Today's Alert
Medicare may raise payments to health clinics by $1.3 billion
CMS Finalizes a Medicare Prospective Payment System for Federally Qualified Health Centers
NACHC response to CMS final rule on Medicare payment system for FQHCs
Specialty Hospital of Washington could be forced into bankruptcy by creditors
Enrollment spending much higher in state-run Obamacare exchanges, study shows
Who really pays for health care might surprise you
Health spending exploded after O-Care coverage expansion
Houses passes bipartisan fix to health law
World Health Organization: No, seriously, stop abusing antibiotics
Coffee tied to lower diabetes risk
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Medicare may raise payments to health clinics by $1.3 billion

Bloomberg News, The Washington Examiner,

April 30, 2014

Thanks to a new reimbursement system ordered by President Obama, community health centers across the country are set to see Medicare reimbursements increase by as much as $1.3 billion over the next five years.

CMS Finalizes a Medicare Prospective Payment System for Federally Qualified Health Centers

Press Release, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, April 29, 2014

On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized its prospective payment system for Federally Qualified Health Centers, which is set to increase reimbursements by nearly 32%.  According to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, "The new payment system helps increase the ability and capacity of federally qualified health centers to provide essential and affordable services for even more patients who need care.  These FQHCs are essential to countless patients in local communities who depend on them for getting their primary and preventive care."

NACHC response to CMS final rule on Medicare payment system for FQHCs

Press Release, National Association of Community Health Centers, April 30, 2014

The National Association of Community Health Centers is celebrating new rules which will increase Medicare reimbursement rates for Federally Qualified Health Centers and better ensure their financial sustainability in the coming years.    



Specialty Hospital of Washington could be forced into bankruptcy by creditors

By Mike DeBonis, The Washington Post,

April 26, 2014

Millions of dollars in debt to various agencies, the Specialty Hospital of Washington may be forced into bankruptcy this year unless administrators are able to get the facility's finances in order. 

Enrollment spending much higher in state-run Obamacare exchanges, study shows

By Tom Howell, Jr., The Washington Times,

April 30, 2014

According to a new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, state-run insurance exchanges spent an average of $17.15 per uninsured individual during this open enrollment period, which is more than double the per enrollee costs associated with the federal exchange. 

Who really pays for health care might surprise you

By Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News, April 30, 2014

With an additional eight million Americans now enrolled in health insurance, there are many misconceptions regarding who pays for what.

Health spending exploded after O-Care coverage expansion

By Elise Viebeck, The Hill, April 30, 2014

As millions of Americans obtained insurance during the first part of the year, health care spending increased by 9.9%, offering a much needed boost to the economy.  

Houses passes bipartisan fix to health law

Associated Press, The Washington Post, 

April 29, 2014

Working to restore the competitive edge of U.S. insurance companies selling coverage to expatriates, the House has passed a fix to the health care law that exempts plans sold to this group from meeting coverage requirements outlined by the Affordable Care Act.  

World Health Organization: No, seriously, stop abusing antibiotics

By James Hamblin, The Atlantic, April 30, 2014

Given the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant infectious agents, the World Health Organization is calling on health care providers to drastically reduce the use of antibiotics.

Coffee tied to lower diabetes risk

By Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times,

May 1, 2014

As health care providers, public health researchers and others try to find ways to curb rates of diabetes across the country, one new study indicates that coffee consumption may help.

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