Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week.
1. Healthcare to shift away from fee-for-service in historic overhaul
Starting in 2016, 30 percent of Medicare payments will be based on quality and value, and by 2018 that number will increase to 50 percent, according to an announcement from HHS. The change is meant to "drive the healthcare system towards greater value-based purchasing — rather than continuing to reward volume regardless of quality of care deliver," according to CMS. HHS also seeks to have 85 percent of all traditional Medicare payments tied to quality or value by 2016 through initiatives such as the Hospital Value Based Purchasing Program and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, with that number increasing to 90 percent by 2018.
2. 20 major health systems, payers pledge to convert 75% of business to value-based arrangements by 2020
A group of the top U.S. health systems, payers and stakeholders announced Wednesday the formation of the Health Care Transformation Task Force, a private-sector alliance aimed at accelerating the healthcare industry's transformation to value-based care. The Task Force has 28 members, including 20 insurers and provider organizations such as Boston-based Partners HealthCare and Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health. The group committed to put 75 percent of their businesses in the next five years into value-based payment arrangements, which will hold providers accountable for the cost of care, quality of care and health of the population. Payers involved include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Blue Shield of California. Announcement of the Task Force followed the HHS announcement Monday that half of Medicare reimbursement will shift to alternative payment arrangements by 2018.
3. Judge rejects Partners' deal
A deal that would have allowed Boston-based Partners Healthcare to acquire South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Mass., and Hallmark Health System in Melrose, Mass., was rejected by a Suffolk Superior Court Judge Thursday. The judge's decision came three days after new Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy took a strong stance on the acquisitions and opposed the transactions in a three-page court filing.
4. Possible Ebola patient at UC Davis Medical Center
The Sacramento-based University of California Davis Health System confirmed Thursday it is testing a patient for Ebola. The results of the test are still pending and may take up to 48 hours to confirm. Hospital officials maintain the patient is in good condition and poses no risk to the public or other medical center patients. According to a USA Today report, several highly trained members of the UC Davis staff volunteered to treat the individual.
5. Nurse wounded in shooting at clinic on MLK Jr. Community Hospital campus
A nurse practitioner was wounded in a shooting at the mental health urgent care facility on the campus of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles Monday, according to a Los Angeles Daily News report. The shooting happened during the intake process. The victim pushed a panic button and was shot during a scuffle. A 20-year-old man was arrested Monday following the shooting and was booked on several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon. In response to the incident, the urgent care facility will install metal detectors.
6. Canadian woman diagnosed with bird flu first in North America this year
A woman in Canada has been diagnosed with H7N9 bird flu, making her the first human in North America infected with the disease, according to an NBC News report. The woman was diagnosed after recently traveling to China, where nearly 500 people have been infected. A man she was traveling with is experiencing flu-like symptoms and may also have contracted the virus, although he has not yet been diagnosed.
7. CMS plans to trim MU reporting period to 90 days
CMS intends to modify legislation requirements for attesting to meaningful use to reduce the "burden" current requirements impose on providers while still supporting the long-term goals of the program. CMS is considering proposals to realign hospital reporting periods to the calendar year, allow eligible hospitals more time to implement 2014 Edition software into their workflow and improve alignment with CMS quality programs, and reduce the EHR reporting period to 90 days from the current year-long reporting period.
8. CBO slashes PPACA price tag by 20%
The Congressional Budget Office and staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation significantly lowered their estimates concerning the cost of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's insurance coverage provisions, according to a CBO report. In March 2010, the CBO and JCT estimated the PPACA's health insurance provisions would cost the federal government $710 billion during fiscal years 2015 through 2019. The latest estimate, $571 billion, is a 20 percent reduction in costs over the same period. According to the report, the revised projection is the result of several factors, including "changes in law, revisions to CBO's economic projections, the Supreme Court decision that made the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid option for states, administrative actions, new data and numerous improvements in CBO and JCT's modeling."
9. Indiana to expand Medicaid
Indiana became the 28th state — plus Washington, D.C. — to expand Medicaid under the PPACA, according to The Wall Street Journal. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) has been seeking to expand the state's Healthy Indiana Plan, but claimed he would not expand Medicaid unless he could charge some participants with a portion of the cost of their coverage and suspend those who didn't comply for six months. Under Indiana's deal, new beneficiaries in the program earning below the federal poverty level would have to contribute a certain dollar amount per month or be without benefits such as dental and vision care. Those slightly above the federal poverty level would have to pay a contribution starting at $20 a month, and could get locked out from the program if they fall behind on payments. Inappropriate emergency department use could result in copayments of up to $25.
10. ONC names Dr. Thomas Mason CMO
The Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT appointed Thomas Mason, MD, as CMO, effective Feb. 23, HIT Consultant reports. In his new position, he will provide clinical oversight of ONC programs and clinical coordination within the agency. Dr. Mason, a board-certified internist, currently serves as CMIO of Cook County Health and Hospitals System in Chicago, where he has overseen the implementation of an outpatient EHR system for 16 primary care health centers and 110 specialty care clinics.
11. Drs. Neal ElAttrache, Steve Lombardo perform surgery on Kobe Bryant
The Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic's Neal ElAttrache, MD, and Steve Lombardo, MD, performed rotator cuff surgery on NBA all-star Kobe Bryant on Wednesday morning, according to the LA Times. Amid rumors that Mr. Bryant may retire after his injury, Dr. ElAttrache said he's optimistic that the all-pro athlete could be ready for the last year of his contract, currently slated for next season. According to the report, the Los Angeles Lakers said Mr. Bryant could return to the game in as little as nine months.
12. Suit: Surgeon took selfie in Joan Rivers' operating room
Early this week, comedienne Joan Rivers' daughter Melissa Rivers filed a lawsuit against Yorkville Endoscopy, claiming the center was responsible for the death of her mother at the clinic last year. According to CNN, Ms. Rivers alleges the surgeons performing an upper endoscopy on Joan Rivers failed to follow proper protocol and that they were "reckless, grossly negligent and wanton." The lawsuit also includes the allegation that the endoscopy physician, Lawrence Cohen, MD, took a selfie with Ms. Rivers while she was under sedation during the procedure and without her consent.
13. Medtronic-Covidien deal final — but how will it change the industry?
Medtronic finalized the acquisition for Covidien Jan. 27 after several months of waiting for regulatory approval. After merging, the company has become Medtronic Plc and headquartered in Ireland, which has a 12.5 percent tax rate, much lower than the 35 percent in the U.S. The acquisition will inject cash into Medtronic, allowing the company to meet its promise to return half of free cash flow to investors. The transaction wasn't always smooth sailing: shareholders sued, the federal government sought to block Medtronic from moving headquarters overseas and CEO Omar Ishrak was under fire for receiving reimbursement — along with other top executives — to offset merger costs while most shareholders could take a hit.