Fewer quality measures, a shorter reporting period for Meaningful Use requirements and an increase in uncompensated rate payments were all positives in the eyes of hospitals in their initial reaction to the proposed 2019 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule.

In a speech at AcademyHealth’s Health Datapalooza conference in Washington, D.C., CMS Administrator Seema Verma said giving researchers the same access to data for other federal health programs that they can currently utilize for fee-for-service Medicare can help support “the creation of tools to help consumer make better care decisions.”

Healthcare real estate investor Welltower has announced it will acquire the outstanding shares of Quality Care Properties and form a joint venture with Toledo, Ohio-based health system ProMedica for the real estate holdings of QCP tenants HCR ManorCare and Arden Courts.

Ronny Jackson, MD, said he’s “regretfully” withdrawing his nomination, saying he “did not expect to have to dignify baseless and anonymous attacks on my character and integrity.”

Eric Hargan, deputy secretary of HHS, opened AcademyHealth’s Health Datapalooza conference by saying the Trump administration isn’t afraid of causing “disruption” in the current healthcare system to solve issues surrounding affordability and accessibility.

The growth in Medicare Advantage membership has benefited hospitals and physician groups that operate their own plans, with total enrollment increasing by more than 20 percent to three million beneficiaries since 2015.