NEWS
Contracting News & Notes Recent headlines and trends to keep an eye on
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital opened tower four months early for coronavirus
hospitals the telehealth resource centers
wrote Congress this week asking for fa-
nearly $165 million to combat COV-
cilities and providers responding in good
ID-19. Funds will go to 1,779 small rural
faith to be shielded from unwarranted
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital’s Marcus
hospitals and 14 HRSA-funded telehealth
liability during the pandemic. Not every
Tower is opening four months early,
resource centers. The funds target smaller,
state has acted on executive orders or
on April 13, to help treat the surge
rural hospitals and is separate from the
enacted legislation to support their health-
of coronavirus patients expected this
CARES Act. Approximately $30 billion in
care facilities and professionals, so these
month. The early opening will add three
the CARES Act was recently distributed
organizations are asking for a federal
ICU and acute nursing units to Atlanta’s
to hospitals nationwide.
legislative approach to ensure a consistent
capacity. It will add 132 beds, with 64
level of protection is available for every
designated as critically needed ICU beds.
facility and provider. The organizations representing these hospitals and health
Aug. 1 but accelerated its work schedule
AHA says hospitals stand to lose $200B by end of June
and deliveries of equipment to make it
The American Hospital Association
possible to open early.
(AHA) has released a report stating that
ʯ America’s Essential Hospitals ʯ American Hospital Association ʯ Association of American
The 16-story tower was set to open on
systems include:
America’s hospitals and health systems stand to lose $202.6 billion by the end of
Hospitals receive $30B in CARES Act by direct deposit
June, during the four-month period of the
CMS has announced the release of $30
port attempts to quantify the effects of the
billion of the $100 billion earmarked for
outbreak over the short-term, including:
hospitals in the CARES Act. The money is separate from the $34 billion in advance payment loans to providers announced last week. CMS later increased the amount in the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program (AAPP) to $51 billion. The CARES Act funds began being distributed via direct deposit on April 10.
coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. The re-
ʯ The effect of COVID-19 hospitalizations on hospital costs
ʯ The effect of cancelled and forgone services, caused by COVID-19, on
Medical Colleges
ʯ Catholic Health Association of the United States
ʯ Children’s Hospital Association ʯ Federation of American Hospitals ʯ National Association for Behavioral Healthcare
ʯ Premier Healthcare Alliance ʯ Vizient, Inc.
hospital revenue
ʯ The additional costs associated with purchasing needed PPE
ʯ The costs of the additional support
Premier, America’s Physician Groups recommend APMs for CMS
All facilities and providers that received
some hospitals are providing to
Premier Inc. (Charlotte, NC) and
Medicare fee-for-service reimbursements
their workers.
America’s Physician Groups have recommended ways CMS can provide
in 2019 are eligible for the distribution.
alternative payment models (APMs)
46
for financial stability during the CO-
HHS awards close to $165M to rural hospitals, telehealth centers
Groups representing America’s hospitals, health systems seek liability protection
HHS, through the Health Resources and
Multiple organizations representing
urged CMS Administrator Seema
Services Administration, is awarding rural
America’s hospitals and health systems
Verma to:
VID-19 pandemic and also preserve the future of the models. The groups
June 2020 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
