Will insurance expansion and industry consolidation result in higher healthcare costs, at least in the short term, and further stress the economy and the healthcare industry? That highly political question is being asked now...more
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new, free, downloadable tool to assist small and medium-size health care provider offices to conduct security risk assessments (SRA)....more
Approximately one-third of Medicaid spending, $136 billion, is on long-term services and supports (LTSS). While the majority of Medicaid LTSS takes place in institutional settings, such as nursing facilities and mental...more
Should private equity play a bigger role in New York State healthcare facilities? This is the question facing New York State legislators for the second year in a row....more
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Colorado is joining its Financial Alignment Initiative to pilot a managed fee-for-service model for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid...more
While many in Washington, D.C. are celebrating today the unusual display of bipartisan budgetary comity as the new budget deal is announced, there is a direct and immediate adverse effect for hospitals and physicians. As...more
The Obama Administration announced on Tuesday that it is delaying implementing a key component of the Affordable Care Act for a year following complaints from the private sector about reporting requirements. The so-called...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that over 500 organizations will begin participating in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative. The large number of participating...more
This week brought the announcement that WellPoint Inc. selected Joseph Swedish to become its next Chief Executive Officer. Swedish will leave his position as CEO of nonprofit Catholic health system Trinity Health, which has...more