FDA Bans 40 Percent of Antibacterial Soaps The FDA last week banned the sale of soaps containing certain antibacterial chemicals, saying industry had failed to prove they were safe to use over the long term or more effective than using ordinary soap and water. In all...

Medicare ACOs Save $466 Million in 2015 Over 400 Medicare accountable care organizations generated more than $466 million in total program savings in 2015, according to the latest data from CMS. However, Medicare spent $217 million more in bonuses than the ACO program saved.  The data...

Medicare Drug Spending Skyrockets: CMS Report Spending on prescription drugs in Medicare Part D increased 17 percent from 2013 to 2014, according to new data released by CMS. Drug costs in the program grew from $104 billion to $121 billion between 2013 and 2014. The data...

340B Dispute Process Proposed by HRSA The Health Resources and Services Administration issued a proposed rule last week to establish a binding administrative dispute resolution process when drug companies or health care organizations have disagreements over the 340B drug discount program. The process would help resolve...

U.S. News Announces Its 2016-17 Best Hospitals U.S. News released its 27th annual Best Hospitals rankings last week, comparing nearly 5,000 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. Here are the top 10: 1) Mayo Clinic, Rochester 2) Cleveland Clinic 3) Massachusetts General Hospital,...

New Bill Would Halt Hospital Star Ratings Program U.S. Reps. Renacci (R-OH) and Rice (D-NY) have introduced a bill to delay for at least one year the hospital star ratings program. The legislation would require CMS to take down the newly published ratings until at least...

New Hospital Star Ratings Summary Released; Specific Ratings Coming “Soon” CMS released a breakdown of the upcoming overall hospital star ratings ahead of the highly anticipated facility-by-facility release. Of the 4,600+ hospitals, 102 hospitals earned five stars, 934 four stars, 1,770 three stars, 723 two stars...

CMS Proposals Make Major Changes to HOPDs, ASCs, Physician Payments CMS last week released proposed rules for Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System and the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for 2017. Under the OPPS Rule is a provision that...

Senate Leader Considers Stark Law Reform In an effort to ease physician-referral restrictions, Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-UT) last week released stakeholders’ suggestions for Stark law reform. Hatch said the restrictions make it difficult for providers to undertake delivery-system reforms, and he said the...

Two Major Doc Groups Smack Proposed MACRA Regs Two major physician groups have largely turned against CMS’ newly proposed physician payment system mandated by MACRA, according to public comments submitted late last week by the American Academy of Family Physicians (click here) and the Medical Group...