News From Around the Web
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has now paid out more than $30 billion in Meaningful Use incentive payments, according to its latest report, which includes information through March 2015. There are now 447,842 eligible professionals and eligible hospitals participating in the program. Info (.pdf)
Health IT News
> Allscripts is laying off 250 employees, mainly in the United States. The layoffs representation 3.5 percent of Allscripts work force. According to the company the move is a "rebalancing" to have the "right resources allocated to the right projects." Post
Health Finance News
> A movement to keep hospital emergency room admissions down is recruiting first responders, especially paramedics. Cities such as Reno have accepted $9.8 million in federal funds to cut down on ER admissions. The funds are being used for paramedics to make home visits, and educate patients on hospital alternatives, such as urgent care and mental health clinics. Article
> Most physicians make pretty good livings compared to most other Americans, but they can really strike it rich playing another role in healthcare: Whistleblower. That's in part because some healthcare financial wrongdoing and fraud cases are settled with the federal government for tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars, and parties who blow the whistle can share in up to 15 percent of the settlement. Article
Health Insurance News
> A new healthcare reform debate may be on the horizon. Democrats refer to the issue at hand as the nation's "underinsured" population. The Affordable Care Act made it possible for millions of Americans to obtain health insurance, but the ACA plans fail to address the problem of underinsured consumers with substantial out-of-pocket costs. Article
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its long-awaited proposed rule that updates its Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) regulations. "A lot has changed in terms of best practices and the delivery of important health services in the managed care field over the last decade," Andy Slavitt, acting administrator of CMS, said in a statement. Article
And Finally... Ironically, she'll never vote again. Article