Tag: Medicare

AHA study: HOPD Medicare patients are poorer, sicker, more rural than those seen in physician offices

Editor's Note Medicare patients treated in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) present with greater socioeconomic and clinical complexity than peers seen in independent physician offices, including higher prior emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient use. According to an American Hospital Association (AHA) study conducted by KNG Health Consulting and published on…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
September 4, 2025
Share

CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
September 2, 2025
Share

CMS’s plan to phase out inpatient-only list could bolster rural ASCs

Editor's Note The proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to eliminate the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list over 3 years could significantly expand opportunities for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), with rural facilities among those positioned to benefit most, Ambulatory Surgery Center News August 12 reports. The…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 26, 2025
Share

AAAHC unveils v44 standards to sharpen focus on patient-centered ambulatory care

Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) released its v44 Standards, introducing new guidance designed to strengthen patient-focused care, streamline compliance, and align with evolving state regulations, an August 18 AAAHC announcement reports. As detailed in the news release, the v44 Standards, effective December 16, 2025, were…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 26, 2025
Share

Medicare Advantage patients see lower perioperative costs than traditional Medicare peers

Editor's Note Surgical episodes for Medicare Advantage (MA) patients cost less and used fewer resources than those for traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries, according to a JAMA Health Forum study published August 1. Researchers analyzed 1.18 million procedures performed on 1.11 million beneficiaries and found 30-day episode costs were 3.1% lower…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 25, 2025
Share

Hospital-affiliated doctors drive highest costs by avoiding lower-cost sites

Editor's Note Patients treated by hospital-affiliated physicians are far less likely to receive specialty procedures in lower-cost settings, while private-equity–affiliated doctors are the most likely to steer patients toward these options, Ambulatory Surgery Center News August 12 reports. The findings come from a Mount Sinai study that examined physician affiliation,…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 20, 2025
Share

Largest US healthcare fraud case reveals billions in false Medicare, Medicaid claims and vast schemes nationwide

Editor's Note The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted the largest healthcare fraud takedown in US history, charging 324 individuals, including 96 licensed medical professionals, in schemes totaling more than $14.6 billion, HealthCare Business News July 8 reports. The nationwide crackdown involved 50 federal districts and 12 state attorneys…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 19, 2025
Share

Mind the gap: Why Medicare pays ASCs less than HOPDs—and what that means

For decades, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have shown their ability to deliver high-quality surgical care at substantially lower cost than hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). ASCs achieve these savings through leaner operations, streamlined staffing models, and specialty-focused efficiencies, not by compromising safety or outcomes. Studies consistently highlight procedures performed in ASCs…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 19, 2025
Share

Healthcare providers express cash flow concerns under new 340B rebate model

Editor's Note Healthcare providers could experience significant cash flow and operational changes under a new voluntary pilot program that fundamentally alters how the nation's second-largest drug payment program operates, according to an August 11 article in Modern Healthcare. As detailed in the article, The Health Resources and Services Administration announced…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
August 12, 2025
Share

Study: Medicare Advantage surgical episodes cost less, achieve similar quality as traditional Medicare

Editor's Note Medicare Advantage (MA) patients undergoing elective surgery incurred lower costs than comparable patients in traditional Medicare (TM) without higher readmission rates and with no significant difference in mortality rates, according to a study published August 1 in JAMA Health Forum. The findings suggest that MA plans reduce surgical…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
August 6, 2025
Share

Join our community

Learn More
Video Spotlight
Live chat by BoldChat