CMS Reveals New Direction for MSSP Which Adds Risk on ACOs
CMS announced a “new direction” for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) dubbed “Pathways to Success.”
23 Risks for Healthcare Organizations in 2019
In the upcoming year, persistent uncertain and risk is projected for the US healthcare organizations. Revenue cycle issues such as denials management and patient access are among the risk areas for healthcare organizations next year, according to an analysis from Crowe, a public accounting, consulting and technology firm.
Study: Opioids Have Little Benefit in Long-term Pain Management
Chronic pain patients don't fare much better taking opioids to manage their pain than they do by taking placebos, a study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association found.
Rate of Opioid Use Rises Among Pregnant Women
One in 25 women hospitalized for a pregnancy-related reason tested positive for an illegal drug or a drug used to treat drug addiction in 2016-17 in Pennsylvania, according to a new report.
Full-Year Results for Shared Savings Program
Change Healthcare and ACO Partner announced results for the first complete plan year of its novel shared savings program with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ)
Drug Overdose Deaths Fell Over 6 Months
Fatal drug overdoses have fallen nationwide over the last six months, according to a CDC report. However, health experts warn against early claims of the opioid and drug epidemic ending.
New Opioids Bill Addresses Patient Brokering
The comprehensive opioids bill passed by the Senate and Congress includes a provision to protect opioid use disorder patients from a predatory practice known as patient brokering, according to The Washington Post.
Survey: Surgical Patients Expect Opioids
Many people still want opioids to manage pain after surgery despite heightened media coverage surrounding addiction risk and the opioid epidemic, according to survey results presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' annual meeting in San Francisco.
Single-Payer Could Help Lower Healthcare Costs?
A new report from the New England Journal of Medicine-Catalysts about trends in payer-provider integration suggests that the industry is warming up to single-payer — with 61 percent of hospital leaders saying single-payer would boost the industry’s efforts to lower costs and provide better care.
BCBS of Tennessee to Drop OxyContin Coverage in 2019
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will stop covering the prescription opioid OxyContin beginning January 1, 2019.