Author: eric

The Next Obamacare Battleground: Subsidies For Out-Of-Pocket Costs

When Republicans pulled their Affordable Care Act replacement bill last Friday, Lauren Lake’s primary reaction was relief.
“For many people like the Lakes, the demise of cost-sharing subsidies could mean the end of coverage – whether or not the ACA is fully repealed. If the subsidies are stopped, insurers likely would hike premiums or bolt from Obamacare exchanges and even the broader individual market, experts say.” Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

64% of Healthcare Providers Not Ready for MACRA Implementation

A recent survey found that adapting quality reporting systems and developing a team-based effort are top MACRA implementation challenges.
“Provider and executive worries over MACRA implementation could spell trouble for healthcare organizations that must submit at least some 2017 data to the Quality Payment Program to avoid a negative Medicare payment adjustment in 2019.” Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

Securing data integrity at the “front door” of care delivery

Although most of the health industry has moved records and administrative processes from paper to digital, human error remains a costly issue.
People make errors. Generally speaking, this fact is collectively understood, and we make concessions when necessary, working to repair and correct when possible. However, in the health industry, human errors become more costly than the norm, ultimately impacting the well being of patients, even to the point of death. In fact, a recent study released by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine concluded that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, leading to at least 250,000 deaths every year. Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

Expanding Beyond HIPAA Audit Prep for Information Governance

The recent AHIMA toolkit focusing on HIPAA audit preparation is a key tool for organizations, but it is just the beginning for strong data security.
“AHIMA’s IT service line is made up of all of the aspects of privacy and security, making sure it has information protection in healthcare all the way up through an enterprise level on records,” Downing said. “It also works on advancing the records management processes into more of an information governance type view, which certainly encompasses your privacy and security.” Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

HIPAA audits unlikely to change under new administration

Providers are unlikely to see any major changes to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act audits under the Department of Health and Human Services’ new civil rights director, some experts recently predicted.
“Lessening regulation in the privacy and cybersecurity areas has not been an area that’s been addressed thus far in public statements or actions by the new administration,” Hirsch said. Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

America’s employers play a vital role in the ‘repeal and replace’ debate

Our nation’s great health reform debate risks missing the forest for the trees.
While shoring up the individual market and ensuring Americans have access to affordable health coverage is critical, legislators now have an opportunity to address the value of the overall system. As they do, it is important to remember the critical role that employers play in our health system. Approximately 177 million Americans receive health coverage through an employer. That’s 16 times the number of people who obtain coverage through the ACA exchanges. Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

Obamacare on the ropes, progressives push single payer in California

Progressive grassroots groups are turning their eyes west, where California Democrats are pushing a new bill that would create a statewide single-payer health care system.
“It’s a real test of whether we can be more than an email machine,” Cohen said. “Not just people signing up for things online, but instead actually building a political organization. That’s what it’s always been about. I don’t spend this kind of time as a volunteer and board chair to generate more emails.”Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

How Accountable Care Organizations Meet Quality Benchmarks

Accountable care organizations need to overcome some major challenges such as the lack of data sharing from hospitals.
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are relatively new patient care models that can operate with either public or private health payers. Initially, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created the first accountable care organizations under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Today, ACOs have grown in popularity and private, commercial payers are now investing in partnering with these models of care. Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

What payers want to know before they commit to exchanges

Insurers, facing a June deadline, are hoping for more assurance from the White House that it will support exchange stability.
A lot of unanswered questions remain when it comes to the future of insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. With healthcare reform efforts stalled in Congress and the administration ready to pursue other agenda items, there has been a lot more talk than action over the past several months.  Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!

MGMA Advises New HHS Secretary on MACRA Implementation

MGMA made suggestions to improve various aspects of the healthcare industry that benefit medical groups participating in MACRA implementation.
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) recently recommended MACRA implementation and other policy suggestions to the newly confirmed Secretary of Department of Health & Human Services. In a letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, MGMA made suggestions regarding topics including administrative simplification, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), alternative payment models (APMs), EHR certification, and the Stark Physician Self-Referral Law.  Read the full article.
Check out this article and more on social media!