Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model

Mandatory Value-Based Programs Increase Hospital Costs

While policymakers continue to pursue mandatory Medicare value-based programs at least in part to help reduce taxpayers’ costs for Medicare, they may be robbing Peter to pay Paul. According to a new study, hospitals that participate in federally mandated Medicare value-based purchasing programs face increased administrative costs for doing so even while federal agencies maintain that the programs are saving taxpayer money. Brown University researchers examined 15 years of hospital cost reports and found that participation in Medicare’s Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, and Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program cost hospitals about $650,000 a year in added administrative [...]

joe2026-08-13T16:41:29-04:00August 17, 2026|hospitals, Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 6

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for July 31 to August 6. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents.CongressThe Senate is expected to vote on its version of a continuing resolution (CR) before leaving for recess; it would extend federal government funding through December 11. Notably, the legislation includes language that would prevent the Office of Management and Budget from moving forward with its proposed change in how federal grants are awarded and overseen.Because appropriations bills have not cleared both chambers of Congress, the federal government faces a September [...]

joe2026-08-17T15:33:55-04:00August 6, 2026|340b, Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for Monday, May 3

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:15 p.m. on Monday, May 3. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 30 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS and its Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) have announced a new program to cover the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines for patients enrolled in health plans that either do not cover vaccination [...]

iqtsupport2021-05-03T17:28:49-04:00May 3, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

ACOs, APMs Proliferate

The number of accountable care organizations and alternative payment models is growing, as is the number of people served by such programs. According to a new study published on the Health Affairs Blog, there are more than 900 ACOs across the country – a 10 percent increase over a year ago. 32 million Americans are served by ACOs today – 2.2 million more than a year ago. Among them, 59 percent are served through commercial contracts, 29 percent by Medicare contracts, and 12 percent under Medicaid contracts. ACO growth is greatest in metropolitan areas, the states with the greatest ACO [...]

iqtsupport2017-06-30T06:00:29-04:00June 30, 2017|Accountable Care Organization, ACO|