Energy-efficient hospitals are reaping some benefits in their budgets
Hospitals are energy hogs. But some are making efforts to become more energy-efficient, which can also boost the bottom line.
Could experimental program shorten wait time for organ transplant recipients?
In the past, organs exposed to hepatitis C were typically discarded or given only to patients who already had the illness. Using them in patients who don’t have the virus could shorten the transplant wait time for hundreds of patients each year.
In latest blow to ACA, Trump administration extends life of short-term health insurance
By drawing younger or healthier consumers out of the ACA marketplace, the short-term plan expansion will add up to a 1.7 percent increase to premiums next year, according to the industry lobbying group America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Hospitals are figuring out how to revise opioid guidelines for specific procedures
There is debate in medical circles about just how effective recommendations and guidelines will be in stemming the epidemic.
Will incentivizing people to shop for lower priced tests, drugs whittle down America’s healthcare costs?
State public employee insurance programs were among the early adopters of providing financial incentives for participants to shop around for tests at lower costs. Now this approach is finding a foothold among policymakers and in the private sector.
Trump administration proposed rule to bring back short-term health insurance options could weaken ACA
The new rule is expected to entice younger and healthier people from the general insurance pool by allowing a range of lower-cost options that don’t include all the benefits required by the federal law — including plans that can reject people with preexisting medical conditions.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Blue Cross of Idaho’s new plans don’t comply with ACA rules. What will HHS Secretary Alex Azar do about it?
Will Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar use his authority to compel Idaho to follow the ACA and reject the Blues plans?
Report: States running ACA marketplaces saw increases during open enrollment last year
Enrollment in marketplaces fully or partially run by states, for example, showed a small overall increase of 0.2 percent over the previous year, while the 34 states that rely entirely on the federal hub saw sign-ups drop by 5.3 percent, the report said.
Insurance brokers are called upon to fill the role of navigators in shorter open enrollment period
The Department of Health and Human Services appears to be turning to brokers to fill a gap created by the Trump administration's decision to slash funding for health insurance navigators.
Trump uses exec order to add more lower-cost health insurance options. Will it undermine ACA?
Critics warn that such plans, with pared-down coverage and lower premiums, could siphon off the healthiest consumers.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul predicts Trump administration will embrace association health plans
Supporters say expanding association plan availability could offer lower-cost coverage — mainly if the Trump administration makes it easier for them to qualify as large-group plans.
Meet the state insurance commissioners struggling to stabilize the markets
As insurers threaten to exit state markets and voters at town halls complain about unaffordable prices, the state commissioners are central characters in the unfolding drama that is America’s health coverage.
What have we learned from past “skinny repeal” efforts?
“Few markets can go bad on you as fast as a health insurance market,” said Mike Kreidler, a former regional director in the federal department of Health and Human Services.
Critics slam HHS for ‘misleading” analysis of Sen. Ted Cruz amendment to health bill
The forecasts in a draft analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services are exactly opposite from what many experts predict.
Studies find medical treatment for opioid addiction varies widely between states
Patients with private insurance who are diagnosed with opioid dependency or abuse may get different medical services depending on where they live, a white paper