Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

Obama administration sticks with new mandatory bundled-pay demo, but Tom Price likely to intervene

Modern Healthcare: The CMS is moving forward with a new mandatory initiative that would make hospitals in 98 markets financially accountable for the cost and quality of all care associated with bypass surgery and heart attacks.The final regulations issued Tuesday came just days after the agency announced it was junking a proposed mandatory demonstration that would have tested new ways of paying for outpatient drugs under Medicare Part B in an effort to bring those prices down. Both models have drawn criticism that the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation is overreaching its mandate by compelling participation, including from President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for HHS secretary, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.).

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