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Learn how Pennsylvania hospitals are working to improve health care quality and safety through the work of the Pennsylvania Hospital Engagement Network.
Timely health care news and information related to Pennsylvania hospitals, other health care providers, their patients, and Pennsylvania communities.
Resources and information on important health care topics for Pennsylvania consumers
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August 06, 2018
The American Hospital Association recently sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services calling for exceptions to the Stark Law to enable hospitals and physicians to coordinate care and improve patient outcomes.
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July 26, 2018
Today, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee held the fourth hearing on progress in the implementation of Medicare payment reforms under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015.
July 05, 2018
A recent policy brief published by The Hamilton Project, an economic policy initiative of the Brookings Institution, provides new insight into the ways that limitations in scope of practice are impacting health care in the United States.
June 14, 2018
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the postponement of the planned release of its updated overall hospital quality star ratings on Hospital Compare slated for July. The delay, said to be due to concerns from stakeholders, will allow CMS to perform analyses on proposed changes to methodology posted during May.
June 13, 2018
The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) today released a report detailing hospitalization trends related to the opioid overdoses. While the research shows that Pennsylvania is making progress in addressing the opioid crisis, it also highlights the heartbreaking reality that the opioid use disorder touches every part of the state, and all demographic and socioeconomic groups.
June 01, 2018
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it exceeded its goal for year one participation in the Quality Payment Program, the physician payment model required by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, with 91 percent of all clinicians eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System submitting their data for measurement.
May 08, 2018
A new national rural health strategy aims to make rural health care accessible, affordable, and accountable. The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services Rural Health Council (RHC) developed the strategy with rural stakeholder and consumer input.
News Release: The latest analysis from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) underscores the need for the hospital community to remain financially strong.
May 07, 2018
One of the nation’s top health experts shared her vision for better health care with hospital leaders.
April 03, 2018
A study of heart attack patients at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital shows that consistent discharge education and hand-off to non-hospital physicians can decrease by 48 percent the likelihood of sudden, premature return to the hospital after discharge. The research was recently published in the American Journal of Medical Quality.
March 30, 2018
Thank you to Pennsylvania’s nearly 48,000 physicians, many who are working to improve the health of patients and communities in hospitals and health systems across the state.
February 26, 2018
Two new reports based on surveys of health care leaders nationwide align with findings from HAP’s recent survey about the use of value-based payments in Pennsylvania.
February 13, 2018
Late last week, the U.S. Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 that ended a brief federal government shutdown. Included in the legislation are modifications to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) that will affect physician payments.
February 01, 2018
At a time when the aging population is on the rise in Pennsylvania, a Kaiser Family Foundation report estimates that out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries are expected to keep rising over the next decade.
January 12, 2018
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2018 list of accountable care organizations (ACOs) approved for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). Among the 561 approved ACOs, 39 provide care to Medicare beneficiaries in Pennsylvania—a jump of 11 ACOs, up from 29 during 2017.
