According to a recent article in Modern Healthcare, increasing consolidation in the healthcare sector and changes in reimbursement methodologies, such as the payment structure for accountable care organizations ("ACOs") is leading to changes in accreditation standards. John Burke, the CEO and President of Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, stated, "The movement to accountable care organizations and other recent trends has led to more health systems reabsorbing primary-care … [Read more...] about Rise of Accountable Care Organizations Changing the Landscape of Accreditation
Court Rejects Challenge to Physicians-Owned Hospital Provision
The health care reform law, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in June, contains a provision that limits the construction of new physician-owned hospitals and the expansion of existing ones. MedPage Today reports on a ruling that is considered a set-back for these hospitals. A physician-owned hospital in the state, the Texas Spine & Joint Hospital in Tyler, stopped expansion plans after the health care law was passed. Physician Hospitals of America and other plaintiffs challenged the law in … [Read more...] about Court Rejects Challenge to Physicians-Owned Hospital Provision
Texas Medicaid Chief on Supreme Court Decision
As we blogged last week, Government Rick Perry went on record to say Texas will not expand Medicaid to accommodate the Affordable Care Act. He also said the state won't set up insurance exchanges. Bill Millwee, the director of the Texas Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance programs, agreed that the new law will be financially difficult for the state, as uninsured individuals not enrolled in Medicaid are required enroll in some kind of coverage by 2014. Millwee, who is retiring in August, … [Read more...] about Texas Medicaid Chief on Supreme Court Decision
Gov. Rick Perry: No Obamacare In Texas
Rick Perry: No Obamacare In Texas Governor Rick Perry, an opponent of the Affordable Care Act, said he will not expand Medicaid to implement the new law nor set up state insurance exchanges. An excerpt: "I will not be party to socializing healthcare and bankrupting my state in direct contradiction to our Constitution and our founding principles of limited government. "I stand proudly with the growing chorus of governors who reject the Obamacare power grab. Neither a "state" exchange nor … [Read more...] about Gov. Rick Perry: No Obamacare In Texas
Kaiser Webcast, Supreme Court Aftermath
Kaiser News Network posted a video webcast about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the health care reform law. What does the court decision mean for Texas? From the Texas Tribune: In the wake of Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding federal health reform, Texas has two big choices to make: whether to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid, and whether to roll out a consumer marketplace for comparing and purchasing insurance coverage. While the Supreme Court found the … [Read more...] about Kaiser Webcast, Supreme Court Aftermath
Texas Providers: Grant Awards and Court Decisions
McKnight's reports that long term care providers will benefit from federal grants to improve care and lower costs. The University of North Texas Health Science Center received a grant of over $7 million for the Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers assessment tool. Other Texas recipients include CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, which will receive over $3 million. In other news, Texas and the entire country (and probably the world) await the U.S. Supreme Court's decision … [Read more...] about Texas Providers: Grant Awards and Court Decisions
Health Care Reform and the Supreme Court
Long term care providers await the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on whether President Barack Obama's health care reform law is unconstitutional. Texas is one of the states that filed suit against the federal government challenging the law. The key issue is the law's individual mandate, which would require individuals to purchase health care insurance or face fines. The Physicians Hospital of America, which represents doctors, are concerned about the law's restriction on expanding or building new … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform and the Supreme Court
Non-payment for “Never Events”: Coming to a Long-Term Care Provider Near You
Since October 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") have not paid hospitals for certain hospital-acquired conditions. That is, CMS will not pay for certain conditions that were not present in the patient upon admission. The conditions are, as designated by CMS, conditions that are: (a) high cost or high volume or both, (b) result in the assignment of a case to a DRG that has a higher payment when present as a secondary diagnosis, and (c) could reasonably have been … [Read more...] about Non-payment for “Never Events”: Coming to a Long-Term Care Provider Near You
OIG Launches Compliance 101 Website
On March 5, 2005, the Office of the Inspector General ("OIG") launched its Compliance 101 website. The website contains links to guidance and educational training materials for health care providers, practitioners and suppliers. The site contains segment-specific compliance guidance for nursing facilities, ambulance suppliers, physician practices, etc. Although the materials are from 1998-2008, the compliance program guidance is still relevant and details the high-risk areas for each health … [Read more...] about OIG Launches Compliance 101 Website
Provider News Around the Web
Kaiser Health News reports on an study with expected findings: when times are hard, hospitals expand into affluent areas. In other words, hospitals seek more private-injured individuals. They also buy private practices in those areas and build more emergency services. The Texas Tribune reports that lawmakers will include drug reimbursements in the expanding Medicaid managed care, which they believe will save over $100 million. Included in the story is an interactive map that shows access … [Read more...] about Provider News Around the Web
