Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Medicare funds range of state medical home pilots
The Obama Administration has set plans to fund pilot projects testing out the medical home model in several states, following existing efforts already well under way in some of them. As... Read more...
OIG: CMS anti-fraud efforts failing for lack of prompt claims analysis
Since 1999, states have been required to use the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) to report fee-for-service Medicaid claims. The MSIS reporting program was designed to help both... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Older women struggle to get health insurance
We already know that older people pay more for health insurance than younger ones do. Now, a report has come out suggesting that older women may struggle even harder. The report, from HHS, notes that... Read more...
Hospitalists recommend changes to 'bundled payment' model
A think tank made up of hospitalist groups has released a white paper suggesting some changes to the emerging bundled payment model for episodes of care. Generally speaking, they're arguing for CMS... Read more...
HHS awards $71 million to help states expand health coverage
HHS has awarded $70.9 million in grants to 13 states in an effort to help those states expand healthcare coverage for their uninsured citizens. The grants are paid for by the new State Health Access... Read more...
Pfizer pays $2.3B penalty for off-label drug marketing
Pfizer has agreed to pay a mammoth $3.2 billion penalty for marketing off-label uses of several of its drugs, a settlement which the U.S. Department of Justice has labeled the largest healthcare... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: House reform package would pave way to med mal reforms
While it hasn't gotten much attention, a provision in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's package on health reform would establish several ways to reform current medical malpractice laws, as... Read more...
Report:12 million Americans rejected by health plans
A new report from HHS concludes that the current health insurance system rejected 12.6 million non-elderly adults, or 36 percent of those who attempted to buy health coverage, during the past year.... Read more...
HHS Inspector General questions care provided by non-physicians
The HHS Office of the Inspector General has released a report expressing concern that too many services are being performed in physicians' offices by unqualified second parties. Right now, Medicare... Read more...
Office of Civil Rights to enforce HIPAA regulations
In a move made to put a stop to duplication of rules enforcement, the Office of Civil Rights will take over regulation enforcement of the security rule for the Health Insurance Portability and... Read more...
