcare payments were tied to alternative payment models in 2018.
ACA update: More insurers buy in, premiums expected to fall
CMS announces drop in cost for second cheapest plan and more payers getting involved
FDA approves Xofluza for high-risk flu patients
It’s the first antiviral medicine specifically approved for patients with a high risk of developing serious complications from influenza.
A look at the costs of eight healthcare reform proposals
The Commonwealth Fund compared eight different healthcare reform proposals
MGMA 2019: How to get to value-based care
A roundtable discussion of three organizations’ insights on getting into and what to invest in with value-based care at the 2019 MGMA Annual Conference.