#Medicare Accelerated Payment Program

[hislop3]

Sign of the Times: Petersen Health Care Files for Bankruptcy

Mid last week, Petersen Health Care, a Peoria, IL based nursing home operator filed for bankruptcy in Delaware. SC Healthcare Holdings LLC, which operates as Petersen Health Care, in federal court filings last Wednesday said it is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because of ongoing financial problems partly due to an October ransomware attack and disruptions in payments from payers…

[omshinde5145]

Revenue Cycle Management Market Revenue, SWOT, PEST Analysis, Growth Factors, 2024–2030

The Revenue Cycle Management Market is projected to grow from USD 47.2 billion in 2023 to USD 95.5 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period (2024 – 2030). Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) has emerged as a critical component of healthcare administration, ensuring that healthcare providers receive timely payment for the services they deliver. As the complexities of healthcare financing grow, the RCM market has become an essential pillar in maintaining financial stability for healthcare organizations.

RCM is the financial process that healthcare organizations use to manage the administrative and clinical functions associated with patient service revenue. This process begins when a patient schedules an appointment and continues through billing and the collection of payments. Effective RCM streamlines the billing cycle, reduces errors, and ensures that healthcare providers can sustain their operations by securing consistent cash flow.

Key steps in the RCM process include:

Patient registration and insurance verification

Coding and charge capture

Claim submission and tracking

Denial management

Payment posting and patient collections

Read More about Sample Report: https://intentmarketresearch.com/request-sample/revenue-cycle-management-market-3624.html

Key Players in the RCM Market

Cerner Corporation

McKesson Corporation

Epic Systems Corporation

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions

The Growth of the RCM Market

Increased Healthcare Costs and Complexity

As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with rising costs, providers face mounting pressure to optimize their revenue cycle to ensure profitability. Government regulations, payer policies, and complex billing procedures often result in revenue leakage if not managed properly. This has created a demand for robust RCM solutions that can streamline processes, minimize errors, and maximize revenue.

Adoption of Healthcare IT Solutions

The digital transformation of healthcare has accelerated the adoption of advanced IT solutions in the RCM space. Technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and automation are being leveraged to reduce manual errors, speed up billing cycles, and enhance operational efficiency. Cloud-based RCM systems have also gained popularity due to their scalability, flexibility, and ability to integrate with Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems.

Growing Focus on Value-Based Care

As healthcare shifts toward a value-based care model, providers are incentivized to improve the quality of care while reducing costs. This paradigm shift is driving the need for sophisticated RCM systems that can handle value-based payment models, such as bundled payments and shared savings programs. These systems need to capture data more accurately, analyze it in real-time, and ensure compliance with emerging payment methodologies.

Challenges Facing the RCM Market

Despite its growth, the RCM market faces several challenges:

Complex Regulatory Environment

Healthcare regulations are constantly evolving, especially in markets like the U.S., where the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, and Medicaid play pivotal roles. Compliance with ever-changing regulations, coding standards (ICD-10), and payer requirements creates additional layers of complexity that RCM systems must navigate.

High Implementation and Maintenance Costs

While RCM systems offer immense benefits, their implementation and ongoing maintenance can be costly, particularly for smaller healthcare providers. The initial investment in software, hardware, and staff training can be a significant barrier for some organizations. Additionally, ensuring seamless integration with other IT systems, such as EHRs, requires substantial time and resources.

Data Security Concerns

With the increasing reliance on digital platforms and cloud-based systems, data security has become a major concern. Healthcare data is highly sensitive, and breaches or cyberattacks can have far-reaching consequences. RCM providers must prioritize robust security measures, ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) while safeguarding patient data.

Ask for Customization Report: https://intentmarketresearch.com/ask-for-customization/revenue-cycle-management-market-3624.html

Future Trends in the RCM Market

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, several trends are expected to shape the future of the RCM market:

AI and Machine Learning Integration

AI and ML are set to revolutionize the RCM market by automating processes such as claims denial management, predictive analytics, and patient payment forecasting. These technologies can analyze large datasets to identify patterns, anticipate billing issues, and improve the overall efficiency of the revenue cycle.

Telehealth and Remote Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telehealth, and RCM systems will need to adapt to manage the unique billing and reimbursement challenges associated with virtual care. As telehealth becomes more mainstream, RCM providers will focus on developing solutions that can handle the complexities of telehealth billing and compliance.

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain has the potential to bring transparency and security to healthcare transactions. By creating an immutable ledger of transactions, blockchain can enhance trust between providers, payers, and patients while reducing administrative inefficiencies.

Conclusion

The Revenue Cycle Management market is poised for continued growth as healthcare organizations seek to navigate the complex financial and regulatory environment. With advancements in technology and a focus on efficiency, RCM systems will play a crucial role in ensuring the financial health of healthcare providers. As the market expands, innovation in AI, telehealth, and blockchain will shape the future of revenue cycle management, helping healthcare organizations thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

[bbtfinance]

New Fintech Startups in Finance Company Sydney

Finance company Sydney industry has a rich and diverse range of businesses. Some are long-established institutions with a global footprint, while others are new fintech startups with ambitious goals.

Zip provides payment and credit solutions like Zip Pay and Pocketbook that simplify spending, budgeting, saving, and tracking. They also offer an online e-commerce platform for retailers.

Brighte

Brighte offers a finance solution to Australian homeowners for energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar power systems and batteries. Its products and services include a buy now, pay later payment plan, a green loan program, and other finance options. It also has a marketplace where customers can find products and services from empanelled vendors.

The company recently closed a $195 million debt facility backed by green bonds. This financing is enabling Brighte to expand its financing operations, including supporting the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme and the Tasmanian EV Charger Grant scheme. The company has also simplified its pricing model, removing the application fee and fortnightly processing fees.

Waddle

Waddle offers a digital cash flow solution for small businesses that uses outstanding invoices as security. The service is more flexible than a traditional bank loan and connects to business accounting software such as Xero. It also automates many of the manual processes involved in invoice finance.

The Stream Working Capital platform allows customers like Jarrod McGrath to bridge gaps in cash flow. The application process and in-life management of the facility are fast, simple and straightforward. The company is based in Sydney, Australia and has an experienced team of entrepreneurs.

Waddle was recently acquired by Commonwealth Bank through its venture-scaling arm x15ventures. The acquisition will enable the company to accelerate its growth and deliver innovative working capital solutions.

Xinja

Xinja was Australia’s first app-based “neobank”, promising to shake up the banking industry with high interest deposit accounts targeting Millennial customers. Its popularity grew rapidly, with $200M invested in its savings accounts within months of launch.

The company then secured an ADI license, allowing it to offer transaction accounts and a Stash savings account. However, the company struggled to raise additional capital. Its directors blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasingly difficult capital-raising environment for the bank’s decision to close its customer accounts, return their deposits, and hand back its licence.

Xinja’s team is made up of experts from around the world who work remotely to deliver products that help Australians take control of their money. It also offers state of the art security.

Marketlend

Marketlend is an online platform that facilitates prompt lending in a secure environment. The company offers supply chain finance, debtor finance and secured lines of credit for SMEs. It also provides investors with quality returns in a conservative secured investment regime.

Leo Tyndall, founder and CEO of Marketlend, believes that small businesses deserve access to capital that is fair and transparent. Marketlend charges a fee to process the transaction, but not an excessive amount of overhead or commissions.

