The pandemic has changed patients’ use and perceptions of healthcare organizations. The question remains: Will those changes here to stay? PATIENTS PREFER TELEHEALTH SERVICES FROM DOCTORS, HEALTH PLANS Most telehealth users accessed virtual care services through their regular doctor or health plan as opposed to direct-to-consumer telehealth platforms, according to new data from Morning Consult. […]
More than a third of Representatives call on the federal government to revise No Surprises Act implementation, specifically around the independent dispute resolution process. A bipartisan group of 152 House members wrote to the secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury and Labor and urged them to amend the interim final rule (IFR) that will […]
Affordability, simplicity, and accessibility remain the three targets that payers aim to hit during Medicare open enrollment season, according to Christopher Ciano, president of Aetna Medicare. Listen to the full podcast to hear more details. And don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. The push for greater affordability is perhaps most evident […]
The Biden administration dropped a final rule Friday that will reward providers that improve rates of home dialysis and kidney transplants among low-income Medicare and dual-eligible beneficiaries. The goal of the changes is to encourage dialysis providers to decrease disparities in home dialysis and transplant rates, part of a larger effort by the Biden administration. […]
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has asked CMS to include Medicare Advantage organizations in its proposed rule that would streamline the prior authorization process and reduce patient care delays. In December 2020, CMS released a notice of proposed rulemaking about improving prior authorization, following past administrative and clinician struggles. If the rule is finalized, there […]
The delivery and payment of care will look a lot different by 2030, according to CMS. The federal agency has announced that it expects all Medicare beneficiaries with Parts A and B to be in a care relationship with accountability for quality and total cost of care by the end of the decade. At the […]
COVID-19 has stretched our nation’s healthcare resources to the brink, also having a significant impact on the economic health of medical practices. New challenges because of the pandemic have forced practices and health systems to take a closer look at their financial health. More specifically, providers have been seeking to identify new ways in which […]
Since not shopping around can have an impact on enrollees’ coverage and costs, CMS recommends they review and compare plans each year. The numbers are similar across both Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare, with 68% of MA beneficiaries saying they don’t compare medical plans, and 73% of those in traditional Medicare claiming the same. The […]
The ideal value chain for any industry or company is one built for lifelong customer retention and loyalty. One component of such a chain is a portfolio strategy that continues to offer maximum choice and affordability. For insurers in the Medicare market, this equates to a mix of plan designs and standalone prescription drug […]
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people often relied on telemedicine for doctor visits. Now, insurers are betting that some patients liked it enough to embrace new types of health coverage that encourages video visits — or outright insists on them. Priority Health in Michigan, for example, offers coverage requiring online visits first for […]