Avicenna Medical Blog

Care Management Weekly News Update - 4/24/18

Posted by DeAnn Dennis on Tue, Apr 24, 2018 @ 12:03 PM

ACA Plans Expanded Coverage for Chronic Conditions

As the Affordable Care Act increased the number of Americans with health coverage, 45% of adult ACA exchange enrollees had chronic conditions in 2014 and 2015. That’s a higher percentage than those with employer-based insurance and in nongroup plans not in the exchanges, according to a new study in Health Affairs.

Massachusetts General Hospital Taps Population Health Tools for Better Chronic Care

When it comes to tackling both chronic disease and the increased healthcare spending associated with it, a six-month study by Massachusetts General Hospital may have cracked the case, which found that having trained population health coordinators on staff helped to significantly improve health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases.

Study Finds 'Pervasive' Income Disparities in Pediatric Hospitalizations

A new Health Affairs study finds "pervasive" disparities in pediatric inpatient stays between children from poorer communities and those from affluent neighborhoods. The researchers looked at pediatric hospitalizations for all causes across Hamilton County, Ohio, and calculated bed-day rates according to census tract.

CMS Boosts Medicare Advantage Rates, Adjusts Risk Score Calculations Despite Concerns

Medicare Advantage plans will see a 3.4% payment boost next year, much higher than the 1.84% increase originally proposed by the White House in February. A final rule issued Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also altered the way it calculates Medicare Advantage risk scores, increasing the portion of encounter data from 15% to 25% for 2019.

CMS Officially Adds Non-Skilled In-Home Care as Medicare Advantage Benefit

Non-skilled in-home care services will be allowed as a supplemental benefit for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in a final rule issued Monday. The benefit marks the first time CMS has allowed supplemental benefits that include daily maintenance in Medicare Advantage.

Tags: Weekly Industry News