The company recently closed a $1 million funding round led by Crayhill Capital Management, Jon Barlow, and Mati Szeszkowski, former head of KKR’s technology private equity practice. The money will be used to automate the platform’s systems and originate more loans.

Tyro Payments

Tyro Payments is a technology-focused and values-driven company that offers payments and value-adding business banking products to over 66,000 Australian merchants. Its solutions include credit, debit, EFTPOS card acquiring, Medicare and private health fund claiming, and unsecured business loans.

Customers can also save on fees with the country’s first least cost routing solution. They can also control who has access to their data and for how long. They can also choose to share their Tyro account details with accredited organisations for a limited time.

Tyro also provides 24/7 customer support, seamless reconciliation with integrated bank feeds into Xero and BPAY, plus intelligent notifications.

uno Home Loans

uno Home Loans offers a digital mortgage platform that lets consumers search, compare and acquire home loans from 22 brands. It also offers advice on home loan products, interest rates and credit policies. Its goal is to serve 10 percent of Australia’s mortgage customers by 2028.

The company has received multiple awards and accolades for its digital tools, including the Good Design Award. These achievements can help it attract clients who are seeking personalized and attentive financial services.

uno Home Loans has a number of strategic partnerships, including Velocity Frequent Flyer and Acacia Money. These partnerships can lead to cross-selling opportunities and expand its customer base.

[sahraeyll]

The Ultimate Guide to Medical Billing in San Diego: Everything You Need to Know

The Ultimate Guide to⁤ Medical Billing in San Diego: ‍Everything You Need to Know

Are​ you looking to navigate the complex world of medical billing in San ⁣Diego? Whether you’re a healthcare provider, medical ⁣coder, or billing specialist, understanding the intricacies of medical billing ⁤is crucial for streamlining the billing process, improving revenue cycle management, and ensuring compliance with⁢ regulations.

In this ⁣comprehensive guide, we will walk you through ‌the basics of medical billing in San Diego, including key ⁢terms, regulations, and best practices ⁢to help you optimize your‍ billing operations.

Key Terms to ⁤Know:

Before diving into the world of medical billing, it’s important to understand some key terms that are commonly used in the industry:

1. CPT ⁤Codes: Current Procedural ‍Terminology codes⁤ are used to describe medical ⁢procedures and services performed by healthcare‌ providers.

2. ICD-10 Codes: International Classification of Diseases codes are used to classify and code diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures for​ billing and reimbursement‍ purposes.

3. CMS: The Centers for Medicare and⁣ Medicaid Services is ​the federal agency responsible for administering Medicare, Medicaid, and other‍ healthcare programs.

4. Clearinghouse: A ⁣third-party entity that processes and transmits electronic claims data between healthcare providers and payers.

Regulations and Compliance:

Medical ‌billing is subject to a variety of ⁢regulations and compliance requirements,​ including:

1. ���HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability⁤ Act sets standards for the protection of sensitive patient health information.

2. Stark Law: Prohibits physician self-referral for certain designated ⁤health services to Medicare and Medicaid patients.

3. Fraud and Abuse Laws: Prohibit fraudulent billing practices, kickbacks, and other illegal activities in healthcare.

Best Practices for​ Medical Billing:

To ⁣ensure efficient and accurate medical billing, consider implementing the following best practices:

1. Verify⁣ Patient Insurance Coverage: Before providing services, verify⁤ patient insurance coverage to avoid claim denials and payment delays.

2. ⁤Use Electronic Health Records (EHR): Electronic‍ health records can streamline billing processes, reduce errors, ‍and improve patient care.

3. Stay Up-to-Date on Coding⁢ Changes: Regularly review and update ⁣CPT and ICD-10 codes to ensure accurate billing ⁣and⁢ compliance.

Benefits of Hiring⁢ a Professional Medical Billing Service:

Outsourcing medical billing to ​a professional service provider can‌ offer numerous benefits, including:

1. Improved Revenue Cycle Management: Professional billing services can help reduce claim ‌denials, accelerate reimbursements,⁣ and​ optimize revenue collection.

2. Compliance Expertise: An experienced⁤ billing⁢ service‍ can help ensure compliance with complex regulations and‍ avoid costly penalties.

3. Cost Savings: Outsourcing billing can ⁢be more cost-effective ​than hiring‍ and training in-house billing staff.

Case Study: San Diego Medical Practice Increases Revenue‍ with Outsourced Billing

ABC Medical‌ Clinic⁣ in San Diego struggled with claim denials,‍ billing errors, and ⁢delayed payments, impacting their‌ revenue stream. They decided to outsource their medical billing ⁤to‌ a professional service provider. Within six months, ‌the clinic saw a significant improvement in revenue, reduced claim denials, and improved cash ‍flow.

First-Hand Experience:⁢ A Medical Coder’s Perspective

“As a medical coder in‍ San ​Diego, I have seen firsthand the challenges of navigating the ever-changing ​landscape of medical billing. Staying updated ‍on coding changes, regulations,⁣ and⁣ compliance requirements is essential to‌ ensure accurate‌ billing and reimbursement. Outsourcing billing⁣ to a professional service provider has helped streamline our billing⁢ processes and improve revenue cycle ⁢management.”

Conclusion:

Medical billing ‌in⁢ San Diego can be a complex and challenging endeavor, but with the right knowledge, tools, and ​strategies, you can optimize your billing operations and improve financial‍ performance. By understanding⁣ key terms, regulations, best‍ practices, and the benefits‌ of outsourcing​ billing, you can navigate ⁢the world of medical billing with confidence and success.

Remember to stay informed on coding changes, compliance requirements, and industry trends to ensure​ accurate billing and maximize revenue. Whether you’re a healthcare‌ provider, billing ⁢specialist, or coder, mastering the ⁣art of medical billing is key to the ⁢financial health of your practice ⁣or organization.

https://medicalbillingcertificationprograms.org/the-ultimate-guide-to-medical-billing-in-san-diego-everything-you-need-to-know/

[healthcareruhi]

Healthcare IT Consulting Market Size, Trends Cost Structure, Growth Analysis and Forecasts to 2030

Global Healthcare IT Consulting Market 

The Global Healthcare IT Consulting Market was valued at US$ 22.5 Bn in 2022, estimated to reach US$ 99.6 Bn by 2030, with a CAGR of 19.97% from 2023-2030. Healthcare consultancy aids businesses in navigating the issues that the sector frequently faces. These advisory groups take the shape of large consulting businesses with a focus on the healthcare industry. A healthcare consulting company serves as a hired consultant to a certain healthcare industry player. The healthcare sector is always becoming more complex due to rapidly changing market dynamics, regulatory pressures, and customer expectations.  The foundation of healthcare consulting competence is a thorough grasp of every stakeholder throughout the value chain, from payers, medication developers, and manufacturers, to physicians and patients. The healthcare consulting service has several advantages, including fostering innovation, cutting expenses, maximizing digital technologies, and producing maximum, long-term value.

Request A Sample: https://qualiketresearch.com/request-sample/Global-Healthcare-IT-Consulting-Market/request-sample

Market Drivers

Clinical platforms, analytics dashboards, network optimization services, revenue cycle management (RCM), and enterprise resource planning support services can all be developed and maintained with the aid of healthcare IT consulting. As a result, the demand for cutting-edge and effective systems to manage expanding healthcare processes and infrastructure has risen, which is assisting the market's expansion. This is by the rising number of hospital admissions.  In addition, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) with healthcare IT consulting services to guarantee data privacy, optimize resource management, extract knowledge from unstructured data, and offer a modernized approach to decision-making processes is boosting the market growth.

