Tag: Affordable Care Act

Prior Authorization reforms

CMS Prior Authorization Reforms: A Step Forward, But More Needed

The updated CMS regulations on prior authorization have been lauded as a significant step toward reducing administrative burdens for physicians. However, critics argue that the changes fall short of addressing the broader issues. Accelerating Prior Authorization and Enhancing Transparency Issued in January, these regulations mandate federally regulated health plans to enhance electronic health information exchange […]
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Decline in Top Star Ratings: A Closer Look at MA, Part D Plans in 2024

Decline in Top Star Ratings: A Closer Look at MA, Part D Plans in 2024

In 2024, approximately 42% of Medicare Advantage plans offering prescription drug coverage are projected to achieve four or more stars, a decrease from the 51% recorded this year and the 68% in 2022, according to data released by the CMS on Friday. The five-star rating system, established by the Affordable Care Act, serves to assist […]
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Commercial Plan Prioritizes Affordable Healthcare and Preventive Measures

Commercial Plan Prioritizes Affordable Healthcare and Preventive Measures

The emphasis on preventive care by the payer likely contributed to its high re-enrollment rate. Insurance Company’s employer-sponsored healthcare plan, compliant with the Affordable Care Act, has emerged as the fastest-growing commercial plan for the payer. Data from the payer’s Impact Study suggests that the healthcare plan company’s focus on both price transparency and preventive […]
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Top 4 Challenges in Insurance Reimbursement Faced by Physicians

Access to beneficial healthcare is largely tied to insurance reimbursements for many Americans. Yet, despite their significance, physicians encounter various obstacles in obtaining these payments. Challenges involve inconsistent reimbursement schedules, payment audits, billing errors, unforeseen denials, lengthy appeals, and services falling outside coverage. These issues can hinder timely care, disrupt service continuity, and leave medical […]
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Value-Based Care Catching up to Fee-For-Service

Value-Based Care Catching up to Fee-For-Service

Outcomes-based models are spreading, but fee-for-service still dominates payment landscape. Is value-based care having a moment? Health care policy experts and institutions have long agreed that fee-for-service (FFS) medicine is wasteful, outmoded and at least partially responsible for the U.S. spending far more than peer nations on health care, but with outcomes that are no […]
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CMS, HHS Finalize 2023 Notice of Benefits, Payment Parameters

CMS, HHS Finalize 2023 Notice of Benefits, Payment Parameters

  CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2023 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters Final Rule, which includes standardized plan options, changes to network adequacy reviews, refinements to the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits nondiscrimination policy, and other changes. “The recent Open Enrollment Period demonstrated the demand for […]
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AHIP warns proposed ACA exchange rule could threaten market’s growing stability

AHIP warns proposed ACA exchange rule could threaten market’s growing stability

  AHIP, the top lobbying organization for commercial insurers, is warning the feds that provisions in its proposed rule governing the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges for 2023 could “undermine” the growing stability there. For instance, the group says in comments (PDF) submitted late Thursday that potential changes to requirements for essential health benefits would limit […]
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Revenue cycle management 2.0: The key to successful healthcare finance

Revenue cycle management 2.0: The key to successful healthcare finance

This has, in turn, put greater emphasis on the need for Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) systems to enable a healthcare provider to better manage transactions between payer, provider and patients. It can, through the use of various software platforms, boost revenues, reduce denials and enhance the patient experience. According to a survey published by health […]
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How The Affordable Care Act Impacted Small Group Coverage Trends

How The Affordable Care Act Impacted Small Group Coverage Trends

Small group coverage did not pursue the trends that many experts anticipated after the Affordable Care Act went into effect. From 2013 to 2020, small group coverage has maintained a fairly stable environment, researchers from the Urban Institute found. The researchers used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) in order to assess changes […]
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CMS Updates Affordable Care Act, Public Payer Enrollment Numbers

CMS Updates Affordable Care Act, Public Payer Enrollment Numbers

Affordable Care Act enrollment for 2022 and public payer enrollment midway through 2021 saw some record-breaking surges. In 2020 and 2021, public payer and Affordable Care Act marketplaces experienced major disruptions and changes that continue to have ripple effects. The year that the pandemic struck, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment escalated for the first time in […]
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