Researchers thought they had a way to keep hard-to-treat patients from constantly returning to the hospital and racking up big medical bills. Health workers visited homes, went along to doctor appointments, made sure medicines were available and tackled social problems including homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. Readmissions seemed to drop. The program looked so…
The shift toward value-based payment in healthcare that countless advocates say will cut costs and improve the quality of care isn’t without its downsides. This week’s earnings show the evolution is weighing on some providers’ bottom lines. As more of Universal Health Services’ behavioral health patients move from fee-for-service Medicaid to Medicaid managed-care programs, the…
Orlando-based Florida Hospital President and CEO Daryl Tol said during a recent talk that the hospital has created a secret team called Project Fulcrum to “kill the old healthcare model,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. Here are three things to know: 1. Mr. Tol, who also serves as president and CEO of the central Florida…
Medicare ACOs are designed to slow growth in Medicare spending and improve the quality of care delivery. Since the first ACOs were established in 2012, there has been a persistent question of whether the population health management and wellness measures employed by ACOs will result in fewer inpatient stays and lower hospital revenue. Can ACO participation be worth the financial risk for inpatient hospitals? Ultimately, no hospitals would be willing to join an ACO if lower revenue put the…
Hospitals that don’t adapt could get squeezed out of the care continuum as insurers grow and direct more care to lower-cost settings, according to an analysis from Moody’s Investors Service. Both not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals are feeling the pressure of falling inpatient volumes and reimbursement levels from government payers along with rising drug costs and…