SPOTLIGHT -
Todd Shryock is managing editor of Medical Economics.
NYT: Medicare Advantage rife with fraud
Report from New York Times says most large insurers in the program have been accused of fraud
How to improve the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage
Study looks at how prior auths help and hurt health care - and how they can be made better
Is the doctor’s office heading for extinction?
Survey shows that alternative sites for care are gaining popularity with consumers
Hospitals struggle with margins
Operating margins slightly improve, but low volumes hurt overall performance
Your patients aren’t taking your calls because they don’t know who’s calling
Survey shows that patients are dealing with so many phone scams that they miss calls from their doctors because the number isn’t identified
Survey: Medical costs burdening 2 out of every 5 Americans
Despite record high health coverage, many adults still struggling with medical bills
Quality vs. quantity
How does quality compare between NPs, PAs and physicians? It depends on who you ask.
More than 800 health care organizations lobby to keep value-based payment incentives
If incentives are allowed to expire at the end of the year, it could negatively affect participation rates
Patients want health systems to be more involved in their health
Physician involvement can determine how much patients actually get out services provided
Employers struggling to afford group health coverage for employees
Most employers are looking at options to offer coverage while avoiding the costs of a group health plan; employees want more control and more options
Study: EHR use shows increase in care quality
Hospitals that use EHRs have better outcomes than those that do not
Fed raises interest rates 0.75%, more hikes likely
Nagging inflation is likely to force the Fed to raise the interest rates multiple times before the end of the year
AMA, AHA drop their surprise billing lawsuit
Original suit was against the interim rule
71% of employers expect moderate to significant cost increases to health care benefits over the next three years
Survey finds employers planning a multitude of measures to deal with the increases
Telemedicine still popular with patients, but there are concerns
Patients prefer virtual appointments for common ailments, but question the quality of care
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Poll: Less than half of Americans think U.S. health care is handled well
Care for older adults is poorly rated by vast majority
Inflation up 0.1% in August, 8.3% for the year
Rising shelter and food costs offset drop in gas prices
AHA: Rural hospital closures threaten care access
Reports shows 136 rural hospitals have closed in the last decade
Americans are willing to pay more for quality care
Study shows that patients are also willing to travel some distance to seek out the best price of care
Surprise: Private equity wants to squeeze more profits out of physician practices
Study shows increases in patient volume and prices after private practices were acquired by private equity firms
Federal funding for COVID vaccinations running out
Funds likely to be exhausted by the end of the year, meaning commercial payers will take over payment for many patients
Are primary care physicians being replaced?
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants keep taking on more primary care responsibilities, often without supervision of a doctor
Hospitals struggle with decreasing revenue and increasing expenses
Struggles follow months of improvement
Patients often can’t afford to pay off what their insurance leaves behind
If a patient owes more than $7,500 in medical debt, you probably aren’t going to collect much from them
Cancer is now the top driver of large company health care costs
Cancer took over the top spot from musculoskeletal conditions
Patients with multiple chronic conditions are more likely to have high medical debt
Even when eligible for social services, patients rarely recoup the income they have lost due to illness
Routine depression screening by primary care physicians may capture under-diagnosed patient populations
Screening for depression at the primary care level could dramatically increase the likelihood of treatment for those who are traditionally under-treated
Employers expected to be hit with 6.5% health care increase in 2023
Average cost per employee is estimated at $13,800
Value-based revenue makes up 6.74% of primary care income
MGMA report shows value-based contracts account for $30,922 per provider
