Here are seven things for ASC leaders to know for April 10, 2017.
Aetna to leave Iowa ACA exchange
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna is withdrawing its individual health insurance plans from Iowa's ACA exchange in 2018. Aetna is the second payer to report it is exiting the state exchange. Earlier this week, Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Wellmark said it is ceasing selling individual plans next year due to the ACA's uncertain future.
Predictive models estimate $35B in lost Medicare physician services spending as result of MACRA
Santa Monica, Calif.-based RAND Corp. researchers predict Medicare spending on physician services could fall up to $35 billion with hospital service spending increase due to MACRA.
CMS predicts 2.95% increase in Medicare Advantage revenue
After finalizing its 2018 payment and policy updates for Medicare Health and Drug Plans, CMS expects payers could see a 2.95 percent increase in Medicare Advantage revenues.
Baptist Memorial Health Care selects gMed as its primary procedure report writer
Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care selected Weston, Fla.-based gMed's, a Modernizing Medicine company, gGastro electronic health record system and its gInsignts performance measure platform as its primary procedure report writer.
Minimally invasive biosensor successfully detects colitis in mice
Houston-based Rice University synthetic biologists developed ingestible gut bacteria capable of sensing colitis in mice. Researchers administer the biosensor as an oral liquid. Researchers tested it on two groups of mice: one healthy, one with colitis. The sensor detects thiosulfate and activates a fluorescent green protein visible with a flow cytometer.
AGA offers advice on long term proton pump inhibitor use
The American Gastroenterology Association issued best practices on long term proton pump inhibitor use. AGA suggests:
- Patients with GERD and acid-related complications should take the inhibitors for short-term healing and maintenance and long-term symptom control.
- Patients with uncomplicated GERD who respond to short-term PPIs should attempt to stop or reduce them. Patients who can't reduce them should consider an ambulatory esophageal pH/impedance monitoring before further committing to PPIs.
The Joint Commission awards 3 John Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards
The Joint Commission awarded John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards to U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Carolyn Clancy, MD; the I-PASS Study Group and Wilmington, Dela.-based Christiana Care Health System.