HHS has announced 32 Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations. The list of 32 organizations has just been released. The initial press release is here. Currently a news conference is ongoing at http://www.hhs.gov/live

Almost all of the hospitals that participated in the hospital outpatient quality data reporting program will receive the full payment update for calendary year 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced yesterday.

The department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released an action plan to prevent healthcare-associated infections, one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S.

HQA preview reports are now available at QualityNet.  Of note - the December 2008 reporting will be the final time hospitals participating in the Inpatient Prospective Payment System will be able to suppress their data to remain eligible for the RHQDAPU payment updates.

HHS announces the offering of incentive payments to physicians and other health professionals who use electronic prescribing technology.

Health & Human Services announced awards of more than $49 Million to 30 states for residents whose health status makes it a problem for them to get conventional health coverage.