Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

insurance payer payment insurer

HHS investing nearly $100M in health navigators for open enrollment

The funding, which is through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), includes $98.9 million that will help ensure consumers can navigate health insurance enrollment through the Marketplace, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

 

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Hospital margins fall behind pre-pandemic levels

Hospitals are facing their toughest margins yet, and without the boost of federal funding, 2022 is on pace to be one of the worst financial performances for the space in years.

Medicare money payment physician

Mental healthcare network Alma raises $130M

Alma, a membership-based network focused on mental healthcare, has raised $130 million in a Series D funding round. The network nabbed investments from some big names, including Cigna Ventures.

insurance payer payment insurer

Employer healthcare plan costs will rise again next year

"In complete contrast over the last decades, we are measuring that healthcare budgets for U.S. employers will come in nearly three times lower than the Consumer Price Index this calendar year. Despite this historic occurrence, employer health costs are expected to increase 6.5[%] in 2023 due to economic inflation pressures," says Debbie Ashford, North America chief actuary for health solutions at Aon.

 

Americans are facing a prescription drug debt spiral

More than 4 in 10 prescription drug medicine users are concerned that drug spending will lead to bankruptcy or debt.

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CVS, Walgreens and Walmart ordered to pay $650M for role in opioid epidemic

Three major pharmacy names will have to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars to two Ohio counties for their roles in the opioid epidemic, a judge has ruled.

Staffing marketplace raises $80M, reaching 'unicorn' status

New investors for this funding round included Kaiser Permanente, a star athlete and social media personalities. 

Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act into law—what does it mean for healthcare?

The act is Biden’s third major piece of legislation to sign into law since the start of his term, and it accomplishes a healthcare task the Democrats have been wanting for years: enabling Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”