Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

CMS and CDC Push Nursing Homes to Be More Proactive With COVID-19

In 2022, the largest spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths occurred in January and February, pointed out Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrat... Read More »

The Growing Role of AI in the Senior Care Industry

What options are best for your facility, and how can you best get started using AI? Read More »

CDC: Protect Staff With Underlying Conditions Against COVID-19

Staff at skilled nursing facilities and other senior care facilities risk serious illness if infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read More »

Bye-bye, CMMI?

CMS Administrator Seema Verma has announced the dawn of big changes at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). What will happen to all the bundled payment projects? Read More »

Putting men in the caregiving spotlight

A recent report from the AARP Public Policy Institute finds that a growing number of family caregivers are men, but few are getting the support or resources to make caring easier. Read More »

House passes AHCA bill by 4 votes

The promise of $8 billion for high-risk and pre-existing conditions pushed the bill in the GOP's favor. The bill now moves on to the Senate, where the margins for passage are predicted to be tougher. Read More »

Home care before hospice

Home based palliative care, or pre-hospice, programs aim to improve quality of life by bringing healthcare workers into the home and better care coordination—all while cutting costs for seniors and Medicare. And research shows it’s working. Read More »

Veyo to double its transportation market in 2017

The California startup has its wheels in motion to transform non-medical transportation for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Read More »

The repeal and replace bill: Medicaid’s most dangerous enemy?

The GOP's long-awaited bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is here--but its vision may be dangerously shortsighted. Read More »

CMS issues final rule for cardiac bundled payments

CMS released its latest episodic care models Tuesday, including the 90-day bundles for heart and bypass patients. Read More »

Value-driven senior living design

What values are driving the design of today’s senior living communities? Linden Wood Village is an example of how senior living communtities can balance amenities and variety with safety and security, all while being good neighbors. Read More »

CMS to test new ACO model for dual-eligibles

The pilot will let accountable care organizations manage the Medicaid claims for beneficiaries who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Read More »

What impact will Trump’s victory have on value-based healthcare?

As Republicans take control of the executive and legislative branches, how will the new Administration impact healthcare's initiatives and priorities? Healthcare information technology experts weigh in on key policy issues moving forward. Read More »

Slow medicine pioneer Dennis McCullough dies

Dennis McCullough practiced geriatric medicine for several years but it was his own personal experiences inspired him to rethink end of life care. He became an advocate for hospice and palliative care. Read More »

CMS to Allow ACOs to Join Forthcoming CPC+ Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened up its new Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) initiative to 1,500 eligible primary care practices currently in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). Read More »

Couples become more similar as they age

New research suggests people who have been in relationships for decades are more likely to age to become more like each other mentally, physically and emotionally. That means doctors need to monitor the health of their patient--and their patient’s partner. Read More »

ACOs thwarted by lack of interoperability

Accountable Care Organizations have spent the past four years struggling to achieve the goals that set them apart. But ACOs still don't have the one thing needed for success: data interoperability. Read More »

Joint Commission launches new certification for total hip and knee replacements

Advanced certifications for certain joint replacement procedures could help the market bring quality to the fore from pre-op all the way to the rehabilitation center. Read More »

CMS launches ACO kidney dialysis model

The new accountable care organization model creates a shared-cost program for end-stage renal disease. Read More »

Former ONC chief breathes new life into ACOs

The former head of the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC), Farzad Mostashari, is making big waves in the accountable care organization (ACO) arena. His year-old company has applied to launch ACOs in seven more states next year. Read More »

Pioneer ACOs: Study finds savings without sacrifice of quality

The Pioneer model of accountable care organization has saved about $385 million without sacrificing care quality, according to a newly published study in JAMA. Read More »

SGR fix ahead

Congress may solve the sustainable growth rate puzzle, but for the long term, it may not matter all that much. Read More »

Alzheimer’s and memory care set to grow in 2015, providers say

Alzheimer’s and memory care will be the areas of senior care that will experience the most growth in 2015, according to senior housing and services leaders responding to a new survey. Read More »

Medication adherence metrics are focus of PQA, AllazoHealth partnership

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance and AllazoHealth have formed a formal research partnership to study and improve industry-wide medication adherence metrics. Read More »

HHS creates forum related to payment models

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has formed the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network to help the federal government move toward greater use of alternative payment models. Read More »

HHS to shift payment from volume to value

Providers will be paid by the federal government based on care quality rather than care quantity under new, measurable goals announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Monday. Read More »

Care quality, coordination is focus of new ACO model

A new model of accountable care organization will aim to improve care quality and coordination in rural and underserved areas through the use of health information technology. Read More »

CMS may require meaningful use-certified EHRs for chronic care services

A new CMS proposed rule could bring the Meaningful Use EHR program to the realm of long-term care in a meaningful way. Read More »