Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Coalition Of Health Care Systems, Insurers Vows To Change Payment Practices
A coalition of some of the nation’s largest health care systems and insurers vowed on Wednesday to change the way hospitals and doctors are paid — placing less emphasis on the sheer amount of care being delivered and more on improving quality and lowering costs. (Abelson, 1/28)
U.S. hospitals continued to see downward trends in hospital utilization in 2013, and many of them adopted new models of coordinated care that might accommodate the flow of patients to outpatient-care settings. The American Hospital Association's latest annual statistical compilation again shows fewer admissions and births and higher expenses but also more outpatient visits in 2013. (Robeznieks, 1/27)
Meanwhile, real estate experts say there is a boom in senior housing, medical-office buildings and other health-care-related properties.
Investors are pouring money into buying and developing senior housing, medical-office buildings and other health-care-related properties, a class of commercial real estate that has been outperforming almost all others since the recession. The country’s aging population and recovering economy, as well as major changes taking place in the economics of health care, are fueling demand for more space. (Grant and Whelan, 1/27)