Key PlayersAllscripts Healthcare LLC, Cognizant, Deloitte, Epic System Corporation, General Electric Company, IBM Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., McKesson Corporation, Oracle Corporation.

 Market Restraints

Some of the challenges that limit market growth include the scarcity of qualified specialists, the high cost of consulting services, data security issues, and privacy concerns.

Market SegmentationThe scope of the Global Healthcare IT Consulting Market covers segmentation based on Product Consulting Type, End User, and Region. Based on Consulting Type, the market is bifurcated into Healthcare Application Analysis, Design, and Development, HCIT Strategy, and Project/Program Management, HCIT Integration and Migration, HCIT Change Management, Healthcare/Medical System and Security Set-Up and Risk Assessment, Healthcare Enterprise Reporting and Data Analytics Services, Healthcare Business Process Management, and Others. Based on End User, the market is divided into Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Payers, and Others.

Read More@ https://qualiketresearch.com/reports-details/Global-Healthcare-IT-Consulting-Market

Regional AnalysisThe Global Healthcare IT Consulting Market is segmented into 5 main regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Market share is expected to be significant in North America. Healthcare providers' growing reliance on IT healthcare consulting firms is related to changes in laws and changes in Medicare payments. According to information published in JAMA Internal Medicine Journal, five healthcare systems in five states experienced a decline in ED visits and an increase in hospital admission rates from January through April 2020 while the COVID-19 pandemic grew in the US. Therefore, a rise in the rate of emergency admissions increases the need for chronic care management, which is likely to accelerate market expansion. About Us:

QualiKet Research is a leading Market Research and Competitive Intelligence partner helping leaders across the world to develop robust strategy and stay ahead for evolution by providing actionable insights about ever changing market scenario, competition and customers.

QualiKet Research is dedicated to enhancing the ability of faster decision making by providing timely and scalable intelligence.

QualiKet Research strive hard to simplify strategic decisions enabling you to make right choice. We use different intelligence tools to come up with evidence that showcases the threats and opportunities which helps our clients outperform their competition. Our experts provide deep insights which is not available publicly that enables you to take bold steps.

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[technicaldr]

6 Trends That Shaped the Healthcare Industry in 2022

To look ahead, you sometimes need to look backward. As a new uncertain year ahead rolls on, we can clearly see the major trends that shaped the healthcare industry over the last 12 months. More importantly, many of the trends that prevailed in 2022 offer clues to where the industry might be headed in 2023 and beyond. Let’s take one last look at the year that was by examining the following six trends:

  Trend #1: The popularity of Medicare Advantage (despite criticisms)

  Travel nurses provide critical relief during staffing shortages and use of these professionals has increased in recent years. With this increase comes new and emerging risks. A review of closed malpractice claims data at Coverys reveals the top areas of vulnerability for travel nurses differs from other healthcare providers.

  There was plenty of good news for Medicare Advantage (h MA) in 2022. The program has been a popular choice for Americans, and it remains robust. In fact, 28.5 million seniors and people with disabilities were enrolled in MA plans in 2022, up 8.8% from 2021.

To meet the demand, MA plan options have expanded impressively in recent years. The number of available MA plans has doubled since 2017, and we’re seeing the largest number in more than a decade. With more options available, plans are experiencing more competition for enrollees. Some larger plans have cut their growth projections. At the same time, several startups reported significant enrollment increases while also incurring financial losses.

Despite the program’s popularity, fiscal conservatives made calls to restructure MA or eliminate subsidies and establish a basis for controlling or even cutting MA payments. Nonetheless, Senate support for the program is unmistakable, as evidenced by a letter signed by 63 senators to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (or CMS). Such widespread, bipartisan support indicates that it is unlikely any curtailing of MA would pass through Congress.

Trend #2: The rise of the ‘payvider’

  Transcarent wants to transform the digital pharmacy benefit experience, enabling self-insured employers and their staff to make more informed choices.

STEPHANIE BAUM

Throughout 2022, we saw a trend of payer and provider operations merging into a new hybrid dubbed the “payvider.” The payvider model has gained favor as a cost-effective option because these types of organizations have more control over member care. As a result, primary care centers have been expanding across the country.

Wall Street also appears to be bullish on payviders. Goldman Sachs forecasted strong earnings for payers that are capitating and issued buy ratings for companies that are emphasizing coordinated care, such as UnitedHealth Group and Alignment Healthcare. Expect to see a continued merging of payer and provider organizations in 2023.

  Trend #3: Oversight, oversight, and more oversight

  If there was one primary theme throughout 2022, it would be oversight. Throughout the year, a number of government agencies unveiled plans to tighten controls and oversight. CMS announced more stringent reporting for MA plans. The Office of Inspector General (known as OIG) ramped up audits of individual plans and added pandemic-specific inquiries to its set of audits, including analyses of improper billing in telehealth.

As we moved into the second half of the year, these oversight plans were put into action. Between the second quarter and third quarter of 2022, over nine MA plans were targeted for audits and the Department of Justice joined a fraud case against one insurer.

Furthermore, OIG has grown more efficient and expeditious in identifying inaccurate information. In its Fiscal Year 2022 Justification of Estimates for Congress, OIG touted investments in artificial intelligence to accelerate its ability to investigate high-risk Medicare and Medicaid providers and support fraud detection. Similarly, CMS doubled its auditing budget this year and outlined three new sets of required quality measures that will apply to care in 2023. Thus, there is every reason to believe we’ll see more audits and tighter oversight in the coming years.

  Trend #4: A big boost to the Affordable Care Act

  Inflation and the threat of a recession dominated headlines throughout the latter part of 2022. In an attempt to address these economic concerns, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act o 2022, which included $98 billion for healthcare programs.

This act did very little for MA and telehealth plans, but Affordable Care Act (or ACA) plans benefited greatly. ACA premium subsidies had been set to expire, and the initial attempts to extend them failed in Congress. However, the legislation extended the subsidies to 2025. As a result, we should see more plans entering the ACA exchanges in the next couple of years.

  Trend #5: The long-term goal of interoperability

  It seems like we’ve been talking about interoperability in healthcare for years, and it remains a priority. Although challenges persist, we saw significant momentum toward interoperability last year:

The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (also known as TEFCA) established a universal floor for interoperability across the country. This is a critical step forward.

Applications are being accepted for Health Information Exchanges to become Qualified Health Information Networks.

On the tech front, software and solutions vendors are focusing more on solutions that support interoperability.

All of this confirms what we already knew — interoperability is coming, and everyone in the industry needs to be prepared.

  Trend #6: The end of the public health crisis?

  Of course, the dominant event over the past three years has been the public health emergency (or PHE) sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. Even though Cofie-19 hasn’t gone away, we might be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. The PHE is set to expire on January 11, 2023, and there is some speculation that it might not be extended for an additional three months.

Although we would all welcome the end of the PHE, it will have specific repercussions for the healthcare industry. CMS has already ended the six-month extension for MA final supplemental submissions that was put into effect during the pandemic. The final deadline for 2022 dates of service will now be January 2024. As we move into 2023 and beyond, we should expect to see more pandemic-related dispensations fall away.

The calendar might now say 2023, but the big trends from 2022 continue to impact the healthcare industry and will do so for the rest of the year. If you understand what these trends are telling us, you’ll have a head start on what to expect in this brand-new year. Use this knowledge to make 2023 your most productive and successful year yet.

