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Altarum: Health care prices, employment slow; spending remains low 06/18/2013
Health care prices in April were 1.1% higher than a year ago, the lowest reading since November 1997, according to the latest economic indicators from Altarum Institute's Center for Sustainable Health Spending. The year-over-year increase in hospital prices fell to 1.8% from 2.7% in March. National health care spending grew at an annual rate of 4.2%, close to the record low levels seen since 2009, the center reports. Health care added 11,000 jobs in May, down from a five-month average of 18,000 and 24-month average of 23,000. Hospitals lost 5,900 jobs in May, compared with a 24-month average gain of 4,700. Charles Roehrig, the center’s director, said “evidence is accumulating that 2013 will be a year of slower health sector job growth.”
| Draft 'best practices' for patient financial interactions released 06/18/2013
The Healthcare Financial Management Association this week announced the release for public comment through July of proposed “best practices” to promote consistency, clarity and transparency in financial interactions between health care providers and patients. Developed with input from the AHA and others, the best practices provide guidance on when and how communication should take place about patient insurance coverage, financial counseling, patient financial responsibility for service and any existing balance. The best practices emphasize open and early communication, sharing of clear information, and identifying a path for financial resolution that is fair for patients and health care organizations. Former Health and Human Services Secretary and Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt chaired the project’s advisory panel, which includes former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala and former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Bill Frist (R-TN). The best practices are expected to be finalized this fall.
| Institute expects slower health care cost growth to continue in 2014 06/18/2013
The recent slowdown in health care costs and spending will continue in 2014, thanks to structural changes in the health care field that are helping to contain costs and deliver care more efficiently, according to a report released today by PwC’s Health Research Institute. Based on an analysis of medical costs for large employers, HRI expects a net increase of 4.5% in health care costs and spending after accounting for benefit design changes such as higher deductibles and incentives for consumers to be more cost conscious. “The decline in spending growth is a signal of progress in the quest to bend the cost curve,” HRI said. “At the same time, the slowdown presents financial challenges for the industry as it attempts to navigate in a rapidly changing environment.”
| Senate Finance Committee examines health care costs, transparency 06/18/2013
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Finance today, representatives from Catalyst for Payment Reform, the Center for Studying Health System Change and Castlight Health Inc. urged the government to take steps to improve the availability of price and quality information, among other actions, to help lower health care costs. In a statement to the committee, AHA voiced its support for the Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2013 (H.R. 1326), which would require states to have or establish laws requiring hospitals to disclose information on charges for certain inpatient and outpatient services; and require health insurers to provide to enrollees upon request a statement of estimated out-of-pocket costs for particular health care items and services.
| Study: Structural reforms driving historic slowdown in health care spending 06/18/2013
Numerous structural reforms are driving the health care spending slowdown, which could reduce Medicare spending by $1.1 trillion more than the Medicare Trustees projected last month, according to a study released today by the Federation of American Hospitals. “The past 10 years have seen an unprecedented series of developments directed at improving quality as well as delivery efficiency in health care,” the study by independent research firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates concludes. “…As the U.S. prepares for the cost pressures that will build from serving the Baby Boomer population, it is important that policymakers take careful measure of the forces currently in play before attempting massive system change with unknown consequences.”
| AHA webinar Wednesday to review latest RAC survey data 06/17/2013
Hospitals are invited to review results from the AHA's latest RACTrac survey and learn more about the initiative during a webinar on June 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. The free web-based survey helps gauge the impact of Medicare recovery audit contractors and helps AHA advocate for needed changes to the program. The latest results include new data on RAC medical necessity reviews and appeals. For more on the AHA's RACTrac initiative, visit www.aha.org/ractrac.
| AMA reports on claims processing performance of large insurers 06/17/2013
The American Medical Association today released its sixth annual report on the claims processing performance of the nation’s largest health insurers. This year’s report looks at the timeliness, transparency and accuracy of claims processing by Medicare and seven commercial insurers: Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna Corp., Health Care Services Corp., Humana Inc., Regence, and UnitedHealthcare. While error rates for commercial insurers on paid medical claims dropped from nearly 20% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2013, AMA estimates that more than $43 billion could have been saved if commercial insurers consistently paid claims correctly. Claim denials by the commercial insurers declined from 3.5% in 2012 to 1.8% in 2013, while Medicare had the highest denial rate at 4.9%. This year’s report includes a new index ranking the commercial insurers according to the level of unnecessary cost they contribute to the billing and payment of claims.
| Appeals court strikes down NLRB notice posting rule 06/17/2013
The National Labor Relations Board exceeded its authority when it issued a rule requiring all employers subject to the National Labor Relations Act, including most hospitals, to post notices informing employees of their rights under the NLRA, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled Friday. The Board lacks authority to promulgate such a rule pursuant to Section 6 of the NLRA, the court said, affirming a district court decision last April that resulted from a challenge brought by the U.S. and South Carolina Chambers of Commerce. This is the second decision from a federal appeals court invalidating the rule. The rule also was invalidated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in April. A similar notice posting requirement issued by the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs currently applies to certain federal contractors.
| Coalition launches new hospital advocacy website 06/17/2013
The Coalition to Protect America’s Health Care today launched a new state-of-the-art website, a crucial step in its efforts to create a significant online presence with hospital executives, allied health professionals, patients and members of the general public. “This new website is another major step forward by the Coalition to engage caregivers and the public to protect patient care,” said Coalition Chairman Thomas Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals in Cleveland. “That is our mission and our goal.” Since March, the Coalition has recruited more than 125,000 hospital supporters through e-mail sign up, Facebook “likes” and Twitter followers. All hospital leaders and employees are encouraged to join the national movement of grassroots supporters at www.ProtectHealthCare.org. AHA is a founding member of the Coalition, a broad-based group dedicated to educating the public about issues affecting hospitals' financial situation, and what this means for patients and their families.
| Hospital prices unchanged in May 06/17/2013
Overall hospital prices were unchanged in May, and 1.8% higher than a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Prices for the subgroup of general medical and surgical hospitals increased 0.1%, and were 1.8% higher than in May 2012, according to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. For hospitals, this translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services. The PPI for hospitals measure changes in actual or expected reimbursement received for services across the full range of payer types. This includes the negotiated contract rate from the payer plus any portion expected to be paid by the patient.
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