Utah, Virginia and New Jersey had the highest percentages of hospitals earning "A" grades for safety in the Leapfrog Group's latest report. Ninety-four percent of the hospitals with "A" grades are part of larger health systems. Five hospitals that received failing grades have filed a lawsuit against Leapfrog.

New CPT code changes for invasive cardiology procedures and interventional radiology that take effect Jan. 1 include 24 deleted codes for services that currently account for an average of 12.7% of total net hospital revenue, according to a report from Kodiak. Although 48 new cardiology and interventional radiology codes have been added, the elimination of codes may have an impact on hospital revenue. Denial rates are high for initial IC and IR outpatient claims, but appeals are usually successful. The coding changes could worsen the claim denial rate, according to the report.

Hospitals and physicians are preparing for significant Medicaid cuts as states lose federal support for expanded coverage, leading to job losses, facility closures and reduced services. Pediatric care is particularly vulnerable, as Medicaid covers over 50% of pediatric services and up to 70% of care at children's hospitals, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association.

Primary care programs to address patients' social needs are effective at screening and assisting with food and housing needs, but they might not be effective at improving patient health, according to a review in Annals of Internal Medicine. Five of the 23 studies reviewed tracked clinical outcomes. Three of those found no changes, one found worse blood pressure metrics, and one found better blood pressure and cholesterol measures.

Experts at the 18th European Public Health Conference discussed the impact of misinformation on public health, particularly concerning dietary supplements and e-cigarettes. Psychology researcher Christopher Jones said that countering misinformation requires a cultural shift toward transparency and dialogue. Manuel Badino said that digital public health campaigns that engage influential people can help counter misinformation.

The CMS is expanding Medicare coverage of remote patient monitoring, allowing billing for shorter programs and certain therapeutic services. The 2026 Physician Fee Schedule also adds management codes for 10-minute engagement periods. However, UnitedHealthcare is limiting coverage of RPM to patients with chronic heart failure and pregnant patients with hypertension, citing a lack of evidence for other uses.

Telehealth and hospital-at-home programs have resumed normal operations after the government shutdown, thanks to an extension of Medicare waivers that lasts until Jan. 30. The American Telemedicine Association and other stakeholders are calling for a permanent or multi-year extension to provide stability, as some health systems have hesitated to launch new programs amid ongoing uncertainty.

The deal to end the US government shutdown did not include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Premiums for ACA marketplace plans have already risen in anticipation of the loss of enhanced subsidies, and some subscribers may see their premiums double or triple. Congress may act to extend the subsidies before the end of the year, but bipartisan support in the Senate and House approval would be required. Some subscribers may choose to forgo coverage if it is too expensive, or they may opt for a lower-tier plan, experts say.