Technical Doctor's insight:

Contact Details : inquiry@technicaldr.com or 877-910-0004 www.technicaldr.com

[ronitambasco]

What Differs Income Tax From Payroll Tax?

An example of a tax on employee wages is payroll tax. It includes FICA and FUTA taxes and any additional state or local taxes. Both tax kinds are progressive and give the government a share of an individual's income. Payroll taxes, typically a small portion of a worker's wages, are nevertheless delivered to the IRS by the employer. Payroll levies are also reasonably easy and adaptable, whereas income taxes are complicated.

Payroll taxes and income taxes are both utilized to fund federal programs. Employers are required to withhold and deposit payroll tax from employees' paychecks. Although national income taxes are submitted on distinct lines, both taxes are typically reported on the same form. Therefore, it's critical to comprehend the significance of these two taxes and how they differ.

Payroll taxes are lower, whereas income taxes are typically higher. The state you live in determines the payroll tax rates. While income tax rates range from 10% to 37%, the federal payroll tax rate is 15.3%. Employees pay local payroll taxes based on where they live, but employers also pay federal employment taxes like Social Security and Medicare. You must register for and pay self-employment taxes if you are an independent contractor.

The payroll tax is a crucial component of a company's financial picture. Employers frequently pay it for benefits like pensions and health insurance. In addition, employers pay income tax, which is a more complicated structure. It levies taxes on both the salaries and wages of employees and money derived from other sources.

Two parties are involved in payroll taxes. Employers are responsible for paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, which are split evenly between the employer and the employee. Payroll taxes account for both the cost of medical care and monthly retirement payments. They are progressive in some nations while regressive in others.

The federal government's Hospital Insurance (HI) program, which covers hospital stays and various types of home healthcare, is partly funded by payroll taxes. Tax collections in Hawaii during the past 25 years have mainly remained consistent. They make up 1.3 percent of the GDP and have remained stable over time. Before the creation of Medicare Advantage plans, the HI tax served as the primary revenue generator for Medicare. The government also uses these monies to pay for Medicare and Social Security, two programs that offer benefits to the elderly.

Income taxes and payroll taxes are two different things. Employers pay payroll tax, which is collected by the federal government, while state and municipal governments collect income tax. Even though federal income tax is a federal tax, the payroll tax is collected by most state and local governments. Unlike payroll tax, income tax is frequently not fully managed by employers. However, due to different tax deductions and credits, most people do not pay income tax on all of their income.

The federal Social Security and Medicare programs are supported through payroll taxes, which are additional employee taxes. FICA taxes are split equally between the employer and the employee through payroll withholdings. State income taxes, however, are subject to distinct regulations. There are states with flat rates and ones with progressive accelerations. It's critical to keep in mind that income taxes, regardless of their type, are paid to support public services.

Some governments collect additional payroll taxes for various objectives, such as disability insurance, transit, and workforce development. Some counties and cities also impose other payroll taxes. Depending on where the employee lives, the business or the employee may pay these taxes. Payroll taxes, for instance, support the Metro Transit Authority in New York, which manages the city's subway system and other forms of public transit. Payroll taxes are also collected in San Francisco for regional initiatives and services.

In 2019, the Social Security payroll tax brought in around $914 billion yearly, or 4.3 percent of GDP. The taxation of perks and interest on trust fund balances are additional sources of income. However, payroll taxes only cover a fraction of an employee's yearly compensation. The taxable maximum is the name given to this cap. The highest amount of payments subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2020 is $142,800. This represents a $5,100 increase above the prior amount.

[phroyd]

A FEW YEARS before Jay Hammond, a Republican, was elected to serve as Alaska’s governor in 1974, he worked as mayor of the small borough of Bristol Bay. There, he watched as nearly all of his town’s rich salmon resources were extracted from the region, with virtually none of the profits or job opportunities going to locals. He fashioned the idea of a 3 percent tax on fish catch, and using the money raised for an investment fund that would pay Bristol Bay residents an annual dividend from its returns.

Voters rejected Hammond’s idea, but he’d have several more opportunities to promote it in the following years. As governor, in 1976, he pushed for a constitutional amendment that would direct 25 percent of all lease sale payments and oil royalties to a fund that could only be used for income-generating investments. Hammond originally kept quiet about his desire to direct those returns back to citizens, and it was understood primarily as a proposal to prevent the waste of oil revenue. But after the amendment passed by a 2-to-1 margin, Hammond made it his central mission to push for the citizens’ dividend idea. His persistence paid off and in 1982, Alaskans received their first check from the so-called Permanent Fund, a dividend that has flowed annually ever since.

At the end of 2017, over 600,000 Alaskan citizens received dividends of $1,100. In prior years, checks have been as high as $2,000 per person. The fund is massively popular — recent polling showed that Republicans, Democrats, and independents all would rather pay higher income taxes to reduce the deficit than see their annual dividend cut. In no small part due to the Permanent Fund, Alaska is the most economically equal state in the country.

“It’s certainly the most popular political program in Alaska,” Bill Wielechowski, a Democratic state senator, told The Intercept. “It’s a really significant amount of money and has a huge impact. There have been studies that show the majority of people put it towards savings and paying ordinary bills.”

The Alaska Permanent Fund is what’s known as a “social wealth fund” — also sometimes called a “sovereign wealth fund” or a “citizens’ wealth fund.” There are more than 70 such funds across the world, in countries like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Qatar, and Norway. The number of social wealth funds has risen considerably since 2000, and a new report produced by Matt Bruenig, founder of the crowd-funded socialist think tank the People’s Policy Project, advocates for expanding Alaska’s model to create a national social wealth fund in the United States. Doing so, Bruenig argues, may be the best shot Americans have to stop a decades-long trend of accelerating inequality.

Bruenig dubs his idea the “American Solidarity Fund.” The government would gradually accumulate assets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, and as the value of the publicly managed assets increases, the value of the shares would also rise. Citizens would receive a “universal basic dividend” every year from the income earned from the fund’s investments.

While Alaska’s Permanent Fund was built around a rich natural resource, Bruenig points to Sweden’s short-lived experiment with a social wealth fund in the 1980s, where Swedes used taxes on corporate profits to fill it up. (Conservative legislators ended Sweden’s fund in 1991.)

Bruenig explores five different ways to bring in assets to a national U.S. fund, ranging from voluntary contributions from the superrich to a host of new taxes and fees. While he acknowledges many different types of levies could work, he focuses on wealth taxes, like market capitalization taxes, financial transaction taxes, and steeper inheritance taxes.

Unlike Alaska’s model, which does not grant dividend recipients any formal ownership, Bruenig proposes giving every qualifying citizen one nontransferable share of the fund. The idea is to give citizens some power they could then collectively exert over corporate board decision-making. Individuals could also track their share online, similar to the way individuals can track their growing capital investments on Vanguard. “This is partially a communications gimmick,” he acknowledges. “But no more so than many of the hyper-abstracted ownership gimmicks that already exist in the country’s capital markets.”

Also unlike Alaska’s model, which distributes dividends to all citizens, Bruenig proposes issuing dividends to every citizen above age 17. (He advocates monthly child allowances for families with children, not administered through a social wealth fund.)

