Health Care Delivery

Reducing inappropriate use of cardiac telemetry may improve the cost of care while maintaining patient safety.

Hospitals in more competitive markets had significantly lower costs per discharge for both Medicare and privately insured patients.

In "What Does the Affordable Care Act Actually Do?," presented by Ivor Douglas, MD, Associate Professor, University of Colorado Denver, Chief, Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine Director, Medical Intensive Care, Denver Health Medical Center, at the ATS 2013 International Conference, Dr Douglas noted that fundamental issues driving the Affordable Care Act (ACA) include access, quality, and cost.

Colin Cooke, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, says that hospitals with higher readmission rates that treat patients with acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia will be penalized due to healthcare reform.

The former nurse and hospital company executive, Marilyn Tavenner, has been confirmed as administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Tavenner has been serving as the interim administrator for the CMS since 2010. Her appointment, which has officially been vacant since Dr Mark B. McClellan stepped down in October 2006, came after much debate as to whether or not she should officially lead the organization.

Dramatic changes in medical payment and economics began with the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Cardiologists weighed in on how this law is expected to impact upon their treatment decisions and business economics.

The realities of the emerging healthcare marketplace are quickly being recognized. Layna Cook, with law firm, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, discussed these realities with her presentation, The Impact of Health Reform's State Exchanges.

A recent press release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed the group's intention to recruit Navigators in assisting consumers with the new healthcare exchanges, especially as October enrollment dates quickly approach.

As a side effect of national sequester cuts, many cancer clinics have been forced to turn away Medicare patients.

Could two years really have made the difference? While some healthcare reforms proposals have called for raising Medicare eligibility from age 65 to 67 to address cost concerns associated with the Affordable Care Act, President Obama has made it clear that he would not consider increasing the age limit as a way to aid the national deficit.

Steve Melnick, President, SM Innovations, says that accountable care organizations (ACOs) will impact the pharmacy benefit by moving the healthcare system from a volume-based to a value-based model.