Higher satisfaction with problem resolution was observed among beneficiaries who were more inclined to renew their Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans have garnered favorable satisfaction scores, with beneficiaries showing high approval ratings for trustworthiness, operational ease, and coverage adequacy, as outlined in a recent market research study. The 2023 US Medicare Advantage Study encompasses […]
On May 1, UnitedHealthcare made nine changes to its reimbursement policies for its commercial, individual and family, and Medicare Advantage plans. Some of the changes go into effect June 1, while others will begin August 1. Here are nine UnitedHealthcare reimbursement changes happening in the coming months: Commercial plans: Molecular pathology policy, professional and facility: […]
The average cost per employee is estimated at $13,800 Employers are expected to pay a lot more for employee health insurance in 2023. A study by a professional services firm estimates a 6.5% increase resulting in an average of $13,800 per employee. The 6.5% increase is double the 3% most employers saw in 2021 and […]
Opponents of the loosened interstate telehealth restrictions that were instituted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic argued that it would result in out-of-state doctors luring patients away from their current physicians. But a new study finds that most out-of-state telehealth is used for continuity of care, not acquiring new patients. The study compares interstate […]
As Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to evaluate the inclusion of telehealth services that were temporarily added to the Medicare telehealth services list during the COVID-19 public health emergency, they have finalized that certain services added to the Medicare telehealth services list will remain on the list through December 31, 2023. This […]
During the Delta and Omicron surges, hospitals and health systems faced significant challenges, prompting AHA to ask Congress for additional COVID-19 financial support. The American Hospital Association (AHA) has urged Congress to provide hospitals and health systems with additional COVID-19 financial support, including more Provider Relief Funds and an extension on the Medicare sequester relief. […]
Through the online price transparency tool, users can view hospital service prices and assess machine-readable file completeness. A healthcare technology company has launched an online price transparency tool that allows consumers to compare hospital costs before seeking care. Turquoise Health’s Price Transparency Scorecard lets consumers find prices by searching for specific services or providers. The […]
Thanks to new provisions that went into effect for the 2022 calendar year, CMS is no longer necessarily considering “nefarious intent” when determining whether a provider or supplier should be excluded from the Medicare program. The Physician Fee Schedule for the 2022 calendar year is in full effect. The proposals, which were issued in July […]
Patient self-service is key for providers to keep pace with the evolution of healthcare consumerism. Catch a flight recently? Odds are, you booked your tickets online. Visited a bank? There’s a good chance you used an ATM. Just think about the last time you went to the grocery store: How long was the self-checkout line? […]
States should prepare for fluctuations in Medicaid spending on nonelderly acute care after the declaration ends. The end of the coronavirus public health emergency declaration could lead to a shift in Medicaid spending for state Medicaid programs and federal Medicaid costs, according to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute. […]