Coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges, where narrow network plans are dominant, is more likely to exclude doctors associated with National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Advance directives, like awarding power of attorney on health care decisions or completing a living will, haven’t been completed by most patients, including those with chronic illnesses, potentially complicating decisions by hospitals and physicians on end-of-life treatment.

CMS’ internal review of the reinsurance and risk adjustment programs for the Affordable Care Act exchanges found the initiatives were succeeding stabilizing risk on the marketplace, going against claims of ACA opponents that the market has entered a “death spiral.”

Addressing social determinants of health has been labeled a priority by many studies and healthcare organizations, but that data can also be used by health plans to assess a member’s future risk.

Two years ago, Judy Graves was “viciously” attacked by red-winged blackbirds while walking past Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Ill. Now she’s suing the hospital for $50,000, claiming it’s liable for her injuries because it didn’t block the walking path or post any warnings about the birds.

Black surgical patients in both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) were more likely than white patients to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, but for MA beneficiaries, the racial disparity was much greater.

The shift from volume to value isn’t an easy transition for healthcare, but data can make all the difference, especially for a large system which often takes in complex patients from other facilities, which was the case for Yale New Haven Health System.

A new report from the Leapfrog Group and Castlight Health found hospitals rates of pressure ulcers, or bedsores, and patient injuries steadily decreased over the past four years. However, there remained wide variation between hospitals and the majority haven’t met Leapfrog’s prevention standards on both conditions.