The national social wealth fund idea has gotten some high-profile attention, including in Hillary Clinton’s recent memoir, “Hard Choices.” Clinton said she first learned about the idea after reading a 2014 book published by Peter Barnes, an entrepreneur who also proposed a national fund like the model in Alaska. “Besides cash in people’s pockets, it would also be a way of making every American feel more connected to our country and to one another—part of something bigger than ourselves,” she wrote. “I was fascinated by this idea, as was my husband, and we spent weeks working with our policy team to see if it could be viable enough to include in my campaign.” Clinton said they shelved the “Alaska for America” idea when they “couldn’t make the numbers work.” Still, the political appeal of a policy like this might be hard to shelve permanently. Whether or not robots are really coming for our jobs remains hotly disputed, but what’s not up for debate is that voters increasingly fear it is happening and want political solutions to it. In 2015, Pew Research Center found that 65 percent of Americans anticipate that robots and computers will “definitely” or “probably” do the work currently under human control within the next 50 years. Politicians will be on the lookout for ideas to ease public insecurity.

Bruenig also points to the problem of growing wealth inequality, one that has shown no sign of reversing course. Analyzing the Survey of Consumer Finances, he found that between 2007 and 2016, the average wealth of the top 1 percent increased by $4.9 million as the wealth of the median family declined by $42,000.The top 1 percent of families, he adds, owns more wealth than the bottom 95 percent combined.

By putting more wealth under government control, Bruenig reasons, the U.S. can then redistribute it back to the people.

Peter Barnes, author of “With Liberty and Dividends for All” — the 2014 book Clinton cited in her memoir — told The Intercept that any version of a social wealth fund should be expected to start very small, but grow over time. “Getting it started would be a breakthrough,” he said. “Social Security started in 1935 at a 1 percent payroll tax and the benefits for the elderly were trivial at the beginning.”

Still, not all who’ve explored the idea see it as the right move for the United States to address its growing inequality and insecurity. Mike Konczal, a fellow at the left-leaning Roosevelt Institute, is skeptical about establishing a U.S. social wealth fund, and says it’s not only a particularly difficult way to achieve the desired redistributive goals, but could also easily have negative effects.

“If you’re thinking that the government should spend more on ‘Medicare for All,’ or for a basic income, then we can both tax wealthy people and capital income more,” he said. “If a sovereign wealth fund reinforces the deficit mentality that we have to save money to spend money, or we can’t spend money if we don’t have a special fund, that would be counterproductive.”

Another problem Konczal highlights is that social wealth funds are more difficult tools to capture privately held wealth. “This is a hard way to get at a lot of income. Koch Industries, for example, would not interact with a fund like this.” Rather than a market capitalization tax on public companies, Konczal says, why not just tax all companies through a higher corporate income tax?

And lastly, with regard to tying citizenship to capital income, he worries this could reinforce, rather than weaken, the view that the economy should only work for shareholders. Would making capitalists out of everybody drive up support for deregulating Wall Street or repealing environmental protections?

Continue Reading ... 

Phroyd

[facts4u2know]

Biden’s Big First Year

9/09/22  

When Biden entered office, less than 1% of   the US population was fully vaccinated. He pledged that 100 million shots would be administered in his first 100 days in office. Financed with funding from the American Rescue Plan to distribute vaccines, at the end of his first year more than 526 million doses had been administered and about 63% of our populace had been fully vaccinated, despite antivax resistance from Republicans.

A record number of more than 15 million uninsured Americans signed up for health care coverage under ObamaCare, many from Red States like Texas which still refuse to expand Medicare, leaving their poorest and most vulnerable citizens without health care coverage.

In early March 2021, Biden pushed through The American Rescue Plan (ARP), a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief stimulus package, which funded vaccine distribution, extra unemployment benefits, $1,400 direct payments to adults and expansion of the Child Tax Credit, and billions to support educational facilities - Despite broad public support, not a single Republican senator voted for its passage. Now we know that the ARP succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations. What should have been an economic depression with unimaginable suffering instead became a period of socioeconomic growth. In 2022, when the stimulus was fading out, it was found that low- and middle-income people had gained $2.7 trillion in wealth and could even afford to be choosy about their employment.

In November, he signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill to address our crumbling hard infrastructure needs over the next decade. The massive outlay will ensure solid economic and job growth over the decade.  Unfortunately, the passage of the hard infrastructure was a compromise, because all Senate Republicans, and two Democrats, blocked passage of the soft infrastructure programs in Biden’s Build Back Better plan, which would have massively benefited the socioeconomic needs of 90% of our populace. The opponents said, “we could not afford it.”

In Biden’s first year in office, the economic and employment growth has been stunning. The US economy grew by 5.7% in 2021, the fastest full-year gain since 1984; furthermore, in the final quarter of the year, growth accelerated to an annual rate of 6.9% from 2.3% in the previous quarter, ensuring a strong start into 2022. This first year of Biden’s presidency contrasted sharply to 2020 when, on Trump’s watch, our economy contracted by 3.4% - its worst result since 1946.

The strong economy resulted in a record number of 6.4 million new jobs in 2021 –– while the unemployment rate plunged to 3.7% from 6.7%. Additionally, a surprisingly high number of 467,000 new jobs were created in January 2022, in spite of a record 2.3% of the employed workforce not  being at work because of illness. Workers average pay jumped significantly in 2021 to more than $31/hour – a 4.7% annual increase – which was eclipsed when wages rose robustly in January 2022, to an astonishingly 5.7% annual rate.

It seems preposterous that any unbiased thinking person could deny Biden’s outstanding achievements in growing the economy and enabling robust job growth, but Republicans emphatically and brazenly do. No shame there!

[allmedpm123]

What is Medical Billing Software & Who Are Qualified Medical Billers?

Few people today realize how complex the process of accurate medical billing has become. This has created a flood of new medical billing services and new medical billing software solutions. Not surprisingly, medical billing software scams abound.

It is critical therefore that both health care providers and those looking for employment as medical billing workers understand the advantages and disadvantages of various types of medical billing software and what it takes to become a qualified medical biller.

Medical Billing Is Hard!

If anyone thinks that processing medical claims is hard and confusing now -- just wait, it's about to get worse.

With the anticipated growth in Medicaid and payments linked to outcomes (because of health care reform), plus the coming huge expansion of diagnosis codes (from 14,000 ICD-9 codes to over 100,000 ICD-10 codes), the complexity is only growing - and at an accelerating pace.

Fortunately, sophisticated medical billing software exists to help health care providers automate and manage data. The danger, however, is that the software systems that have been developed in response to an increasingly staggeringly complex medical billing process have become themselves increasingly complex, and this has created a situation that is ripe for misusing these tools to not only accidentally over-reimburse but to submit false claims-with the attendant risks and penalties.

Types of Medical Billing Software Systems

In 2000, The Department of Health and Human Services ordered its Office of Inspector General to survey the different types of medical billing software to identify how the Medicare reimbursement process could be adversely affected. The Office of Inspector General surveyed four types of systems and identified their strengths and weaknesses:

Basic billing software relies heavily on user knowledge and entry skills. It is widely distributed by Medicare fiscal agents and the private sector. Users key most, if not all, claims information onto a claims facsimile. The software manipulates these entries to produce an electronic claim. Typical errors involve entry errors, incorrect or missing patient or provider information, incorrect or incomplete diagnosis codes or invalid Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Basic medical billing software, developed for mass markets, usually does not allow users to customize or override its programs. The greater risk of claim error is in data entry.

Informational software augments basic software capabilities. It uses data bases and linked files to recall patient, provider, diagnostic and service information. Invalid code combinations, missing diagnosis and other errors that might prevent processing of a claim can be brought to the user's attention before the claim is submitted for payment. Informational software does not appear to generate erroneous claims. It provides tools to help providers code their claims accurately. Vulnerabilities are more likely to stem from improper software configuration and use. For example, limited procedure coding options for office visits may steer claim decisions to higher value procedure codes.

