Articles
Cost Management, Making Healthcare More Affordable
Better Information, Better Care: How Coding Supports Today’s Complex Patients
A report recently released by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association suggests that hospitals’ use of AI-enabled documentation tools is driving higher healthcare costs through increased coding intensity.
Making Healthcare More Affordable, Prior Authorization, Billing & Collections
What AHA's Affordability Recommendations Mean for Patients
By Molly Smith
Unacceptably, millions of Americans are struggling with healthcare costs. Many have chosen to skip prescriptions or other needed care because of concerns about costs; 4 in 10 Americans have medical debt.
340B Drug Pricing Program
340B is a Solution, not a Threat to Addressing Health Care Affordability in the U.S.
Many Americans may be unaware that the services they rely on every day through their local hospital are supported by a program called the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
340B Drug Pricing Program
Putting 340B Program Growth in Context
Recent data released by the Health Resources and Services Administration show that drug purchases made under the 340B Drug Pricing Program totaled $81.4 billion in 2024.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Physician Practice Acquisitions: What Drives Them and Implications for Consumers and Payers
Physicians are increasingly choosing to be employed instead of running their own small practices.
Setting the Record Straight
A Weak Attempt at Pitting Hospitals Against Each Other: Arnold Ventures Uses Third Way to Advance Its Latest Advocacy Strategy
For unclear reasons, Arnold Ventures, a private LLC backed by hedge fund billionaires John and Laura Arnold, has repeatedly targeted hospitals as part of a widespread misinformation campaign.
Setting the Record Straight, Cost Management
Setting the Record Straight: Latest Arnold Ventures-funded Study Draws Many Faulty Conclusions, Including Incomprehensibly Linking Hospital Prices to Increased Suicides
By Molly Smith
Last week, several academics released a working paper saying hospital prices lead to employment losses outside the health sector, among other faulty conclusions.
Setting the Record Straight, Health Insurance
High-deductible and skinny health insurance plans drive medical debt
By Molly Smith
Understand the dangers of high-deductible health plans and how to mitigate the risk of medical debt.
Price Transparency, Cost Management, Setting the Record Straight
New CMS Report Shows Hospitals and Health Systems Are Working to Implement Price Transparency Policies and Help Patients Understand Costs
By Molly Smith, Aaron Wesolowski, AHA Vice President of Research Strategy and Policy Communications, Terrence Cunningham
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the results of its assessment of hospital compliance. Importantly, CMS is the official arbiter of compliance with the transparency rules.
Commercial Insurer Accountability, Setting the Record Straight
CBO’s Proposals Do Not Address The Real Causes of Rising Commercial Health Insurance Premiums
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released a paper that includes several policy options ostensibly intended to reduce health insurance premiums.