News From Around the Web
> The U.S. Department of Justice has officially filed a lawsuit against Liberty Ambulance Services, alleging the Jacksonville, Florida-based company participated in a 10-year, $28 million fraud scheme, in which the government alleges that Liberty offered discounted rates to providers in exchange for access to Medicare beneficiaries. Announcement
> Children's Hospital and Children's National Medical Center, located in the District of Columbia, will pay $12.9 million to settle federal false claims allegations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The hospitals allegedly submitted false cost reports to the Department of Health and Human Services and Medicaid, which were used to calculate reimbursement rates to the hospitals and federal funding through the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program. Announcement
> The Arkansas Attorney General's Office has filed a civil lawsuit against a Little Rock senior care center alleging the company submitted more than $33 million in false claims. State prosecutors allege that Step by Step Senior Care Inc. and its owners improperly billed Medicaid's Arkansas Personal Care Program and provided services without proper documentation between September 2013 and June 2014, Arkansas Business reports. Article
Health Payer News
> A new data analysis from the healthcare advisory firm Avalere indicates that health insurance rate hikes may not be as bad as previously reported. An analysis of eight states indicates that silver plans, purchased by 68 percent of enrollees, is set to increase just 5.8 percent in 2015. However, states like Oregon could see rate hikes as high as 12 percent. Article
Health Finance News
> Collaboration between state agencies, payers and employer groups is crucial in moving toward a value-based healthcare payment system, according Catalyst for Payment Reform. This kind of collaboration provides direction for providers when deciding where to direct patient care resources. Southern states are already engaging in some of these collaborations. Article
And Finally... Overhead costs for a lemonade stand can be pretty steep. Article