From 'Dating Sites' to AI-Powered Symptom Checkers: How Hospitals are Competing for Volume

MGMA19: 7 predictions for what lies ahead in healthcare in 2020

At the organization’s annual conference in New Orleans, members of MGMA’s government affairs group offered some predictions of what will happen in 2020. Here are seven predictions from Mollie Gelburd, J.D., and Drew Voytal, both associate directors of government affairs at MGMA:

Home Health Readmission Rates Remain Flat, Quality Improving

In 2018, the average 30-day home health readmission rate across all MS-DRGs checked in at 17.50%, according to the Chartbook. The 2017 mark was 17.15%. While readmission rates stayed flat from 2017 to 2018, provider quality improved across several categories. 

HHS Offers Guide to Help Clinicians Taper Patients Off Opioids

While many doctors say they aren’t confident they can safely help patients taper long-term opioid use, the government has come out with a new guide. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that it has published a new guide with recommendations for appropriately tapering or discontinuing long-term opioid use.