The Joint Commission announces review of certain standards, requirements
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on September 13 that it is reviewing its standards and requirements that go beyond the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) conditions of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs to determine whether some should be permanently retired. “As the [COVID-19 public health…
Free at-home COVID-19 tests distribution to end this Friday
Editor's Note On Friday, September 2, the US government will stop giving away free at-home COVID-19 tests because of insufficient congressional funds, according to a senior Biden administration official, NBC News August 28 reports. The White House official said unless there is a surprise round of funding from Congress, the…
President Biden signs healthcare bill into law
Editor's Note The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law by President Biden on Tuesday, August 16, at the White House, CBS News August 16 reports. This finalizes a signature piece of legislation aimed at lowering healthcare costs, fighting climate change, and raising taxes on corporations. The Senate passed…
Senate passes healthcare bill including drug price reforms
Editor's Note On Sunday, August 7, the Senate passed a spending bill allocating billions of dollars to climate reform and healthcare focused programs, including provisions that give “Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices for a small subset of drugs” and extend “enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies” for 3 years,…
CMS releases FY 2023 hospital IPPS proposed rule
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), on April 18, released the FY 2023 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule. The rule would increase payment rates by a net 3.2% for acute care hospitals that participate in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and…
CJR program reduced some racial differences in outcomes
Editor's Note This study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, finds that Medicare’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program led to a reduction of racial differences in hospital readmission rates for patients having hip or knee replacement surgery. The retrospective cohort study included…
HHS says more funding is needed to combat COVID-19
Editor's Note According to the February 16 Becker’s Hospital Review, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xiaver Becerra said the Biden administration is estimating it will need some $30 billion to continue to fight against COVID-19. Another HHS representative told Politico the funding is needed "for additional resources to support…
Report: Only 14.3% of hospitals comply with 2021 price transparency rule
Editor's Note According to Healthcare Purchasing News (HPN), a new report published by PatientRightsAdvocate.org shows that the majority of hospitals continue to not disclose the cost of care from consumers one year after an Executive Order requiring hospitals to post their real prices went into effect. The “Semi-Annual Hospital Price…
The Joint Commission begins surveying for COVID-19 vaccinations in 24 states
Editor's Note As of February 14, The Joint Commission began surveying to the COVID-19 vaccination requirements in the 24 states that were not previously subject to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) “Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination” interim final rule. Healthcare organizations in these 24 states must…
The Joint Commission announces changes to hospital redeeming application
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on February 2, announced that it has made several changes to its elements of performance to reflect Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulatory language more closely. The revisions, which will take effect on July 1, 2022, are applicable to hospitals and critical access hospitals…
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