1. Hospital stocks climb after hints of ‘smooth’ ACA repeal
Major for-profit hospital operators saw their stock prices rise Wednesday after Vice President-elect Mike Pence addressed concerns about congressional efforts to repeal the ACA, according to a Bloomberg report.
2. RCM tip of the day: Understand the definitions behind the metrics
Peter Angerhofer, a principal at Colburn Hill Group, an RCM operational solutions firm, provides advice on improving revenue cycle performance.
3. OIG: Medicare specialty drug spending tripled in five years
Federal payments for Medicare Part D catastrophic coverage exceeded $33 billion in 2015, more than triple the amount paid in 2010, according to a report released by HHS’ Office of Inspector General.
4. 20% of inpatient ED visits likely linked to surprise billing in 2014
One in five inpatient emergency department admissions likely resulted in a surprise medical bill from an out-of-network provider in 2014, a study published in Health Affairs found.
5. Uncompensated care to exceed $1 trillion if ACA is repealed
Repealing the ACA would leave millions uninsured — increasing spending on uncompensated care from $656 billion to $1.7 trillion over the next decade, adding significantly to the financial burden for healthcare providers, according to a recent analysis from the Urban Institute, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
More articles on healthcare finance:
Shuttered Texas hospital files for bankruptcy
21 hospital closures in 2016
Health First sees operating income plunge 89% in FY 2016
More articles on healthcare finance:
Shuttered Texas hospital files for bankruptcy
21 hospital closures in 2016
Health First sees operating income plunge 89% in FY 2016
