pilot program
Illinois doctors fight Medicaid HMO plan
Providers are steamed up over an Illinois proposal to force some of the state's Medicaid patients to enroll in HMOs, possibly forcing some out of their care. Because the plans haven't been popular... Read more...
Study:P4P helped asthma care, improved MD pay
A new pilot program run by health plan Anthem Inc. seems to be producing some winning results both for asthma patients and physicians. In 2003, Anthem signed up 44 practices associated with... Read more...
BCBS of Tenn. gives cost info before treatment
Climbing on the national transparency bandwagon, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has kicked off a program for enrollees that will let them know ahead of time what they'll owe for physician visits. The program affects only the roughly 64,000 of the plan's 1.2 million Tennessee members who are currently enrolled in its consumer-driven health plan.
Under the pilot program, physicians' offices will be able to use BlueCross billing software to make the estimate, which should take …
New HHS program targets Medicare fraud
HHS has launched a new pilot program hoping to catch dishonest medical equipment suppliers in the Los Angeles area and South Florida. If the pilot is successful, CMS plans to role out the program across the United States. The two-year effort, designed to ferret out Medicare fraud, will search for falsified bills and overcharges from suppliers of prosthetics, orthotics, diabetic supplies …
... Read more...Mentors dramatically improve nurse retention
Sometimes, it seems, having someone take an interest makes all of the difference. Despite an array of forces prompting high nurse turnover, a new pilot program has found that nurses are seven times more likely to stay on the job if they're properly mentored. The study drew on data from the California Nurses Association (CNA), which has been running a mentoring program at seven California hospitals. Mentors involved in the program are asked to complete a three-day class, then meet with …
... Read more...Physicians drop out of new Medicaid plan
Cut or keep reimbursement at a flatline, increase paperwork, and doctors will like Medicaid even less. That's what's been happening in Florida since authorities kicked off a new pilot program moving beneficiaries into HMOs, according to new research by the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. In 2005, former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R) signed a law creating the pilot program, which also caps spending growth at 8 percent over five years. Since that time, it appears that …
... Read more...Tenn. Blue plan offers real-time claims adjustment
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has become the latest health plan to address a key issue with high-deductible plans. Following in the steps of peers like UnitedHealth, the Blue plan has created a pilot program under which providers can find out, in real time, how much a patient owes, and collect on the spot. The pilot, which is already live in …
... Read more...Countries swap debt for healthcare
According to some estimates, it would take $50 billion to fund healthcare needs in developing countries. To close this gap, one international health organization proposes that developing countries get the chance to cancel portions of their debt if they spend on approved health projects. Backers say the Debt2Health plan is a "win-win"--cutting the risk creditors face while giving needy countries more money to deal with health crises. Indonesia, Pakistan, Peru and Kenya will become the …
... Read more...FDA boosts reviews for new drugs
Still stinging from its troubles with Vioxx and approved antidepressants that raise suicidal thinking in some teens, the FDA is ready to pay more attention to post-approval drugs. The agency has decided to institute a pilot program under which it will track the way drugs work after they've been on the market for about 18 months. However, it will probably take a year before the program actually kicks off, according to Dr. Steven Galson, director of the agency's drug center. As part of the …
... Read more...Doctors making house calls--online
Rising healthcare costs, less contact with physicians, longer wait times--all of these are the frustrating realities for patients dealing with our healthcare system. But the American Academy of Family Physicians' TransforMED project is hoping the cure these problems using a program that allows patients to have virtual checkups online. Thirty-six physicians have been selected to participate in a pilot program that will run for two years. Billed as the "house call of the future," the …
... Read more...