Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), in his first speech as the new chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, said it's important for Congress to pass legislation that would permanently repeal Medicare's contentious physician payment formula, but did not say how lawmakers intend to pay for it.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), in his first speech as the new chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, said it's important for Congress to pass legislation that would permanently repeal Medicare's contentious physician payment formula, but did not say how lawmakers intend to pay for it.
Finding a way to pay for the legislation continues to be the biggest challenge for lawmakers and could thwart their efforts for approving a permanent solution this year. Wyden didn't comment on the possibility of another temporary SGR fix if the funding puzzle can't be solved.
The Oregon Democrat and successor to former Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) began his remarks at the Federation of American Hospitals' annual conference in Washington by noting that Congress has an opportunity to move beyond lurching from one budget crisis to another with the permanent SGR bill that lawmakers are currently considering.
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/1kyVEvT
Source: Modern Healthcare
Hospital Participation in Medicare ACOs: No Change in Admission Practices and Spending
August 19th 2025Hospital accountable care organization (ACO) participation did not impact emergency department admission rates, length of stay, or costs, suggesting limited effectiveness in reducing spending for unplanned admissions and challenging hospital-led ACO cost-saving strategies.
Read More
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.
Listen
Care Quality Metrics in Medicare During COVID-19 Pandemic
August 12th 2025Medicare Advantage outperformed traditional Medicare on clinical quality measures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; mid-pandemic, however, traditional Medicare narrowed the gap on some in-person screenings.
Read More