Laura Joszt, MA

Margaret E. O'Kane has been making lasting impacts on healthcare quality measurement for years. But when she founded the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the organization was sometimes underestimated and not taken seriously.

As health insurers reduce their involvement in the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s insurance exchanges and states approve sharp premium increases for 2017, HHS is trying to assuage fears that coverage under the ACA will be unaffordable for consumers next year.

Researchers from Tufts Medical Center analyzed findings from 26 studies to determine how drug exclusion policies affect patients and healthcare costs.

The use of orphan drugs for non-orphan diseases is driving up the cost of these already expensive medications. A new report from America’s Health Insurance Plans found that almost half of the utilization for 46 orphan drugs were used for non-orphan indications.

Patients who suffer heart attacks or flare-ups of congestive heart failure can fare worse in hospitals that are more likely to send them to the intensive care unit (ICU), according to a study published in CHEST.

CMS unveiled the results of its new star rating system for hospitals amid great controversy. Here are 5 things to know about the new Medicare stars rating program for hospitals.

Karen B. DeSalvo, MD, MPH, the national coordinator for health information technology, will be relinquishing the position on August 12. HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell sent an e-mail to HHS staff to announce the change.

Higher levels of activity were associated with a significantly lowered risk for outcomes in 5 common chronic diseases; however, the largest gains were made at lower levels of activity with diminishing gains as activity levels increased.

Health insurance status can have a big impact on a person’s health outcomes after they are diagnosed with cancer, according to 2 new studies published in CANCER.

In an attempt to appease the Department of Justice and save their proposed merger, Aetna and Humana make deals to sell certain Medicare Advantage assets to Molina Healthcare.

Consumers on the Affordable Care Act's public exchanges have shown a willingness to shop around for coverage that heath plans can tap into.

A new study, presented at the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, suggested that treating people with Alzheimer’s disease may increase survival and reduce cost, even though the treatment does not change the underlying course of the disease.

As the healthcare industry moves from volume to value, new healthcare delivery models are being tested and promoted, and CMS has put a lot of faith into the accountable care organization. So has Aledade.

The way the meaningful use program was structured was more about the adoption of electronic health records and not interoperability, and in order to get there, the US health system needs to first understand what it wants interoperability to do.

Making medical decisions is not as easy as following the evidence. When dealing with people, there are a number of anomalies that influence the decisions someone might make.

UnitedHealth Group is suing American Renal Associates Holdings for fraudulent behavior, and Anthem and Express Scripts are facing a lawsuit for overcharging on prescription drugs.

In the last 5 years urgent care has seen a rise in popularity. Here are 5 facts about urgent care clinics.

When the topic of affordability of healthcare comes up, people usually mean the price of healthcare, but there is a difference, said Tomas Philipson, PhD, of the University of Chicago, at the ISPOR Annual Meeting.

The rising cost of drugs is a cause for concern among various stakeholders in healthcare, some of who worry that staying on the current trajectory will “break the bank,” said panelists during a session at the ISPOR Annual Meeting.

At the Pharmacy Quality Alliance's Annual Meeting, Kate Goodrich, MD, of CMS, and a group of experts discussed the government's move toward value-based care and the use of quality measures.

HHS and the Department of Justice announced a nationwide sweep led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force resulting in charges against 301 individuals for their alleged participation in healthcare fraud schemes involving $900 million in false billings.

The Department of Justice has found that the Nevada Department of Corrections has been discriminating against inmates with HIV and with disabilities, according to a letter of findings issued.

Addressing the unmet social needs of patients requires additional investment on the part of the healthcare industry, but provides a tangible return on investment.

Coverage from the 2016 Spring Live Meeting of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition on April 28-29, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Supreme Court ruled to uphold a new process for challenging patents that the pharmaceutical industry was hoping would be struck down. Generic drug companies and health insurance plans supported the new rule, which could help lower prices.

The healthcare ecosystem can be a very complex place, and it’s important to remember that a patient sits at the center, explained David M. Cordani, president and CEO of Cigna Corp., during a general session on the second day of America’s Health Insurance Plans’ Institute & Expo.

As America’s Health Insurance Plans’ Institute & Expo kicked off in Las Vegas on June 15, Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of The Network for Excellence in Health Innovation, moderated a panel discussion on the possibility of delivery better healthcare at a lower cost.

Healthcare leaders and experts will come together to discuss disruptors, consumer engagement, digital health, and more at the AHIP Institute & Expo, being held June 15-17 in Las Vegas.

A new analysis from The Commonwealth Fund has found that the Cadillac tax will likely be more progressive than initially thought.

States are taking the lead in the fight against rising drug prices. Vermont has passed legislation to regulate yearly drug price hikes and other states have introduced similar legislation.