Jenna Flannigan

Managing Editor

Managing editor at Healthline.com and freelance writer.

Articles

Five key lessons for using data to report on hospital penalty programs

A deep dive into the data on federal pay-for-performance programs for hospitals turned up a few key lessons along the way for Healthline's Jenna Flannigan, including the importance of understanding what health metrics are actually measuring.

Healthcare Systems & Policy

Medicare penalties take heavier toll on hospitals with the most vulnerable patients

Created by the Affordable Care Act to cut costs and improve quality, Medicare’s penalty programs disproportionately impact hospitals serving the sickest and poorest patients.

Health Insurance and Costs

Healthcare Systems & Policy

Medicare Penalties: What causes hospital readmissions?

Hospitals are penalized by Medicare for high readmission rates, but does this system really encourage better healthcare?

Health Insurance and Costs

Healthcare Systems & Policy

Medicare Penalties: The search for value-based care

Medicare levies penalties against hospitals for lack of quality care, but does the system punish those facilities that accept lower-income patients?

Health Insurance and Costs

Healthcare Systems & Policy

Medicare Penalties: Trying to stop hospital infections

Medicare levies penalties against hospitals in an effort to reduce the number of infections patients pick up at these facilities.

Health Insurance and Costs

Photo courtesy of Flickr / brykmantra

Are penalties an effective way to improve hospital care?

Penalty programs created under the Affordable Care Act are intended to improve quality of care at hospitals. But will they succeed?

Health Insurance and Costs

Patient Safety and Ethics