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CVS enters into 4 new states for ACA exchange plans

The insurer has been bullish on expanding its ACA footprint since 2021, when its payer business Aetna said it would return to the exchanges after exiting them in 2017.

Envision sues UnitedHealthcare over allegedly denied ER claims

Envision CEO Jim Rechtin called UnitedHealthcare’s alleged practice “cold, callous and inhumane,” according to a statement released Friday announcing a lawsuit was filed in a Tennessee federal court.

Healthcare fintechs targeted by cyber criminals

Cybersecurity professionals say healthcare payments processing firms are particularly vulnerable to information technology breaches and ransom demands.

Healthcare cyberattacks led to worse patient care, increased mortality, study finds

Delayed procedures and tests were the most commonly reported consequences of healthcare cyberattacks, according to a study from the Ponemon Institute and Proofpoint, a cybersecurity compliance company.

Walmart, UnitedHealth ink 10-year collaboration deal on value-based care

Ultimately, the goal is to serve hundreds of thousands of seniors and Medicare beneficiaries in value-based arrangements through multiple Medicare Advantage plans.

FDA issues first EUA for monkeypox test

Quest Diagnostics' PCR test for monkeypox received emergency use authorization after the FDA issued guidance on how it will evaluate the tests.

Robert Riney will lead Henry Ford Health

The new CEO and president has worked in almost “every operating unit in the organization” since he joined in 1978, according to a statement.

HHS will allow EUAs for monkeypox tests to increase access in US

The move follows the declaration of a public health emergency for the monkeypox outbreak on Aug. 4.

OIG report suggests telehealth fraud rare in Medicare

A small proportion of providers that billed for telehealth — 1,714 out of 742,000 — posed a high risk of fraud or abuse to Medicare in COVID-19’s first year, regulators found.

Texas judge says HIV drug coverage requirement violates religious freedom

Texas Judge Reed O’Connor once again ruled against the Affordable Care Act. The health law requires employers to purchase insurance coverage that includes coverage for PrEP medication.

CVS nabs home healthcare company Signify for $8B following bidding war

CVS beat out rivals Amazon and UnitedHealth in the latest big-ticket deal for a home health company.

Physician groups urge CMS to prevent payment cuts, protect telehealth

Multiple groups representing doctors oppose Medicare payment reductions at a time when physician practices face escalating costs.

Missed vaccines open path for return of preventable diseases

Immunization rates declined across the board beginning in March 2020, according to the CDC, but the most significant drop was among children who receive vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.

Amazon, One Medical receive second request from FTC

A second request from the regulator means the two cannot move forward with the deal “until the companies have substantially complied with the additional investigatory request,” according to the FTC.

Ezekiel Emanuel on the state of COVID-19 in the US and the ‘major issue’ of healthcare burnout

The bioethicist and Affordable Care Act draftsman talked about the nation’s new attitude toward the pandemic and what we know about long COVID-19.

Private equity-owned physician groups linked to higher spending in study

The findings could be evidence of overutilization designed to drive up profits, the senior author of the study published in JAMA Health Forum said.

Ambulatory, hospitals, physician offices led August healthcare job gains

The industry added 48,000 jobs in August, compared to about 70,000 jobs in July and 60,000 jobs in June.

CDC backs updated COVID-19 shots from Pfizer, Moderna

One day after the FDA’s authorization, the CDC recommended the companies’ omicron-targeted vaccines for most adults and children over 12 years old.

New rural hospital designation still needs tweaks and more flexibility, stakeholders say

Rural providers are weighing whether to switch to a new payment model as federal regulators aim to curb hospital closures.

BHSH taps new chief people officer

Tracie Morris will be joining the system effective Sept. 11 with a focus on developing a “vibrant and inclusive culture” including initiatives surrounding recruitment, retention and well-being, according to BHSH.

Pandemic telehealth rules reduced opioid overdoses, boosted access to treatment meds, research finds

New findings from JAMA Psychiatry suggest virtual visits were effective in managing certain conditions like substance use disorders among Medicare beneficiaries.

Molina, Elevance nab Iowa Medicaid contracts on heels of California win

Iowa will soon have three health insurers to manage its $7 billion Medicaid program.

Proposed CMS rule would streamline Medicaid, CHIP enrollment

The proposal comes as states begin to notify Medicaid beneficiaries about potential losses of coverage due to the impending end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Walgreens completes majority stake acquisition in CareCentrix

Walgreens announced it planned to acquire CareCentrix in October as the retailer looks to bolster its Walgreens Health business segment.

Funds for free COVID-19 vaccines could run out as early as January, HHS says

The commercial market for COVID-19 vaccinations could be similar to that for seasonal flu shots and other vaccines, the department said.