The Rundown: What We’re Reading for the Week of July 17th

Est. Reading Time: 3 Minutes

Are you a busy provider looking for healthcare news? Check out The Rundown.

Healthcare is a rapidly evolving industry and it’s difficult to keep up with the news, but the success of your practice can depend on how knowledgeable you are about the changes in the healthcare landscape.
Privia has compiled a list of articles to keep you up to date on what you need to know about all things healthcare.
Another roadblock for “Repeal and Replace”
After another failed attempt at repealing and replacing Obamacare, with the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), the GOP is faced with another set of challenges, according to a New York Times report. After Senate Republicans fell short by a few votes to start debate on the BCRA. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested a full repeal without replacement. This suggestion was also quickly shot down by a few Senate Republicans, who worried about the possible effects of loss of coverage for their constituents. No one can be certain on what is next for the Affordable Care Act, but each option presents huge obstacles for both sides of Congress.
>>Read more of this story: “Let Obamacare Fail,” Trump Says as G.O.P. Health Bill Collapses
U.S. healthcare spending is high… but what does this mean for outcomes?
The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country, but what exactly are Americans receiving from their increased spending? According to an LA Times report, Americans are living shorter lives than people in 30 other countries, based on data from the World Health Organization. This report also shows that “more people died in the United States from preventable diseases or complications than those in 12 other high-income countries.”
>>Read more of this story: The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country — but not with better health outcomes
Cleveland Clinic In Conflict
Cleveland Clinic continues to be one of the largest powerhouses in healthcare but has established a murky relationship with the community it serves, according to a new report by Politico. As Cleveland Clinic continues to grow and attract patients from all over the world, its neighbors share frustrations with poor living conditions. The area surrounding the Clinic’s main campus has been plagued with poverty, and the main issues associated with it, including poor health outcomes. According to the report, “the area around the Cleveland Clinic’s main campus has higher rates of diseases such as coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.” Cleveland Clinic leaders claim the Clinic has done more than enough to invest in their community. Activists disagree and ask for more from the Clinic to improve the conditions of those who live in this community.
>>Read more of this story: How the Cleveland Clinic grows healthier while its neighbors stay sick
How billing errors lead to $60 billion in overpayments
Kaiser Health News reports that overpayments for standard Medicare programs and Medicare Advantage totaled $60 billion last year, which is “twice as much as the National Institutes of Health spends on medical research each year.” Overpayments have been a result of fraud and billing mistakes although there is concern around the fact there hasn’t been an exact estimate of what has been a result of fraud. According to this report, “the investigation found that Medicare Advantage payment errors result mostly from flaws in a billing formula called a risk score.”
>>Read more of this story: Fraud And Billing Mistakes Cost Medicare — And Taxpayers — Tens Of Billions Last Year
The biggest challenges for healthcare organizations
MedCity News shares a new EY Health survey on the biggest challenges that healthcare organizations are facing and this survey included 700 healthcare professionals from organizations with annual revenues of $100 million or more. These challenges include clinical workforce challenges and a lack of trust and engagement among staff. According to the report, “only 8 percent of respondents said their organization’s administrative staff members are highly engaged.”
>>Read more of this story: What are healthcare organizations’ biggest challenges this year?

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