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Health Care Reform Bill Proposes Shifting Commercial Prices to Lowest-Paid Hospitals

Boston, Massachusetts – A proposed health care reform bill in the House has sparked discussions due to its mix of positive and concerning elements. The bill aims to enhance state oversight and access to data in the healthcare sector, empowering regulatory bodies like the Health Policy Commission and the Center for Health Information and Analysis. By granting more review power to these entities, the House hopes to address financial issues within provider networks before they …

Profit-driven Staff Cuts Boost Mission Hospital’s Patient-Care Profits: Report

Asheville, North Carolina – A recent report by Mark Hall, director of the health law and policy program at Wake Forest University, reveals that staff cuts at Mission Hospital have significantly increased patient-care profits following its acquisition by HCA Healthcare. The report tracked the hospital’s profits from 2011 to 2022, showing a sharp rise in profits after HCA took over the facility in 2019. Despite reporting losses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in …

Cyberattack on Health Billing Clearinghouse Sparks Redundancy Plans for Arkansas Hospitals

Little Rock, Arkansas – A recent cyberattack on a major health care billing clearinghouse in the United States has caused significant disruptions for several Arkansas hospitals. The attack targeted Change Healthcare, which served as the sole billing claims processor for UAMS Medical Center, resulting in a cash flow crisis for the hospital while Change’s systems were offline. In response, other facilities like Washington Regional Medical System and CARTI had to find alternate routes for their …

Concierge Physician Practices in Nonprofit Hospitals Target Affluent Patients with Membership Fees

Chicago, Illinois – Nonprofit hospitals serving low-income communities are embracing the trend of offering concierge physician services, in which patients pay annual membership fees of $2,000 or more for enhanced access to their healthcare providers. This shift towards concierge medicine has been growing over the years, with thousands of doctors adopting this model to boost their earnings while reducing their patient caseload. Large hospital systems like Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, University …

Medicare Advantage Plans Face Turmoil as Hospitals and Insurers Clash Over Profits, Putting Seniors at Risk

New York, USA – Hospitals and insurance companies are currently embroiled in disputes over Medicare Advantage plans, a popular alternative to traditional Medicare. This clash, driven by profit protection on both sides, is threatening to impact many seniors who rely on these plans. With more hospitals and healthcare providers terminating agreements with insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans, concerns over increased denials, delays, and refusals to cover care are mounting. The situation has intensified this …

Cyberattack Fallout: Federal Plan to Aid Hospitals in Payment Crisis

Trenton, New Jersey – With the recent cyberattack on the nation’s largest processor of medical claims, hospitals and health-care providers across the country are facing critical challenges in billing for their services. In response to the crisis, federal officials unveiled a plan aimed at providing relief and support to healthcare organizations impacted by the attack. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced measures to assist health insurers in expediting billing processes and providing …

Medicare Advantage Phenomenon is Leading to a Healthier Future – Here’s Why

In recent years, Medicare Advantage has gained remarkable popularity as an alternative to traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage also referred to as Medicare Part C, provides extensive healthcare coverage via private insurance companies. This plan merges the advantages of Medicare Parts A and B and adds more benefits like prescription drug coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs. This article delves into the reasons behind the growing popularity of Medicare Advantage. #1 Increasing Enrollment Figures One of …

Health Care Leaders from Mercy Hospitals Elected to National Board for AHA

Springfield, Missouri – Two healthcare leaders, David Argueta and Daryle Voss, have been elected to serve on a significant national healthcare board for a two-year term. The American Hospital Association (AHA) regional policy board for region six, encompassing Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, selected Argueta as the delegation representative for the state of Missouri. Meanwhile, Voss will represent the state of Oklahoma on the AHA board for region seven, which …

Medicare Confusion: Sen. Mayfield Demands Answers on Mission Hospital’s Status

Asheville, North Carolina – State Senator Julie Mayfield expressed frustration over the lack of confirmation from Medicare officials regarding the immediate jeopardy status of Mission Hospital. Mayfield’s concerns stem from a previous statement by a Mission Hospital spokesperson announcing the approval of dropping the hospital’s immediate jeopardy patient status by federal inspectors. Mayfield highlighted her dissatisfaction with the lack of confirmation from Medicare officials during a recent interaction, emphasizing the need for transparency in the …

Medicaid Expansion Yields Poor Health Outcomes and Overruns in Louisiana and Arkansas, Fails Rural Hospitals

Jackson, Mississippi – Medicaid expansion in the Southern states of Louisiana and Arkansas has resulted in significant enrollment and cost overruns, with little improvement in health outcomes and no relief for rural hospitals. These trends have drawn attention to the challenges of expanding Medicaid and its impact on public health. The decision of both Louisiana and Arkansas to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act has implications for policymakers in Mississippi, where discussions about potential …