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Next Generation accountable care organizations saved Medicare a total of $406 million last year and had an average quality score of 93%. Meanwhile, 517 ACOs are enrolled in the Medicare Shared Savings Program for this year, down from 561 in 2019, 11.2 million Medicare beneficiaries are part of an ACO, and 200 ACOs are taking on downside risk. Health Exec (1/13)
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An analysis of Medicare claims from 2008 to 2016 did not find the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program increased mortality rates, especially among patients seen in the emergency department or under observation, researchers reported in the British Medical Journal. "This study adds to the evidence that the readmission policy is safe and is not increasing the risk of death by turning away people who need to be re-hospitalized," said senior author Dr. Harlan Krumholz. Becker's Hospital Review (1/15)
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Research in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology showed health care-acquired bloodstream infections in pediatric patients have a significant impact on health care costs, length of stay and mortality and are associated with the highest number of preventable deaths among health care-associated infections. Costs for HA-BSIs range from $960 million to $18.2 billion annually, the researchers said. Healio (free registration) (1/14)
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Yale New Haven Hospital's mandatory cognitive testing for clinicians ages 70 or older seeking renewal of hospital privileges showed almost 1 in 8 had cognitive deficits that could affect their ability to practice independently, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "While older clinicians can bring a great deal of experience and expertise to the practice of medicine, we must be sure that they have the cognitive ability to solve problems and make appropriate judgments," said researcher Dr. Leo Cooney. MedPage Today (free registration) (1/14)
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A study analyzing physician participation in the Medicare program from 2009 to 2016 found the number of physicians from the largest practices increased from 32.1% to 48.8%, while the number from hospital-owned practices increased from 18.1% to 25.8%, researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Physicians who entered the Medicare program were more likely than those exiting to be part of a large practice compared with a small group practice, or with a hospital-owned practice compared with an independent practice. Physician's Briefing/HealthDay News (1/14)
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Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in New York has pledged to help every patient, including those in the emergency department, connect with a primary care physician within a week after being discharged. The initiative is aimed at reducing unnecessary emergency department visits and readmissions. Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) (1/13)
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HHS released a draft strategic plan outlining the federal government's goals and objectives through 2025 for ensuring Americans have access to their electronic health information. The plan, developed by Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and more than two dozen other agencies, explains how the government plans to use technology to promote health and wellness, improve care delivery and patient experience, create a secure, data-driven culture to expedite research and innovation, and support development of an interoperable health IT infrastructure. Healthcare IT News (1/15)
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