CMS Announces $165 Million to Support Home Care, Reduce 'America's Over-Reliance' on Nursing Homes

On Wednesday, CMS announced the availability of up to $165 million in supplemental funding to states currently operating Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration programs. MFP programs allow certain Medicaid users, including older adults, to more seamlessly transition from a nursing home or institution back into the home, only if they desire to do so.

CMS Touts Dip in Medicare Advantage Premiums for 2021

CMS touted Thursday that Medicare Advantage premiums for 2021 are expected to decrease 11% to $21 on average compared with 2020. The 2021 premiums are expected to be the lowest in 14 years, or since 2007, CMS said as open enrollment nears for older adults.  

EHR Clinical Decision Support Tools Help Health Systems Reduce Costs, Study Finds

Of the 27 studies analyzed, the researchers found that 22 studies showed a positive economic impact after implementing CDS tools in the EHR. Overall, the digital tools helped to lower costs on unnecessary lab testing, duplicate order entry and reducing antibiotic prescriptions.

 A New Health IT Discipline: Social Informatics 

Researchers at UCSF describe the emergence of a new field dedicated to better integrating and supporting the clinical use of social determinants of health data.