Watchdog: Proposed ballot measure could save money on pensions, but at what cost?

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/measure-678062-retirement-public.html

Money Down Arrow

In an Orange County Register article, columnist Teri Sforza writes that “a controversial reform measure headed for the 2016 ballot could cut public pension costs by giving taxpayers a say on retirement plans — but it could upend collective bargaining in the process.” Sforza cites several analyses that say the measure could threaten protections for pension and retiree health care benefits, while noting that backers maintain it will not “change benefits that public workers currently possess.”

Most Health Insurance Co-ops Are Losing Money, Federal Audit Finds

The co-ops were created by Congress in an effort to increase competition and keep costs down. According to Daniel Levinson, inspector general at the US Department of Health and Human Services, 22 of the 23 co-ops lost money last year; most had fewer enrollees than had been originally predicted.

ACA to fund 266 new community health centers

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/aca-to-fund-266-new-community-health-centers.html

usa-color-map

http://bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/NAP/0815awards/index.html

5 Risks Affecting Healthcare on the ACA’s 5th Anniversary

http://healthcare-executive-insight.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/5-Risks-Affecting-Healthcare-on-the-ACAs-5th-Anniversary.aspx?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Healthcare%20Dive&utm_campaign=Issue%3A%202015-08-10%20Healthcare%20Dive

world_technology

The tumultuous future of the U.S. healthcare industry

 

Reported premium increases are irrelevant for most marketplace consumers

Reported premium increases are irrelevant for most marketplace consumers

Health Insurance Claim Form

Don’t blame Medicaid for most of the rise in state and local health care spending

Don’t blame Medicaid for most of the rise in state and local health care spending

Medicaid

Contemplating health care with a focus on research, an eye on reform.

2016 IPPS Final Rule Detailed

http://healthleadersmedia.com/content.cfm?topic=QUA&content_id=319241

Money Physician

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule comes with an estimate: One in five hospitals will be penalized with a 1% reduction in MS-DRG payments for all traditional Medicare discharges in FY 2016.

Half Of Nation’s Hospitals Fail Again To Escape Medicare’s Readmission Penalties

http://khn.org/news/half-of-nations-hospitals-fail-again-to-escape-medicares-readmission-penalties/

Once again, the majority of the nation’s hospitals are being penalized by Medicare for having patients frequently return within a month of discharge — this time losing a combined $420 million, government records show.