Medicare

Health plans need new approaches to profitability

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Now I get it. To get back their healthy profits--which have taken a serious plunge of late--all U.S. health plans have to do is a) raise premiums and b) lower reimbursements for providers. Easy as Read more...

Case study: ND system must cut $15M in costs

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

It's a sign of the times. Struggling with the boogeymen faced by most of its peers, including inadequate reimbursement and rising uncompensated care levels, Fargo, N.D.-based MeritCare Health System Read more...

ALSO NOTED: FL hospitals see dramatic growth in uncompensated care; LifePoint wants to buy; and much more...

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:59:50 -0400

> Costs for uncompensated care have gone through the roof in Florida, according to the state's hospital association. Read more...

Insurer troubles could mean more bad debt for providers

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

In recent weeks, health insurers have started announcing financial results, and the news hasn't been good. WellPoint, for example, Read more...

Analyst says Tenet poised for major turnaround

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

This must be satisfying for Tenet execs to see: A major healthcare analyst has turned tail and upgraded the hospital company's rating dramatically, after slamming it less than a year ago and Read more...

Providers want another NPI implementation delay

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Groups representing a cross-section of providers have formally asked the government to delay enforcing use of the national provider identifier on claims forms, concerned that technical problems will Read more...

Blues say new financial incentives needed for reform

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association has made what may be its strongest statement in favor of pay-for-performance schemes, telling Capitol Hill officials that any reforms they discuss should Read more...

Case study: MDs succeed with Medicare HMO business

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

A group of St. Louis physicians have built a thriving Medicare Advantage plan they say is more financially friendly to providers than plans run by managed care companies. According to Charles Wiley, Read more...

Medicare hospital payments may climb $4 billion

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Under the terms of a new proposed rule, Medicare reimbursement for inpatient hospitals may go up by almost $4 billion. The new rule would apply to patients who are discharged from hospitals during Read more...

TX public health system faces loss of profitable patients

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:59:56 -0400

Sometimes, government agencies have to fight for business, too. This time around, it's the Harris (TX) County Hospital District, which has seen a drop in the number of patients visiting its Read more...