Healthcare Headlines May 2016
This monthly digest of trending healthcare industry news is compiled by Kraus-Anderson’s Healthcare Construction Group. KA works closely with healthcare clients on a wide range of challenging goals, from remodels and additions to new construction. Staying informed, and helping our clients be informed, of healthcare industry developments helps us accomplish our goal of providing maximum value for the client, so that they in turn can maximize their programs.
Groundbreaking for TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Woodbury, MN
Groundbreaking was held May 26 on the three-story, 84,000 s.f. TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Woodbury, MN’s CityPlace complex. The facility opens in 2017 and will provide a full range of sports medicine and orthopaedic services, including an acute injury clinic, physical therapy and ambulatory surgery.
Bill would exempt many cancer hospitals from site-neutral payment
The bill, now in subcommittee, would ensure that cancer hospitals exempt from the Prospective Payment System would continue to receive the same reimbursement they receive now, despite recent under site-neutral regulation.
Overtime pay rules will affect millions of healthcare workers
New federal rules nearly double the threshold at which companies can deny overtime pay. The increase is expected to take effect in December and will affect over 4 million workers, including nurses, medical and physical therapist assistants, medical and pharmacy technicians and paramedics.
House Republicans won their ACA lawsuit. Here’s what happens next.
A federal judge ruled that the Obama administration unconstitutionally spent money to pay for provisions of the ACA that included reduced deductibles, copays and coinsurance for plans purchased through the ACA’s insurance exchanges.
Superbugs will ‘kill every three seconds’
A UK analysis of the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) urges a revolution in the use of antimicrobials, including additional research/development, improved access to clean water, sanitation, cleaner hospitals, and awareness campaigns to “stop people treating antibiotics like sweets.” Modeling up to the year 2050 suggests that 10 million people could die each year from AMR.
Hospitals, outpatient offices power April’s so-so jobs report
More than one out of four jobs added in the U.S. in April was in the healthcare industry.
How to manage the Healthcare Data Explosion?
Electronic Medical Records represent only a fraction of the data that is exploding into the healthcare industry. Imaging data, digital pathology, genomics, personalized data and other innovations are expediting treatment and providing a bigger picture of patient health, even as they gobble up exponentially larger file space. Health system CIOs are searching for scalable and high-performance systems to manage and access information, across systems, settings, platforms and devices.
Can patients’ genetic data help keep them healthy? Providers invest big to find out
More hospital groups are investing in genomics and personalized medicine in order to detect biomarkers for serious illnesses, and target patients for early intervention.
Will Medicare’s physician payment overhaul drive more docs to hospitals?
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials say the new rule, which consolidates three existing payment models, will offer more simplicity and flexibility for physicians when it goes into effect in 2019. But industry watchers say the new model will essentially compel physicians to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and away from the Alternative Payment Model (APM), which exposes them to greater risk.
CMS drops two midnight rule’s inpatient payment cuts
The agency imposed the cut based on estimates that the policy would increase Medicare spending by $220 million due to increased inpatient admissions.
CMS delays new hospital quality ratings amid pressure from Congress, industry
Pressure from lawmakers and industry stakeholders influenced the last-minute decision to postpone release until July. The agency has also indicated it will work with providers to clarify methodology and get feedback on refining the program.