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Higher-Risk Medicare Shared Savings Program Pays Off for Some
Heartland Regional Medical Center had more to lose than most when it gambled and joined Medicare's experiment with accountable care in 2012. For the first year at least, that risky bet paid off.
Heartland Regional Medical Center had more to lose than most when it gambled and joined Medicare's experiment with accountable care in 2012. For the first year at least, that risky bet paid off. The St. Joseph, Mo., hospital owes Medicare nothing and instead will be awarded $2.9 million for its efforts.
Heartland Regional was one of four out of 114 organizations that opted for the riskier of two payment options under Medicare's broad test of accountable care, known as the Shared Savings Program, during its inaugural year. That choice meant that failure to curb medical expenses for Medicare patients under Heartland Regional's care would put the hospital at risk for potentially significant financial penalties. The hospital would be required to pay Medicare for a share of costs that exceeded set targets.
But with a willingness to risk losses, Heartland Regional also stood to earn bigger rewards. (The remaining 110 organizations agreed to smaller bonuses with no risk for loss.)
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/1sgoDGP
Source: Modern Healthcare
Blister Packs May Help Solve Medication Adherence Challenges and Lower Health Care Costs
June 10th 2025Julia Lucaci, PharmD, MS, of Becton, Dickinson and Company, discusses the benefits of blister packaging for chronic medications, advocating for payer incentives to boost medication adherence and improve health outcomes.
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Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
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