News

Clinicians eligible for the MIPS who live or practice in areas that were affected by Hurricanes Florence or Michael, or the California wildfires, will automatically qualify for the program’s extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy unless they submit data for more than one MIPS performance category.

More than 2.4 million people selected a 2019 health plan through HealthCare.gov Nov. 1-24, including more than 500,000 last week.

The California Hospital Association and regional associations and the AHA have donated to provide relief for the hundreds of hospital employees who have lost their homes or been displaced by wildfires throughout the state.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today launched a new online tool that allows consumers to compare Medicare payments and copayments for certain procedures that are performed in both hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General today issued a report identifying vulnerabilities in the hospital wage index system for Medicare payments.

The Food and Drug Administration intends to finalize guidance early next year on a new approach to its 510(k) program for pre-market review of medical devices.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a Dec. 5 webinar on 2019 and 2020 changes to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program.

Delaware Gov. John Carney last week issued an executive order establishing state health care spending and quality benchmarks beginning in calendar year 2019.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a proposed rule that would provide Medicare Advantage and Part D plans more tools to negotiate lower drug prices.

The AHA, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Institute for Safe Medication Practices today released recommendations emerging from a recent drug shortages summit.

The Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria seeks input through Jan. 7 on recommended priority areas for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in 2020 through 2025.

A recent New York Times article on hospital consolidation “doesn’t paint a full picture of the root cause of higher health care costs to consumers,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack states in a letter to the editor.

A Maine judge last week ordered the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to comply with a recent ballot measure expanding Medicaid eligibility to qualified low-income residents.

We can work together to increase the number of people in our communities who have health insurance and the opportunity to reach their highest potential for health. 

Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan today announced the initial core participants of the Deputy Secretary’s Innovation and Investment Summit, which will host its first meeting Dec. 18.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday reapproved a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver for Kentucky that requires some adult beneficiaries to work or participate in other “community engagement” activities.

More than 1.9 million people selected a 2019 health plan through HealthCare.gov Nov. 1-17, including more than 748,000 last week.

Average unsubsidized premiums for the lowest-cost bronze, silver and gold plans for 2019 at HealthCare.gov are 0.3 percent, 1 percent and 2 percent lower, respectively, than in 2018.

In the wake of Monday’s shooting at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, the Department of Hea

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released the first in a series of technical tools and assistance for nursing home professionals funded by federal civil money penalties.