There are thousands of stories that highlight both the lack of transparency in hospital billing and the inadequate patient protections in our healthcare system.
As a physician in North Carolina, my life’s mission has been to provide the highest level of care to my patients and community. This goal has become increasingly difficult as a federal law called the No Surprises Act, originally meant to protect both patients and doctors, now threatens the viability of rural health care across our country. In 2020, a bipartisan coalition in Congress passed the NSA to establish a fair process for health insurers and physicians to work out payment disputes and remove patients from the middle.
Children's Hospital Colorado has filed a legal challenge to the Defense Health Agency's planned federal reimbursement changes to TRICARE, the health care insurance program for uniformed service members, veterans and their families. Those changes were scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, 2023. The new federal DHA rules significantly lower the amount that Children’s Colorado is reimbursed for outpatient health care services. Due to the high percentage of TRICARE patients cared for at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, these new rules will disproportionally impact Southern Region operations.
Gardner-based Heywood Healthcare has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the organization announced Monday. Heywood Healthcare operates Athol Hospital, Heywood Hospital, Heywood Medical Group, Heywood Rehabilitation Center, Murdock School-based Health Center, The Quabbin Retreat, and Winchendon Health Center. “Core hospital services will continue to operate as usual,” Rozanna Penney, co-CEO of Heywood Healthcare, said in a statement Monday.
A plan announced late last week by Gov. Tate Reeves could provide a shot in the arm to many of the state’s struggling hospitals if it meets the approval of the federal government. If approved, the plan’s two initiatives are estimated to generate around $700 million more for hospitals around the state, including South Sunflower County Hospital and North Sunflower Medical Center.
Cigna Group (CI.N) says it has reached a settlement with the United States over claims it overcharged the government's Medicare Advantage program by making it appear patients were more ill than they actually were. The settlement includes a payment of about $172 million by Cigna. Cigna said it also will enter into a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Office of Inspector General.