Reasons cited for the closures happening nationwide include declining birthrates, staffing shortages, increased costs, and Draconian antiabortion laws. An observer noted that hospitals that appear highly likely and easiest to close are often those most reliant on Medicaid, which reimburses at lower rates than commercial insurers, and obstetric unit loss, specifically, is more common among those units that serve a larger share of Black patients.
MedPAC this month released its annual June “Report to Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System.” It includes discussion about two methods for updating physician and other clinician payments, how to attract participation in alterative payment models, and the potential for site-neutral payment for procedures performed at physicians’ offices or hospital outpatient departments.
Upstate New York plans are supporting new bipartisan legislation to protect benefits for Medicare Advantage enrollees. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and MVP Health Care endorse the bill, which aims to address financial challenges faced by nonprofit health plans after a recent increase in hospital reimbursement rates.
In Anamosa, Iowa — a town of fewer than 6,000 residents located more than 900 miles from the nation’s capital — rural hospital leader Eric Briesemeister is watching for Congress’ next move. The 22-bed hospital Briesemeister runs averages about seven inpatients each night, and its most recent federal filings show it earned just $95,445 in annual net income from serving patients.
Tower Health has announced a new partnership with Ensemble Health Partners that will see the Ohio-based company take over the health system's day-to-day billing and patient management.
Phantom billing occurs when fraudulent charges are filed to Medicare by healthcare providers/doctors and medical equipment companies without the recipient's knowledge.