[andrewsempleflorida0]

Top 10 Medicare Legislative Changes for the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2021/22

In the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak, legislators enacted a number of modifications to Medicare. Several of these adjustments are intended to compensate health care providers and hospitals for income losses and increased expenditures caused by the pandemic. These legislative amendments are described in further detail below. The following are some of the most significant programme adjustments. Let's take a look at the top ten legislative changes to Medicare that will be implemented in the next years.

Andrew Semple Florida added that in low-income communities, increasing compensation for the labour component of medical costs. In addition, the Act extends the GPCI Floor, which is the percentage of a physician's fee that is paid for labour. This increase will assist in covering the costs of therapy for people infected with the Covid-19 virus. The omicron variety produces severe respiratory disease, which may need hospitalisation and the postponement of elective treatments.

Changes in Regulation for Health Insurance Markets and Healthcare Financing Congress enacted new legislation to protect the health-care system's long-term viability. The provisions of the Public Health Service Act empower the federal secretary to declare a public health emergency when a disease or ailment presents a significant danger to residents. A public health emergency lasts 90 days, and the secretary has the authority to extend it if required. The final legislation provides for a temporary suspension of the Medicare physician fee schedule until 2022.

BBBA, as well as the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program. The COVID-19 epidemic has wreaked havoc on hospitals and other health-care providers' finances. The BBBA, on the other hand, has agreed to prolong the Accelerated Payment Program until August 2020. Furthermore, the ACA simplifies the process of reimbursing providers for upfront payments. The BBBA's expansion and its consequences for public health infrastructure will enable these health systems to concentrate on other aspects of their operations.

Andrew Semple Florida further stated that the Act to Prevent Surprising People. The No Surprises Act is a federal statute that grants temporary exemptions to states in the event of a health catastrophe. The No-Surprises Act, which goes into effect on January 1, 2022, compels states to pause their monthly eligibility assessments for at least two years during an epidemic. The FMAP will be unaffected by a final regulation implemented in March 2020.

The Act on Public Readiness and Preparedness. The Public Readiness and Preparedness Act is amended by the PRP amendment to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. These modifications would enable CMS to broaden the policy to include telehealth visits for patients. To establish how the COVID epidemic has impacted the United States, further demographic data is required.

The CARES Act contains measures to promote rural access to telehealth. It does away with the "far site" condition, which specifies that a qualified provider must be situated in a remote region in order for Medicare to compensate them. Because federally qualified health centres and rural health clinics are not considered distant sites, the new legislation allows them to serve as distant sites during a public health emergency and receive reimbursement under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule at national average rates for comparable telehealth services.

Andrew Semple Florida noted that one of the most significant legislative amendments to Medicare for the Covid-19 outbreak is the FACTS Act. It expands Medicaid eligibility and removes the medication rebate limit. The FRF's federal and state funds would be increased as a result of this adjustment. It would make it simpler for patients to obtain medical attention from a trained professional. Furthermore, the new bill contains a provision for expanded ACA coverage.

Despite the severity of the Covid-19 outbreak, the FACTS Act gives some help to impacted populations. Hospitals and health systems are included under the American Rescue Plan Act. It is comparable to the version voted by the House on February 27. It would then be sent to Vice President Biden. Provisions in the law will also boost payment rates for a range of providers.

[maxihealth]

Part D Senior Savings Model: What is it?

If you are on Medicare, how much will you pay for insulin? The answer is in the graph below (via MedPAC’s Payment Basics)

Seem confusing? Well it is. Medicare Part D beneficiaries have a deductible, then the standard coverage phase with 25% cost sharing, then a coverage gap where beneficiaries pay 25% of cost (manufacturers cover 70% of the cost for branded drugs in this coverage gap), and then a catastrophic phase where beneficiaries pay 5%. Wouldn’t it be easier if there were simple copayments like many commercial plans?

That is what CMS has been trying out in their Part D Senior Savings Model. The model includes fixed copayments for certain enhanced Part D plans. CMS writes:

The voluntary Model tests the impact of offering beneficiaries an increased choice of enhanced alternative Part D plan options that offer lower out-of-pocket costs for insulin. CMS is testing a change to the Manufacturer Coverage Gap Discount Program (the “discount program”) to allow Part D sponsors, through eligible enhanced alternative plans, to offer a Part D benefit design that includes predictable copays in the deductible, initial coverage, and coverage gap phases by offering supplemental benefits that apply after manufacturers provide a discounted price for a broad range of insulins included in the Model.

As described by former CMS administrator Seema Verma in the Health Affairs blog:

MS’s Part D Senior Savings Model is designed to lower prescription drug costs by providing Medicare patients with Part D plans that offer the broad set of insulins that beneficiaries use at a stable, affordable, and predictable cost of no more than $35 for a 30-day supply…beneficiaries who do not qualify for the low-income subsidy (LIS) currently pay 5 percent of the negotiated price when they reach the catastrophic phase, which should be lower than $35 in most cases. Part D sponsors could offer lower copays than $35 and still maintain all formulary flexibilities and choices.

Sharon Jhawar, Chief Pharmacy Officer at the SCAN Health Plan argues that the Senior Savings Model is working, should be made permanent, and should be expanded to both other diabetes medications and medications used to treat other common chronic conditions. Previous research shows that cost is a barrier to medication adherence, and she writes:

Let’s accelerate the timeline for making the Model permanent and use the expected cost-savings ($250 million per year) to advance other health initiatives for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes…Yet diabetes is only the fifth most common chronic condition among Medicare beneficiaries. People with other chronic conditions, such as heart conditions, neurological conditions, or auto-immune diseases, will encounter the same financial challenges we see in the diabetes medication scenario. With a successful template in place to manage costs, we have a unique opportunity to reduce prescription costs across the board.

For more information, read the CMS Senior Savings Program Fact Sheet and visit their website.

Part D Senior Savings Model: What is it? posted first on https://carilloncitydental.blogspot.com

[livingwellpage]

Part D Senior Savings Model: What is it?

If you are on Medicare, how much will you pay for insulin? The answer is in the graph below (via MedPAC’s Payment Basics)

Seem confusing? Well it is. Medicare Part D beneficiaries have a deductible, then the standard coverage phase with 25% cost sharing, then a coverage gap where beneficiaries pay 25% of cost (manufacturers cover 70% of the cost for branded drugs in this coverage gap), and then a catastrophic phase where beneficiaries pay 5%. Wouldn’t it be easier if there were simple copayments like many commercial plans?

That is what CMS has been trying out in their Part D Senior Savings Model. The model includes fixed copayments for certain enhanced Part D plans. CMS writes:

The voluntary Model tests the impact of offering beneficiaries an increased choice of enhanced alternative Part D plan options that offer lower out-of-pocket costs for insulin. CMS is testing a change to the Manufacturer Coverage Gap Discount Program (the “discount program”) to allow Part D sponsors, through eligible enhanced alternative plans, to offer a Part D benefit design that includes predictable copays in the deductible, initial coverage, and coverage gap phases by offering supplemental benefits that apply after manufacturers provide a discounted price for a broad range of insulins included in the Model.

As described by former CMS administrator Seema Verma in the Health Affairs blog:

MS’s Part D Senior Savings Model is designed to lower prescription drug costs by providing Medicare patients with Part D plans that offer the broad set of insulins that beneficiaries use at a stable, affordable, and predictable cost of no more than $35 for a 30-day supply…beneficiaries who do not qualify for the low-income subsidy (LIS) currently pay 5 percent of the negotiated price when they reach the catastrophic phase, which should be lower than $35 in most cases. Part D sponsors could offer lower copays than $35 and still maintain all formulary flexibilities and choices.

Sharon Jhawar, Chief Pharmacy Officer at the SCAN Health Plan argues that the Senior Savings Model is working, should be made permanent, and should be expanded to both other diabetes medications and medications used to treat other common chronic conditions. Previous research shows that cost is a barrier to medication adherence, and she writes:

Let’s accelerate the timeline for making the Model permanent and use the expected cost-savings ($250 million per year) to advance other health initiatives for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes…Yet diabetes is only the fifth most common chronic condition among Medicare beneficiaries. People with other chronic conditions, such as heart conditions, neurological conditions, or auto-immune diseases, will encounter the same financial challenges we see in the diabetes medication scenario. With a successful template in place to manage costs, we have a unique opportunity to reduce prescription costs across the board.

For more information, read the CMS Senior Savings Program Fact Sheet and visit their website.

Part D Senior Savings Model: What is it? published first on your-t1-blog-url

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Mandatory Vaccines for Health Care Workers Might Upend Nurses’ Training

Kaitlyn Hevner expects to complete a 15-month accelerated nursing program at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville in December. For her clinical training this fall, she’s working 12-hour shifts on weekends with medical-surgical patients at a hospital.

But Hevner and nursing students like her who refuse to get vaccinated against covid-19 are in an increasingly precarious position. Their stance may put their required clinical training and, eventually, their nursing careers at risk.

In early September, the Biden administration announced that workers at health care facilities, including hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, would be required to receive covid vaccines. Although details of the federal rule won’t be released until October, some experts predict that student nurses doing clinical training at such sites will have to be vaccinated, too.

Groups representing the nursing profession say “students should be vaccinated when clinical facilities require it” to complete their clinical training. In a policy brief released Monday, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and eight other nurse organizations suggested that students who refuse to be vaccinated and who don’t qualify for an exception because of their religious beliefs or medical issues may be disenrolled from their nursing program or be unable to graduate because they cannot fulfill the clinical requirements.

“We can’t have students in the workplace that can expose patients to a serious illness,” said Maryann Alexander, chief officer for nursing regulation at the national council. “Students can refuse the vaccine, but those who are not exempt maybe should be told that this is not the time to be in a nursing program.”

“You’re going to go into practice and you’re going to be very limited in your jobs if you’re not going to get that vaccine,” Alexander said.

Hevner, 35, set to finish her clinical training in early October, said she doesn’t feel it’s acceptable to benefit from a vaccine that was developed using fetal cells obtained through abortion, which she opposes. (Development of the Johnson & Johnson covid vaccine involved a cell line from an abortion; the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines were not developed with fetal cell lines, but some testing of the vaccines reportedly involved fetal cells, researchers say. Many religious leaders, however, support vaccination against covid.)

With vaccines for nursing students still optional in many health care settings, nursing educators are scrambling to place unvaccinated students in health care facilities that will accept them.

Down the coast from Jacksonville in Fort Pierce, Florida, 329 students are in the two-year associate degree nursing program at Indian River State College, said Roseann Maresca, an assistant professor who teaches third-semester students and coordinates their clinical training. Only 150 of them are vaccinated against covid, she said.

Not all of the eight medical facilities that have contracts with the school require student nurses to be vaccinated.

“It’s been a nightmare trying to move students around this semester” to match them with facilities depending on their vaccination status, Maresca said.

Commonly, health care facilities have long required employees to be vaccinated against various illnesses such as influenza and hepatitis B. The pandemic has added new urgency to these requirements. According to a September tally by FierceHealthcare, more than 170 health systems mandate covid vaccines for their workforces.

In May, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made it clear that under federal law employers can mandate covid vaccinations as long as they allow workers to claim religious and medical exemptions.

Under the Biden administration’s covid plan, roughly 50,000 health care facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid payments must require workers to be vaccinated. Until the administration releases its draft rule in October, it is unclear how nursing students assigned to health care sites for clinical training will be treated.

But the federal rule published in August that lays out regulations for government hospital payments in 2022 offers clues. It defined health care personnel that should be vaccinated as employees, licensed independent contractors and adult students/trainees and volunteers, said Colin Milligan, director of media relations at the American Hospital Association.

In addition to staff members, the Biden plan says mandates will apply to “individuals providing services under arrangements” at health care sites.

A spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services declined to clarify who would be covered by the Biden plan, noting the agency is still writing the rules.

Nonetheless, vaccination mandates threaten to derail the training of a relatively small proportion of nursing students. A recent survey by the National Student Nurses’ Association reported that 86% of nursing students and 85% of new nursing graduates who responded to an online survey said they had been or planned to be vaccinated against covid.

But the results varied widely by state, from 100% in New Hampshire and Vermont on the high end to 63% in Oklahoma, 74% in Kentucky and 76% in Florida on the low end. The survey had 7,501 respondents.

Students who don’t want to be vaccinated are asking schools to offer them alternatives to on-site clinical training. They suggest using life-size computer-controlled mannequins or computer-based simulations using avatars, said Marcia Gardner, dean of the nursing school at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York.

Last year, when the pandemic led hospitals to close their doors to students, many nursing programs increased simulated clinical training to give nursing students some sort of clinical experience.

But that’s no substitute for working with real patients in a health care setting, educators say. State nursing boards permit simulated clinical study to varying degrees, but none allow such instruction to exceed 50% of clinical training, said Alexander. A multisite study found that nursing students could do up to half their clinical training using simulation with no negative impact on competency.

The policy brief by the council of state nursing boards states that nursing education programs “are not obligated to provide substitute or alternate clinical experiences based on a student’s request or vaccine preference.”

As more nursing students become vaccinated, the issue will grow less acute. And if the Biden plan requires nursing students to be vaccinated to work in hospitals, the number of holdouts is likely to further shrink.

Hevner, the University of North Florida student, said she’s not opposed to vaccines in general and would consider getting a covid vaccine in the future if she could be assured it wasn’t created using aborted fetal cells. She filed paperwork with the college to get a religious exemption from vaccine requirements. It turned out she didn’t need one because Orange Park Medical Center, where she is doing her clinical training, doesn’t require staffers or nursing students to be vaccinated against covid “at this time,” said Carrie Turansky, director of public relations and communications for the medical center, in Orange Park, Florida.

Although Hevner opposes getting the vaccine, “I take protecting my patients and protecting myself very seriously,” she said. She gets tested weekly for covid and always wears an N95 mask in a clinical setting, among other precautions, she said. “But I would ask: Do we give up our own religious rights and our own self-determination just because we work in a health care setting?”

She hopes the profession can accommodate people like her.

“I’m concerned because we’re in such a divisive place,” she said. But she is eager to find a middle ground because, she said, “I think I would make a really great nurse.”

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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Mandatory Vaccines for Health Care Workers Might Upend Nurses’ Training published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[your-dietician]

HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: Biden Plans Order Amid Health-Care Mergers

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/health/health-care-briefing-biden-plans-order-amid-health-care-mergers/

HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: Biden Plans Order Amid Health-Care Mergers

The Biden administration is preparing a government-wide plan to encourage competition in markets across the economy, according to people familiar with the process, a move that could have wide implications for industries including technology, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

The White House plans to issue an executive order as soon as next week that would require federal agencies to take steps to promote competition in the industries they oversee, said the people, who asked not to be named because the initiative isn’t yet public. Biden is “committed to increasing competition in the American economy, including by banning noncompete agreements,” said White House spokeswoman Emilie Simons.

