Here are five articles published by Becker's Hospital Review this past week that offer insight on hospital stocks, Medicare specialty drug spending, surprise billing and more.
1. Hospital stocks climb after hints of 'smooth' ACA repeal
Major for-profit hospital operators saw their stock prices rise Wednesday after Vice President-elect Mike Pence addressed concerns about congressional efforts to repeal the ACA, according to a Bloomberg report.
2. RCM tip of the day: Understand the definitions behind the metrics
Peter Angerhofer, a principal at Colburn Hill Group, an RCM operational solutions firm, provides advice on improving revenue cycle performance.
3. OIG: Medicare specialty drug spending tripled in five years
Federal payments for Medicare Part D catastrophic coverage exceeded $33 billion in 2015, more than triple the amount paid in 2010, according to a report released by HHS' Office of Inspector General.
4. 20% of inpatient ED visits likely linked to surprise billing in 2014
One in five inpatient emergency department admissions likely resulted in a surprise medical bill from an out-of-network provider in 2014, a study published in Health Affairs found.
5. Uncompensated care to exceed $1 trillion if ACA is repealed
Repealing the ACA would leave millions uninsured — increasing spending on uncompensated care from $656 billion to $1.7 trillion over the next decade, adding significantly to the financial burden for healthcare providers, according to a recent analysis from the Urban Institute, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
More articles on healthcare finance:
Shuttered Texas hospital files for bankruptcy
21 hospital closures in 2016
Health First sees operating income plunge 89% in FY 2016
More articles on healthcare finance:
Shuttered Texas hospital files for bankruptcy
21 hospital closures in 2016
Health First sees operating income plunge 89% in FY 2016