Perspective
Perspective is a weekly blog from Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, that explores the most important issues facing hospitals and health systems.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently made several proposals that could reduce access to care in the community, particularly for vulnerable patients. We’ve urged CMS to withdraw these proposals for several reasons.
The opioid epidemic’s grip on our communities continues to be a major challenge. At the same time, we also see progress in addressing the problem.
Having options is good. Having options when it comes to health care is essential. Patients need the flexibility to get the treatment they need in the setting that’s most appropriate and convenient for them. But a recent proposal by the Centers for Medicare…
Our thoughts are with the women and men of the hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia now, and in the days to come, as they deal with this massive storm and its aftermath.
There is a lot of focus today on health care costs, and what can be done to contain them. One sure-fire strategy? Reduce the regulatory burden that is drowning providers in red tape and adding costs to the system.
The health care community’s efforts alone are not enough to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic. We need more help from the federal government.
It’s no secret that health care is changing – rapidly. And how hospitals and health systems respond to the challenges of today will determine how well they can seize the opportunities of tomorrow. Helping the field navigate this transformation is a key AHA priority.
Every site of care is not the same – they don’t all offer the same level of care or have the ability to treat the same types of patients.
We need our government partners to step up and help reduce costs – especially the costs related to the heavy administrative burden faced by health care providers, costs unrelated to delivering patient care.
It’s been well established that the health care system is moving from a fee-for-service world to one where payers reward value over volume. This requires care coordination and providers across the health care continuum working together to achieve the best outcomes for patients.