Healthcare Costs Vary Across Regions
A new report titled the Health Cost Landscape from the Health Care Cost Institute found that healthcare spending per person with employer coverage was $6,711 but the figure can vary significantly by region. Spending was 70% higher than the national average in Charleston, West Virginia, while costs were 41% below the national average in Bakersfield, California.
The report looked at more than 1.3 billion medical claims submitted from 2018 to 2022, with data from 38 million people. The report also found that the price of services, utilization trends and the types of services used all contribute to the spending figures. Prices were the largest driver in variation.
Most of the metropolitan areas included in the study were highly concentrated hospital markets, with 88% either highly or very highly concentrated.
#healthcare #costs #employercoverage
ACCESS Winners Announced
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 150 digital health companies and healthcare providers awarded to participate in the launch of its tech-enabled chronic care 10-year model, ACCESS. Recurring payments will be paid to monitor and improve diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obesity, depression, and anxiety. The model will help pay for telehealth software, wearables and wellness apps that address the conditions.
In addition, the new LEAD model is a 10-year voluntary, capitated accountable care organization model. LEAD features two risk-sharing options determining ACOs’ financial accountability – a global risk track and a professional risk track. Other financing challenges are also addressed.
Additional articles: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/digital-health/cms-taps-150-digital-health-companies-providers-access-model
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#lead #access #digitalhealth #acos #medicare
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-cms-lead-aco-value-based-care
Judge Throws Out Elevance Surprise Billing Case
A federal judge dismissed an Elevance Health No Surprises Act lawsuit against billing dispute consultant company HaloMD and California-headquartered providers. The judge indicated that Anthem Blue Cross did not show sufficient evidence that HaloMD or its co-defendants misused the dispute system.
Additional article: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/legal/mh-elevance-no-surprises-act-lawsuit-dismissed/
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#nosurprisesact #transparency #prices
— Marc S. Ryan
