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What We're Reading: Appealing the 340B Ruling; Medicaid Payment Errors; Reducing Veterans' Suicides
Three hospital groups are appealing a ruling that dismissed a lawsuit challenging the new cuts to the 340B program; report finds poor oversight of data repository resulted in $36.7 billion in payment errors in 2017; a new executive order will expand mental health care for new veterans.
Hospital Groups to Appeal 340B Ruling
The American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and America's Essential Hospitals will appeal a ruling that dismissed a lawsuit over 340B cuts. According to The Hill, the initial lawsuit was dismissed on December 29, because it was filed before the rule took effect. The rule will result in $1.6 billion in cuts to hospitals participating in 340B, and the hospital groups are arguing that the change violates federal law.
Poor Oversight Led to Medicaid Payment Errors
A report from the Government Accountability Office found that a lack of oversight of Medicaid data resulted in $36.7 billion in payment errors in 2017, alone. Healthcare Finance reported that those payment errors are up from an estimated $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2013. Last year, 49 states began reporting data to the national repository, but data challenges, such as incomplete data, have hindered oversight.
Executive Order Expands Mental Health Care for Veterans
A new executive order is attempting to reduce suicides among transitioning veterans as they leave the military. The order provides new veterans with mental health care for at least 1 year after they leave the military, reported The Washington Post. President Donald Trump has given 60 days for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to develop a joint plan, and they are expected to report back to the president within 180 days on the implementation of the new plan.
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
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An Overview of Health Care and Pharmaceutical Trends, 2023-2024
April 19th 2024Douglas M. Long, BA, MBA, was featured as the keynote speaker on the closing day of The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting, with a session dedicated to surveying the health care and pharmaceutical trends of the last year.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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Government agencies have created an online portal for the public to report potential anticompetitive practices in health care; there are changes coming to the “boxed warning” section for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR T) to highlight T-cell blood cancer risk; questions about the safety of obesity medications during pregnancy have arisen in women on them who previously struggled with fertility issues.
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