Developing Healthcare

With tight margins as the uninsured population grows and uncertainty as healthcare reform approaches, hospitals and physicians groups across the country are seeking merger opportunities. In 2011, there were 86 hospital merger and acquisition deals, up from 77 in 2010, and 107 physician group merger and acquisition deals, up from 67 in 2010, according to [...]

With the growth of health-care spending declining significantly to 3.9% in 2010, according to federal analysts, the American people are not the only ones looking to cut back on the costs of health care. Hospitals, now more so than ever, are looking for new ways to save money as costs escalate and reimbursements dwindle. There [...]

Employment by health systems is surging for Texas physicians as well as physicians across the country. 65% of physicians who changed jobs in 2009 moved into a hospital employment model according to a 2009 poll by the Medical Group Management Association. Through hospital acquisition, physicians receive a multitude of benefits while maintaining their autonomy. 2 [...]

What’s in store for health organizations looking to implement Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their new ACO rules? A much easier way to adopt an ACO model with enhanced opportunities and reduced risks. While these changes make forming an ACO easier, they are still a far [...]

With Medicare soon releasing a final rule on reducing hospital readmissions, hospitals need to strengthen their efforts in this endeavor. Hospitals with the highest rates of readmissions can face the harshest penalties, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cutting 3% of their reimbursements. A much conversed about topic to help reduce hospital [...]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently outlaid the much anticipated new rules for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Health systems, hospitals, and providers now have a clearer look at the rules on how to qualify for shared savings and the risks associated in offering integrated care for Medicare patients. The standout rule in [...]

Health Systems small and large have been looking at the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) as a promising health delivery model. Through this system, hospitals may attain financial incentives for meeting quality measures as well as reduce costs. However, these changes do not occur over night and for some health systems take quite a long time [...]

At the Interface Medical Office Conference that I recently attended, the keynote speaker, Todd Lillibridge, CEO of Lillibridge Healthcare Services, made an interesting point regarding how hospitals will position themselves in the future. Hospitals are adopting the Accountable Care Organization model – a model in which hospitals will be responsible for a capitated group of covered [...]

Thomas Cassels, Managing Director of The Advisory Board Company, provided a great explanation of determining whether a provider organization should move forward into the Accountable Care Organization culture. As Cassels indicated, most provider organizations have a vision for what they think they need to accomplish to be an ACO, but are uncertain what the transition [...]