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Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show continued growth at a robust pace in the healthcare sector during the month of January, and a medical economist explains why he believes "the healthcare economy is recession-proof."
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has extended the 5010 HIPAA transaction standards deadline to March 31. The delay is meant to enable more physician practices to implement the billing coding standard without incurring penalties. But the American Medical Association says CMS should do more.
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Hospitals have been scurrying to improve their patient experience scores under Medicare's value-based purchasing rules. Those efforts are paying off, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey responses show.
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Denials can wreck a provider’s revenue stream, but physician practices often give up on payment too soon, says an attorney. "Providers have a lot more leverage than they realize," he says.
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Medicare Advantage plans are showing a 10% increase in enrollment from a year ago, says U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, but the insurance industry warns of dramatic declines in the future.
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An insurer's plan to increase reimbursements for primary care physicians who transition to patient-centered medical homes could signal a tipping point in the move toward the new care management model.
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A breast cancer surgery patient's likelihood of enduring a second surgery varies depending on her choice of hospital, surgeon, and even her clinical profile, a study suggests.
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Even the most ardent proponents of outpatient care say its pace of growth may slow, depending on a community's need for integrated care and specific demand for multidisciplinary approaches.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services overpaid Medicare Advantage plans between $1.2 billion and $3.1 billion in 2010, and likely overpaid even more in 2011, analysis released by the Government Accountability Office shows.
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A proposed rule would give patients the right to get a report on who has electronically accessed their protected health information. Some legal experts worry this could pose problems for healthcare providers.
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