Joanne Finnegan
FierceHealth
Concord, NH, United States
Contact Joanne
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Past articles by Joanne:
CMS issues guidance to allow MA, Part D plans to waive coronavirus cost-sharing
The Trump administration has issued guidance to allow Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to waive the cost-sharing associated with coronavirus testing or care visits. → Read More
CMS releases Part D payment model to offer lower cost-sharing on insulin
CMS launched a voluntary payment model aimed at giving Part D plans more flexibility in cost-sharing for insulin, the price hikes of which have infuriated policymakers. → Read More
UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: World Health Care Congress postponed; WHO declares outbreak a pandemic
FierceHealthcare's ongoing coverage of how the coronavirus is impacting the healthcare industry. → Read More
Trump administration will begin enforcing Title X abortion restrictions
As the battle over a new Title X final rule continues to play out in court, the Trump administration says it will begin enforcing those new family planning funding restrictions. → Read More
Physician Practice Roundup—Panel recommends action to prevent depression during and after pregnancy
A task force of experts is recommending that clinicians provide or refer pregnant and postpartum women who are at increased risk of depression for counseling interventions. → Read More
How can healthcare improve care for high-need, high-risk patients? Just ask them
While lots of studies have focused on how to manage high-need, high-cost patients, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York decided to take a different approach. They asked the patients themselves how doctors and healthcare systems can best meet their needs and, in the process, cut costs. → Read More
Most patients use medical marijuana to treat chronic pain, study finds
Chronic pain is the top reason patients are using medical marijuana, according to a new study. The study, published in Health Affairs, looked at the conditions for which patients enroll in state-approved medical marijuana programs. → Read More
Physician Practice Roundup—More than half of new osteopathic doctors choose primary care
In the final American Osteopathic Association match, 56% of new osteopathic physicians were placed into primary care residencies and more news. → Read More
Will more at-risk seniors soon be wearing an Apple Watch for their health?
More grandmas and grandpas may soon have an Apple Watch strapped to their wrist—all in an effort to keep them healthier. Apple is in talks with at least three private Medicare Advantage plans to subsidize the cost of the Apple Watch for seniors to help track their health. → Read More
Triple whammy: Physician, mother, caregiver
You might call it the “triple whammy” for physicians. It’s tough enough being a physician and a mother, but imagine taking on the additional responsibility of caring for a person with a serious health problem, long-term illness or disability. → Read More
Physician Practice Roundup—Florida surgeon part of $1.5M resolution of alleged kickback scheme
An Orlando-area orthopedic surgeon was part of an agreement to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations of an illegal kickback and patient-referral scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the middle district of Florida. → Read More
Medicare payments won’t cover costs for many physician practices in 2019, poll finds
Medicare reimbursement isn’t cutting it for many physician practices. Some 67% of medical practices said that 2019 Medicare payment rates will not cover the cost of their delivering care to patients, according to an MGMA Stat poll. → Read More
Anxiety. Missed appointments. Doctors seeing impact of the government shutdown on patients
Melissa Hidde, M.D., is seeing lots of patients whose anxiety is through the roof at the Green Bay, Wisconsin, practice where she works. And the family practitioner is not alone, as a new survey found that 74% of primary care physicians in the U.S. report that their patients have been affected by the current government shutdown. → Read More
HHS sets 3 priorities for new physician-focused payment models
Physicians and physician groups that hope to get approval for new physician-focused payment models will want to keep some new guidance in mind. The Department of Health and Human Services released guidance that outlined its priorities for new payment models to help stakeholders who are crafting proposed models to submit to its advisory committee that reviews and recommends those new ideas. → Read More
Doctors have opportunity to be heard on MOC; commission report critical of process
Most doctors have doubts about the value of maintenance of certification (MOC) programs, and they now have the chance to be heard. Comments are due today on a 96-page draft report from an independent commission put together by the American Board of Medical Specialties to take a look at the controversial MOC process. → Read More
More primary care doctors, specialists prescribing buprenorphine to treat patients for opioid addiction
Given the country’s opioid crisis, laws were changed to allow more physicians to prescribe buprenorphine to help patients addicted to opioids. Those changes paid off, as a new study in Health Affairs found significantly more primary care physicians and specialists are prescribing buprenorphine during office visits. → Read More
Marijuana legalization leaves doctors wondering ‘What do we tell our patients?’
The times (and laws) have changed when it comes to marijuana use, leaving many doctors with a big question: “What do we tell our patients?” The Annals of Internal Medicine just published six essays that touch on some of the most important issues that clinicians face when discussing marijuana with their patients. → Read More
9 things physicians hate about medicine
You might have guessed it. Paperwork and administrative burdens is the number one issue that frustrates doctors, according to a new poll. → Read More
Doctors who are mothers face ‘insidious, persistent’ discrimination, study finds
It’s not always easy being a mom. Try being a mother and a physician. A new study, published in the BMJ, finds “insidious, persistent and sometimes blatant” discrimination experienced by physicians based specifically on their status as mothers. → Read More
Process to set electronic transaction standards is 'broken,' says MGMA
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) says the process to set electronic transaction standards between providers and health plans is "broken," and the government is failing to protect practices from unfair business practices. → Read More