Tag: Medicare

Study: Preop mental health assessment improves postop outcomes for older patients

Editor's Note Preoperative mental health assessment significantly increases the odds of a postoperative “textbook outcome” for older patients, according to research published on March 15 in the journal Surgery. The median age for the patient population analyzed at the time of surgery was 74 years. Focusing on more than 32,500…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
March 28, 2025
Share

US News & World Report releases results of second annual ‘Best ASCs’ ratings

Editor’s Note US News & World Report announced on March 18 its 2025 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) ratings after evaluating 4,357 ASCs across four key specialty areas—Colonoscopy & Endoscopy, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics & Spine, and Urology. This marks the second annual edition of the publication’s effort to help consumers make…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
March 19, 2025
Share

Study: CMS sepsis care protocol shows no clear mortality benefit

Editor's Note A systematic review found no strong evidence that compliance with the CMS Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) reduces mortality, raising questions about its inclusion in hospital performance measures, according to a February 19 report from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
March 12, 2025
Share

Rethinking life after 65: A three-pillar approach to retirement planning

Editor's Note With several major gatherings planned for this spring—including those from AORN, AONL, ASCA, and ASPAN—a bustling events season offers perioperative leaders valuable opportunities for reflection on our careers and futures. Speaking of futures, the 2024 OR Manager Salary/Career Survey revealed an intriguing shift: only 9% of perioperative nurses…

Read More

By: Rosemary Welde, RN, MBA, BCC
March 5, 2025
Share

Cost-shifting concerns rise as GOP eyes Medicaid cuts

Editor's Note Large employers are warning hospitals they will not absorb higher costs if plans by Republicans and the Trump administration for deep Medicaid cuts proceed, a February 28 article in Modern Healthcare reports. The threat of reduced Medicaid funding has reignited concerns about hospitals shifting costs onto employers and…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
March 3, 2025
Share

Study: Wildfire smoke raises hospital borrowing, patient care costs

Editor's Note Wildfire smoke is driving up borrowing costs for hospitals and healthcare facilities, potentially leading to higher patient care costs, according to new research from the University of Nevada, Reno. As detailed in a February 18 article in Nevada Today, findings show municipal bond investors are factoring wildfire smoke…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
February 25, 2025
Share

Reviewing the evolution of US News’ 2025 best ASCs ranking

A wave of policy and regulatory changes is shaking up the healthcare industry—among many other markets. Like the COVID-19 pandemic greatly sped up the proliferation of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) by bringing traditional hospital operations to a standstill, ASCs are again on the poise of another boom. Medical innovation abounds…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
February 18, 2025
Share

CABG, TAVR drive hospital revenue despite cost variations

Editor's Note Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) generate the highest overall financial returns for US hospitals, despite not being the most profitable per procedure, according to a February 13 report in Cardiovascular Business. The article covers an analysis of Medicare data, published in…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
February 14, 2025
Share

Rural hospital closures drive up surgical travel times and costs

Editor's Note Ongoing hospital closures are driving up travel times and out-of-pocket costs for rural Americans who need surgery, according to a February 12 report in HealthDay. Citing two recent studies published in Annals of Surgery and JAMA, respectively, the article details how rural hospital closures have forced more patients…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
February 14, 2025
Share

Moody’s downgrades health insurance outlook as medical costs surge

Editor's Note Moody’s Ratings has shifted the health insurance industry’s credit outlook from stable to negative, according to a February 3 article in Fierce Healthcare. According to the article, the downgrade is due to escalating medical costs that outpace reimbursement rates. Analysts project an 8% rise in commercial market spending…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
February 5, 2025
Share

Join our community

Learn More
Video Spotlight
Live chat by BoldChat