Recently multiple proposed rules impacting health care delivery and operations have been released. We will focus on those large Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) annual rate-setting rules. The Inpatient Prospective Payment System, Physician Fee...
The Illinois House of Representatives and Senate are currently recessed until the regularly scheduled Fall Veto Session, which is scheduled to convene October 19-21 and October 26-28, 2021. 102nd Illinois General Assembly: Key Legislative Issues Telehealth Expansion...
On Thursday, July 15th, UnityPoint Health participated in the 340B Health virtual fly-in event. 340B Health is the national association that represents public and private nonprofit hospitals and health systems that participate in the 340B Drug Discount Program, and...
On July 15th, UnityPoint at Home leadership, President Mag VanOosten and Chief Operating Officer Jenn Ofelt, met with top officials from the Patient Care Models Division of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Seven CMMI officials participated in...
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Crisis Care Enhancement Act, which directs states to utilize ten percent of their Mental Health Block Grant for crisis care services, once funding for the program is increased by...
Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced bipartisan legislation to make a technical correction to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) program that supports the training of nurses and other allied health...
Telehealth Hero: Dr. Clete Younger Dr. Clete Younger, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids Family Medicine Physician and Medical Director to multiple local and rural nursing homes in Cedar County, has been an active champion of telehealth. Dr. Younger was recently...
UnityPoint Health joined 429 organizations in signing a letter to Congress urging policymakers to address the “telehealth cliff.” The letter was co-led by the Alliance for Connected Care, American Telemedicine Association, Consumer Technology Association, eHealth...
Images (left to right): Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services and Interim Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health; Marissa Eyanson, Division Administrator of Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services – Community. Image Source: Iowa...
Senator Chuck Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst continue to work in a bipartisan manner on issues important to UnityPoint Health. A few recent efforts (so recent that official summaries are still pending) are highlighted below: Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas...