Major payers are expanding their Medicare Advantage footprints next year, and focusing on telehealth benefits and reduced cost-sharing — both trends accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased competition puts more plans in the market with low or no premiums as bullish payers have reported massive profits from deferred care over the past several months.… Read More »
HIPAA transaction standards, first put in place nearly a quarter of a century ago, might benefit from a re-examination and revamp to reflect changes in the healthcare industry. There is a push to simplify and improve the standards, says Stanley Nachimson, principal at Nachimson Advisors, a health information technology consultancy. The responsibility for doing so… Read More »
The National Institutes of Health is making new investments into the BRAIN Initiative, which will include new studies of opioids. New funds of $ 220 million to support 200 new research awards have been awarded, bringing total 2018 program support to more than $ 400 million, which is 50 percent more than the amount spent… Read More »