reimbursement rates
Sale of financially-troubled Caritas Christi fails
The Archdiocese of Boston continues to struggle to sell or turn around its financially-troubled Caritas Christi Health Care. Most recently, the Archdiocese failed in its bid to unload Caritas to a... Read more...
Heart and lung surgeon shortage coming
At one time, being a cardiothoracic surgeon was one of the highest-status specialties a physician could practice--and many students responded by taking up the arduous training needed to become one. Today, however, it seems that status alone isn't enough. Increasingly, surgeons-in-training are refusing to undergo the 12-year training program needed to become a cardiothoracic specialist. Students are afraid they won't be able to pay back the huge student loans needed to fund this training, …
... Read more...MD groups seek new Medicare rate formula
The current system Medicare used to gradually bump up reimbursement rates for physicians isn't fair, and should be replaced by one which takes physician practice costs into account, a group of 87 medical organizations told Congress. The group, which includes the American Medical Association, notes that hospitals and nursing homes are paid based on their costs. However, physicians are paid based on a formula known as the sustainable growth rate (SGR), tied to the U.S. economy, which has …
... Read more...Physicians winning reimbursement fights
Physicians have always battled health plans over reimbursement rates. Often, they feel outgunned by health plans which, despite needing doctors, are the ones who ultimately cut the checks. But of late, the tide may …
... Read more...Press Release: U.S. Joins Suit Against Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane
Press Release: U.S. Joins Suit Against Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane
... Read more...SPOTLIGHT: Survey finds low morale among physicians
According to an American College of Physician Executives survey, 6 in 10 physicians have considered leaving the profession due to burnout, low morale or depression. The 1,200 physician executives surveyed cited discouragement with the healthcare system-including loss of autonomy and low reimbursement rates--as a major problem with their profession. Report
KS doctors' suit against insurers moves ahead
A class action suit by more than 2,200 doctors, targeting Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Humana, United Healthcare and other defendants, will proceed through the court system rather than being shunted into arbitration. The physicians sued the health insurers in February 2005, arguing that the health plans were violating antitrust laws by, among other actions, collectively fixing prices and refusing to negotiate reasonable reimbursement rates. Contracts for most of the doctors …
... Read more...Report: CT hospital finances bleak
A new report released by the state of Connecticut suggests that the state's hospitals are in a uniquely difficult financial position. The report, issued by the state's Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, concluded that Connecticut hospitals "appear not as healthy financially as hospitals in the rest of the country." This is music to the ears of the Connecticut Hospital Association, which has been making this point for more than a decade, according a piece in the …
... Read more...HFMA: Over half of hospitals struggling financially
According to a new Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) study, over half of U.S. hospitals are facing financial struggles. Rural hospitals and those not affiliated with a health system--almost half of hospitals--are particularly at risk from competitors. Financial pitfalls come from many directions, including competition from doctor-owned facilities, lower government reimbursement rates, high debt and spending on necessary infrastructure and IT improvements. Some hospitals …
... Read more...The problem with primary care
Earlier this week, FierceHealthcare examined the shortage of primary care doctors in Massachusetts and across the nation. Now another article, like our previous item published by the New England Journal of Medicine, examines this growing problem as well as the factors that have contributed to primary care doctors' dissatisfaction with their jobs. NEJM observes that "primary …
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