Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week.
1. Broward Health CEO dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound
Nabil El Sanadi, MD, president and CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health, was found dead in his condominium from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Jan. 23. Dr. El Sanadi, 60, was an Egyptian immigrant who moved with his family to Cleveland in the 1960s to escape religious persecution. He served as president and CEO at Broward since 2014, and he also served as chief of emergency medicine for the public health system. COO Kevin Fusco will now serve as acting CEO.
2. CBO releases healthcare spending outlook
Federal spending on Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and health insurance exchange subsidies will rise to 6.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product in 2026, up from 5.5 percent this year, according to budget projections from the Congressional Budget Office. Federal outlays are projected to rise by 6 percent this year to $3.9 trillion, or 21.2 percent of GDP. That increase is largely attributable to growth in mandatory spending, including spending on major healthcare programs. For more information on the CBO's recent budget and economic outlook, click here.
3. CBO: Medicare's hospital trust fund will be exhausted in 2026
The Congressional Budget Office has changed its prediction as to when Medicare's hospital trust fund will run dry. At the end of 2015, the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund had a balance of $195 billion. In 2015 the CBO projected the HI Trust Fund would remain solvent through 2030, but its recent report released Monday projected the trust fund will be exhausted in 2026.
4. CMS proposes changes to Medicare Shared Savings Program
In an effort to strengthen incentives for accountable care organizations, CMS proposed a rule that includes a number of changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Under the proposed rule, CMS would modify the process for resetting the benchmarks that are used to determine ACO performance. The proposal calls for the use of regional, rather than national, spending growth trends when establishing and updating an ACO's rebased benchmark. For more information about the proposed rule, click here.
5. Cerner's Neal Patterson announces cancer diagnosis
Neal Patterson, chairman, co-founder and CEO of Cerner, was diagnosed with cancer in early January. Mr. Patterson announced the news in a note provided to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Jan. 25. He said he was diagnosed with a treatable and curable soft tissue cancer, and he will begin treatment immediately. His treatment will not severely affect Cerner's operations, Mr. Patterson said.
6. Georgia hospital faces closure, former CEO blamed for troubles
Washington County Regional Medical Center, a rural 56-bed hospital in Georgia, could close, causing community members to second-guess the motives of the local Ford dealer who also happens to be the hospital's former CEO, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In addition to receiving compensation that was significantly higher than the hospital's previous CEO, CEO Jimmy Childre is also receiving negative attention for a partnership agreement that he negotiated with University Hospital in Augusta, Ga., that fell through after he stepped down from his position.
7. Epic named No. 1 Overall Software Suite by KLAS for 6th year
For the sixth straight year, Verona, Wis.-based Epic Systems was ranked as the No. 1 Overall Software Suite in KLAS' latest Best in KLAS report. The report ranks healthcare companies based on customer reviews. Cerner was ranked No. 2 in the Overall Software Suite ranking. Epic was also named the top Overall Physician Practice Vendor, according to the report.
8. Anthem Q4 profit tumbles 64%
Anthem's operating revenue rose in the fourth quarter of 2015, but the Indianapolis-based health insurer experienced a decrease in its individual business, causing its net income to dip 64 percent year over year to $180.9 million.
9. CMS findings could put Theranos at risk of losing certification
CMS found "deficient practices" at a Theranos laboratory in Newark, Calif., some of which "pose immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety," following a completion of a November inspection, a letter released Wednesday said, according to The Wall Street Journal. CMS found Theranos' Newark lab had five major infractions that violate federal standards that involve a range of issues, including its hematology practices, analytic systems and personnel issues.