The move would give Biden a way to focus on the decade-plus consolidation of key consumer-facing industries in the U.S., including health care.

Health-care and life sciences transactions continued at a strong pace in May, with 231 deals announced or closed, the third month in 2021 with at least 225 transactions. The total volume of deals is up almost 70% from 2020, said Larry Kocot of KPMG, Christopher Brown reported earlier this week.

But tax and health-care cost offset provisions in legislative packages favored by Democrats and Biden could create headwinds for the health-care and life sciences sector. Chances for passage of key bills in a narrowly divided Congress remain unclear, but incremental health reforms appear possible, said Kocot, Brown reported in a May 28 story.

Biden’s upcoming order will echo an Obama administration order in 2016 that said government agencies beyond those responsible for antitrust enforcement had a key role to play in protecting consumers, workers and business from being harmed by instances of market power in the economy.

That order built off a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers outlining concern about evidence indicating that industries across the U.S. economy suffer from rising consolidation and declining competition. It recommended other agencies use regulations to tackle the issue in addition to traditional antitrust enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department.

Since then, attention on the power of dominant companies has only grown as economists and policy makers raise concerns that rising concentration is ailing large sections of the economy and contributing to problems including income inequality and wage stagnation. Anna Edgerton and David McLaughlin have more.

On Lawmakers’ Radars

Vaccine Hesitancy: The House Select Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee holds a hearing today on vaccine hesitancy.

Drug Pricing Group Targets Four Finance Panel Senators: A consumer group that wants Congress to empower the government to negotiate the price of drugs will launch an ad campaign aimed at four key senators this week. Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, an advocacy group launched with the support of the Arnold Foundation, will start a six-figure ad campaign targeting four Senate Finance Committee Democrats: Michael Bennet (Colo.), Tom Carper (Del.), Bob Casey (Pa.) and Bob Menendez (N.J.).

Advocates for drug-price negotiation legislation are turning their attention to the Finance Committee, where Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) says he wants the federal government to be able to negotiate lower prices on some drugs. “Patients are depending on these senators to join with other supporters of meaningful reform,” David Mitchell, founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, said in a statement.

Menendez voted against a measure to allow Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers brought before the Finance Committee in 2019. Carper said earlier this year he wants to revive a bipartisan drug pricing package from Wyden and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), which didn’t include negotiation language, Alex Ruoff reports.

Democrats Want DOJ to Oppose Purdue Plan: House Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Justice Department to oppose Purdue Pharma’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan. Under the proposal, “members of the Sackler family would contribute $4.2 billion, less than half of the fortune they amassed from the company, to resolve all legal claims related to their role in the opioid epidemic,” they wrote.

House Panel Approves Agriculture-FDA Spending Bill: The House Appropriations Committee advanced the proposed Agriculture-FDA appropriations bill yesterday after adopting three amendments offered by both Democrats and Republicans. The legislation, which would allocate $26.6 billion in fiscal 2022, includes an amendment by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) to revoke certain meat and poultry plant line speed waivers issued during the coronavirus pandemic and another by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) to prohibit companies owned by China from purchasing farmland and to block their participation in Agriculture Department programs. A manager’s amendment by Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) made technical changes, Megan Boyanton and Jack Fitzpatrick report.

The Coronavirus Pandemic

Johnson & Johnson to Study Shot in Teens: Johnson & Johnson expects to start studying its one-dose vaccine in children 12-17 years old this fall, a company official said at a Johns Hopkins University event. The drugmaker plans to sign up at least 4,500 adolescents and will assess their progress a year later, J&J’s head of clinical development, Macaya Douoguih, said. J&J is planning four studies in minors, she said. Read more from Jeannie Baumann.

Hospitals Ask OSHA for Halt of Covid-19 Standard: The American Hospital Association is asking OSHA to delay the compliance schedule of its Covid-19 emergency temporary standard for health care, asserting that providers need more time to navigate “complex” requirements. The organization called for the six-month delay in a letter to Occupational Safety and Health Administration official James Frederick. Fatima Hussein has more.

More Pandemic Headlines:

From the GAO:

Industry & Regulation

Alzheimer’s Drug Fight Puts FDA Under Scrutiny: An accelerated approval program for U.S. drugs that’s been around for nearly three decades is under fire for the criteria used by regulators to decide which therapies should be greenlighted, and for letting ineffective treatments linger on the market. The Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated process has been hailed for novel treatments and unmet medical needs. But critics argue changes are needed to make it more transparent and to better measure efficacy.

Approval of Biogen’s drug Aduhelm to treat Alzheimer’s has revved up debate on the program. Rather than being cleared based on its effectiveness, Aduhelm won approval by showing it can reduce amyloid plaques in the brain, a physical biomarker, or surrogate, linked to the disease. Meanwhile, Biogen has nine years to finish a trial on its efficacy. Read more from Fiona Rutherford.

An influential nonprofit that evaluates drugs said Biogen’s $56,000-a-year Adulhelm is priced at an order of magnitude more than it should, and said there isn’t enough evidence it works. An appropriate price for the therapy would be in the range of $3,000 to $8,400 annually, an 85% to 95% discount from Biogen’s list price, if it is effective, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review said. Read more from John Tozzi.

Organ Transplant Push Seen Endangered by Plan to Rein in Costs: Prominent medical groups fear a federal push to increase organ transplants could face a significant slowdown under a proposed rule by the Biden administration that would reduce Medicare payment for certain costs related to the organ acquisition process.

One payment revision in the proposed rule would save an estimated $4.1 billion over 10 years and help cut wasteful and duplicative program spending—sometimes for organs not used by Medicare beneficiaries. Transplant hospitals, doctors, and organ procurement organizations (OPOs) say the proposals would hurt the acquisition of organs from deceased donors—and access to those organs—while increasing the number of patients who die while awaiting a transplant. Read more from Tony Pugh.

More Headlines:

From the Courts

Internet Data-for-Insurance Partners Defend Plan: A novel arrangement providing health benefits to 50,000 people who agreed to allow their internet data to be tracked is an invaluable lifeline for the self-employed, middle-class workers “left behind” by Obamacare, three people covered by the partnership told the Fifth Circuit. Adam Rochester and two other partners of Data Marketing Partnership want the court to bless their health insurance arrangement over objections from the Labor Department. Read more from Jacklyn Wille.

Indiana Abortion Pill Reversal Message Blocked: Indiana is blocked for now from requiring abortion providers to give patients a state-mandated message that medication abortions can be reversed because it hasn’t shown a likelihood of proving the message is true, a federal trial court in the state said. All-Options Inc. and other abortion providers have shown they are likely to win a lawsuit alleging the state’s specific required disclosure violates their free speech rights, the court ruled. Read more from Mary Anne Pazanowski.

Related:

More Headlines:

With assistance from Megan U. Boyanton and Jack Fitzpatrick

To contact the reporters on this story: Brandon Lee in Washington at blee@bgov.com; Alex Ruoff in Washington at aruoff@bgov.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Zachary Sherwood at zsherwood@bgov.com; Giuseppe Macri at gmacri@bgov.com; Michaela Ross at mross@bgov.com

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