As cyberattack become increasingly common incidents, healthcare professionals must push security to the forefront. In a presentation given at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Jim Whitfill, CMO of innovation Health Partners and president of Lumetis, described the current cybersecurity environment and detailed how professionals can take steps toward improving privacy.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, based her vote in favor of the Senate Republican tax cut plan on the promise Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, would back two bills to help the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, however, isn’t making the same commitment, according to The Hill.

The largest health insurers—UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Anthem, Cigna and Humana—are getting nearly 60 percent of their total combined revenue from Medicare and Medicaid plans, according to a Health Affairs study, with that money more than doubling since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed.

In a final rule issued on Nov. 30, CMS finalized changes to several mandatory bundled payment programs, canceling two surrounding hip fractures and cardiac care and reducing requirements in a joint replacement bundle.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said passing an Affordable Care Act (ACA) stabilization measure after getting rid of the ACA’s individual mandate would still leave 13 million fewer people insured by 2027 and cause premiums increase by an average of 10 percent over the same time period.

One Republican said he wouldn't support the nomination of Alex Azar, if the former pharmaceutical executive can't support importation of pharmaceuticals from other countries. 

Insurers, hospitals and regulators had a largely negative reaction to a major provision of the proposed Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefit parameters for 2019 that would allow states to define their own “essential health benefits” which ACA-compliant insurance plans have to cover, saying it may return the nongroup market to its pre-ACA state.

Nearly two months after authorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expired, two states are sending letters to families about the potential loss in insurance coverage for their children unless Congress approves funding—and another says it’s already out of money.