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Step-by-step quality improvement measures can ease ACO implementation

Despite the huge undertaking that many skeptics say would be required of accountable care organizations (ACO), leaders at Tuesday's Second National Accountable Care Organization Summit in Washington, Read more...

McClellan: ACOs difficult but possible

"ACOs are not made up of a few steps, but fundamental change...in organizations 'walking the walk' in improving care and lowering costs," said Director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform Read more...

Obama's recess appointment of Berwick as CMS head draws criticism from Republicans

As expected, last night's announcement that President Obama would bypass Senate confirmation and use a recess appointment in naming Dr. Donald Berwick the next head of the Centers for Medicare and Read more...

SPOTLIGHT: New alliance forms to improve nursing home quality

In an attempt to increase the quality levels at nursing homes and in home healthcare settings, the Long-Term Care Quality Alliance was officially formed on Tuesday, McKnight's reports. The group's Read more...

ALSO NOTED: McClellan goes to think tank; N.Y. hospitals expect $28 million; and much more...

> Former CMS head Mark McClellan will soon head a new health care center at think tank the Brookings Institution. Read more...

SPOTLIGHT: McClellan argues for power of competition

Outgoing CMS head Mark McClellan sat down for a chat this week with The Christian Science Monitor. In a wide-ranging discussion, McClellan laid out his belief in the power of competition for improving healthcare efficiency, citing a 10 percent drop in provider costs under the Medicare prescription drug program as an example. He also expressed support for the notion of making Medicare premiums income-sensitive, a concept CMS plans to implement in 2007. Article

Norwalk named acting director of CMS

Leslie Norwalk has been named acting director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She will be replacing CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, who announced that he was stepping down from his post to join a think tank focused on improving the U.S. healthcare system. "She is a nationally recognized expert on Medicare issues and played a central role in the successful implementation of the prescription drug benefit and other reforms to Medicare and Medicaid," Mike Leavitt, …

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ALSO NOTED: UnitedHealthcare, HCA continue talks in FL; CO may get new VA hospital; and much more...

> In Florida, UnitedHealthcare and HCA are still discussing how to work out their differences. The massive contract dispute between the two healthcare industry giants has left thousands of patients in Colorado and Florida in limbo. Report

> The House has passed a bill to fund a new VA hospital in Colorado. …

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CMS rolls out quality improvement program

CMS announced that it is rolling out the Physician-Hospital Collaboration Demonstration (PHCD), a three-year program designed to gauge whether hospitals can improve outcomes without raising costs, if they reward doctors for providing better care. Under the program, "the hospital would be paid its usual inpatient rate for the patient's care, but would pay to the physician a portion of the savings resulting from quality improvement and efficiency initiatives taken by the physician." …

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Who will fill McClellan's shoes?

Speculation is in the air in the wake of Mark McClellan's announcement that he will step down as CMS administrator. McClellan said he will join a think tank focused on improving the U.S.'s healthcare system. Now the question is: Who will replace him? The New York Times reports that CMS Deputy Administrator Leslie Norwalk is an obvious candidate. CQ HealthBeat says that Herb Kuhn, …

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Press Releases

Amerinet 2011 Executive Forum to Examine Issues of Healthcare Reform, Accountable Care

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amerinet Inc., a leading national healthcare group purchasing organization, will hold its 2011 Executive Forum, February 10-12, 2011, in Orlando, Florida, featuring many Read more >>

National ACO Congress Focuses on Practical Healthcare Reform Challenges for Patients, Physicians and Hospitals

Monday Oct. 25 Presentations: Why Should Consumers Care About ACOs; California ACO Case Study; and Aligning Physicians, Hospitals and Health Plans LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The California Read more >>

SAVE THE DATE: U.S. Healthcare Experts to Convene at National Conference in California to Deliberate Implementation of Acc

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leading healthcare experts from across the country will meet in Los Angeles, October 25 - 27, 2010, during the National Accountable Care Organization Congress to Read more >>

National ACO Congress Focuses on Practical Healthcare Reform Challenges for Patients, Physicians and Hospitals

Monday Oct. 25 Presentations: Why Should Consumers Care About ACOs; California ACO Case Study; and Aligning Physicians, Hospitals and Health Plans LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The California Read more >>

REPORTER NOTICE: U.S. Healthcare Experts to Convene at National Conference in California to Prepare for Cornerstone of Fed

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leading healthcare experts from across the country are meeting in Los Angeles, October 25 - 27, 2010 to answer the question: How will physicians, hospitals and health Read more >>