A new Trilliant Health report revealed wide disparities in provider payments, with academic medical centers and certain payer-affiliated clinics receiving far higher reimbursements than their peers for the same services. The findings emphasize just how much opaque pricing practices continue to drive inequities in the U.S. healthcare system.
President Donald Trump’s latest executive order aims to strengthen enforcement for CMS’ price transparency requirements. Some experts think greater price transparency could reduce healthcare costs by fostering more competition, while others are concerned about the potential effects on hospital-payer negotiations, as well as the practicality of enforcing these requirements.
Greenway Health blends smart technology with human expertise to elevate revenue cycle.
The contract negotiation process between providers and payers is now more complex than ever, according to Baptist Health CEO Michael Mayo. In an interview, he spoke about his health system’s recent protracted negotiation with Florida Blue — which required months of preparation, external consultants, and even a task force of board members.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions announced that it will soon begin conducting strike authorization votes among its 85,000 members. The coalition’s chief concern is Kaiser’s dangerous staffing levels, which members say have led to excessively long wait times, patient neglect and mistaken diagnosis. If the coalition authorizes and implements the strike, it will become the largest strike of healthcare workers in the history of the U.S.
Last week, the CFO of Universal Health Services stated that the company chooses which patients to treat based on whose insurance plans offer the highest payments. The comments have sparked some media attention, but healthcare finance experts say the practice of cherry-picking patients is nothing new to the industry.
Lawsuits filed in opposition to the White House's drug pricing negotiation program are beginning to mount, but legal experts agree that the plaintiffs’ arguments probably won’t hold up during a court battle. However, these lawsuits still could delay when the government's ability to negotiate price goes into effect.
Across the nation, state-based health insurance exchanges are searching for ways to better serve their communities while making enrollment easier, more personal, and more accessible for everyone.
Providence is cutting back on services at three of its Oregon facilities to brace for an upcoming nurses' union strike. The Oregon Nurses Association has planned a five-day strike to fight for better staffing levels and working conditions.
Merck recently became the first drugmaker to sue the federal government over its Medicare drug price negotiation program. The company's lawsuit argues that the program violates the Constitution’s First and Fifth Amendments, but healthcare law expert Robin Feldman said the defense doesn't have any legs.
The health systems ended negotiations for the sale of 14 CommonSpirit Health facilities to Essentia Health. Though the organizations did not comment on the reason for their decision, the move comes a few months after healthcare workers filed a petition detailing their concerns, including that the deal could result in layoffs.