Lay-Health Workers Reduce Readmission Rates

A new report from Health Education Research found lay-health workers (LHWs) that addressed social needs affected readmission rates for a high-risk population at a rural community hospital in Kentucky. The study found a nearly 48% relative reduction of 30-day hospital readmissions for those in the program compared to patients that were not part of the program.

Opinion: If Nothing Else, the Budget Act Is a Win for Chronic Care

While the recent passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 caused alarm for deficit hawks, one piece of it has given hope to those working to address the needs of people living with disabilities or chronic illness. By reshaping coverage and payment under Medicare, the CHRONIC Care Act could accomplish what decades of federal policy have not.

74% of Execs Say Interoperability is Critical for Value-Based Care

Over 70 percent of healthcare financial executives say that data interoperability must improve within the next three years to ensure the success of value-based care, according to a Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) survey sponsored by Humana. Organizations are aiming to improve both their external and internal interoperability to allow greater visibility into financial and clinical opportunities, the poll found.

CHRONIC Care Act Signals Meaningful Change for Medicare Advantage Plans and Telehealth Coverage

On February 9, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018(“BBA”). Among the most notable changes that will occur with the enactment of the BBA is the inclusion of certain provisions taken from the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (“CHRONIC”) Care Act of 2017 bill which the Senate passed in September 2017.

How the Cloud is Opening Strategic Doors for More Hospitals

As hospitals continue their digital transformation, many are looking to the cloud to modernize their IT infrastructures, EHRs and data analytics capabilities to support value-based care. Cloud computing can speed EHR implementation and enhance data use while reducing costs.