HHS to give states more flexibility to implement health reform
December 16, 2011 (HHS News Release) - Approach will help ensure consumers have quality, affordable coverage starting in 2014
The Department of Health and Human Services today released a bulletin outlining proposed policies that will give states more flexibility and freedom to implement the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act ensures all Americans have access to quality, affordable health insurance. To achieve this goal, the law ensures that health insurance plans offered in the individual and small group markets, both inside and outside of the Affordable Insurance Exchanges (Exchanges), offer a comprehensive package of items and services, known as “essential health benefits.”
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Health care's top 2012 issues: technology, social media, security
by Pamela Lewis Dolan, amednews staff
December 13, 2011 (amednews.com) - As organizations confront budgetary and government matters, a report outlines what patients consider important.
Investment in health information technology, the privacy and security of patient data, and ramping up social media efforts will be top concerns for health care organizations in 2012, according to a study by PwC's Health Research Institute.
PwC made these predictions after the completion of a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults on their attitudes toward health care issues. Results were combined with an analysis of regulatory, government and economic issues that will affect health care next year.
"2012 will be a seminal year for the health industries as businesses wade through economic, regulatory and political uncertainty," said Kelly Barnes, U.S. health industries practice leader at PwC. "One of the ways the health industry is responding to these uncertainties is by connecting in new ways with each other and their consumers as they rethink existing business models and previous notions about competition, cooperation and collaboration."
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Senate Passes Two-Month Medicare Extender Legislation
December 17, 2011 (Rural Health Voices | News and Opinion from the National Rural Health Association) - The Senate passed a modified Medicare extender bill early Saturday morning that includes a number of expiring rural health provisions. The legislation extends, for a two-month period, the outpatient hold harmless extension, Medicare Section 508 reclassification, reimbursement increases for ambulance services, rural mental health add-ons, extension of therapy cap exemptions and an update for the sustainable growth rate within the physician fee schedule. A full copy of the legislation can be found through the Modern Healthcare link below.
While NRHA commends the Senate for acting to preserve these vital programs, we urge Congress as a whole to take steps to make these vital programs permanent. Many rural facilities depend on these programs and a permanent extension of these payment methodologies and programs will provide them with stability and certainty in the future.
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RELATED
• Members of Congress issue call to extend health benefits to rural communities (December 16, 2011 | Lake County News)
• House Republicans Voice Opposition to Senate “Extenders” Legislation (December 18, 2011 | Rural Health Voices)
Affordable Care Act helps 32 health systems improve care for patients, saving up to $1.1 billion
December 19, 2011 (HHS News Release) - Thirty-two leading health care organizations from across the country will participate in a new Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) initiative made possible by the Affordable Care Act, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. The Pioneer ACO initiative will encourage primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals and other caregivers to provide better, more coordinated care for people with Medicare and could save up to $1.1 billion over five years.
Under this initiative, operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (Innovation Center), Medicare will reward groups of health care providers that have formed ACOs based on how well they are able to both improve the health of their Medicare patients and lower their health care costs.
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MORE FROM HHS
• We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration makes more progress to reduce, prevent drug shortages (December 15, 2011)
• We Can’t Wait: Nine States Awarded Race to The Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants (December 16, 2011)
• New data: Affordable Care Act helps 2.5 million additional young adults get health insurance (December 14, 2011)
• Partnership for Patients initiative to improve hospital care (December 14, 2011)
HIMSS report finds widespread use of mHealth but also raises concerns
December 13, 2011 (Telemedicine and e-Health News Alert) -
The HIMSS Mobile Technology Survey found widespread use of mHealth in healthcare settings but also that upper level management is not keeping up with the technology. Only 38% of the 164 respondents said they have a policy in place to regulate use of mobile devices and outline a mobile strategy, and half said their organization is developing one. Privacy and security was the greatest concern at 59.76%, followed by lack of funding or budget constraints at 48.17%. However, 93% of respondents said that clinicians at their organization access information on a mobile device, with laptops and computers on wheels most widely used. Most clinicians, 83.54% use apps to look up health information, such as clinical guidelines, and 75% to view patient information, such as lab results or digital images.
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How states are keeping doctors from moving out
by Carolyne Krupa, amednews staff
December 19, 2011 (amednews.com) - In the face of physician shortages, they are focusing efforts on keeping medical students and residents within state boundaries.
Widespread concerns about physician shortages have many states working to keep doctors trained in medical schools and residency programs there from crossing state lines to practice medicine.
Nationwide, there were 258.7 active physicians per 100,000 people in 2010, according to new statistics from the Assn. of American Medical Colleges. In individual states, ratios range from a high of 415.5 physicians per 100,000 people in Massachusetts to a low of 176.4 per 100,000 in Mississippi.
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