CMS to Launch New Direct-Contracting Pay Models in 2020

HHS on Monday launched an ambitious, double-pronged strategy to shift primary care from fee-for-service payments to a global fee model where clinicians and hospitals could assume varying amounts of risk.

Safety Net Hospitals Benefit From Change to Readmission Reduction Program

A recent change to the CMS Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program led to fewer penalties for teaching hospitals, hospitals in disadvantaged neighborhoods and hospitals that treat high proportions of beneficiaries with disabilities, a study published in JAMA this week reports.

Home Health Physical Therapy Visits May Lower Re-Hospitalization Risk by 82%

Home health physical therapy sessions — set for major changes under the upcoming Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) — can drastically lower the risk of re-hospitalization among older adults following discharge.

Social Determinants of Health: Getting a Better Picture

Factors such as food security, access to transportation and even the availability of sidewalks, all are considered critical social determinants of health. These insights can help identify people whose environment or life circumstances may have an upstream effect on their health – and point the way toward improvements in their care.