Feds drill down on medical cards

With consumers increasingly tapping medical credit cards to pay for healthcare costs, the Biden administration is zeroing in on regulations to police such financial services.

By Lynne Marek • July 10, 2023

Home health industry group sues CMS, HHS over payment cuts

The National Association for Home Care and Hospice said regulators used “an illogical and invalid methodology” in a new payment model.

By Emily Olsen • July 7, 2023

Healthcare costs will grow 7% next year, PwC finds

Providers are expected to seek rate increases from payers as they struggle with labor costs, while health plans will face pressure from increased pharmaceutical expenses.

By Emily Olsen • June 29, 2023

Primary care compensation growth outpacing other specialties

Primary care doctors have particularly benefited from CMS coding tweaks in 2021, according to a new survey. The gains could help narrow the compensation gap between primary care physicians and other specialties.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 29, 2023

MA beneficiaries with chronic conditions have lower utilization, spending, industry-backed report finds

The Better Medicare Alliance-funded analysis compared beneficiaries with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes across MA and traditional Medicare and found that spending was “consistently higher” among FFS beneficiaries.

By Emily Olsen • June 28, 2023

Hospital operating margins positive for third consecutive month: Kaufman Hall

Hospitals’ financial health has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, but it appears to be stabilizing as Congress debates changing federal payments to providers.

By Susanna Vogel • June 28, 2023

FTC proposes updates to merger review that could slow healthcare dealmaking

A new rule proposed by antitrust regulators would ask companies to provide additional information about planned mergers to help the Federal Trade Commission keep pace with increased deal volume and complexity.

By Emily Olsen • June 28, 2023

Walgreens stock plummets after pharmacy chain cuts 2023 outlook

“Our performance in the third quarter did not meet our overall expectations,” Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer told investors Tuesday morning.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 27, 2023

Babylon to go private, merge with MindMaze

The take-private proposal from AlbaCore Capital comes after the digital health firm has fared poorly on the stock market.

By Emily Olsen • June 26, 2023

UnitedHealth to acquire Amedisys for $3.3B after home health provider reneges on Option deal

The deal would be UnitedHealth’s second purchase of a home health and hospice company, as the integrated healthcare giant looks to capture revenue from medical care increasingly delivered outside of hospitals.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 26, 2023

Health services M&A holding steady despite economic headwinds

Deal volumes declined 4% in the year ended May 15 compared to 2022, according to a PwC report. But the consulting firm is “optimistic” about the sector’s M&A outlook for the rest of the year.

By Emily Olsen • June 23, 2023

State Medicaid spending fell below pre-pandemic levels during continuous enrollment

An analysis by KFF found state spending on Medicaid fell during the COVID-19 pandemic even as enrollment soared. But spending will likely increase as the federal government begins to pare back its increased contribution.

By Emily Olsen • June 21, 2023

SEIU accuses HCA of inappropriate patient transfers to hospice to boost profits, executive pay

HCA called the allegations “not serious” and “propaganda filled with misleading and absurd accusations that are not supported by facts” in a statement following the union report’s release.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated June 22, 2023

Oracle reportedly lays off hundreds of Cerner employees amid VA contract troubles

The layoffs, reported by Insider, come after the VA renegotiated its contract with Cerner over patient safety issues and follow massive job cuts from other tech giants this year.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 20, 2023

Cano CEO steps down after push from former board members

Prior to the leadership change, three former board members, who jointly own the largest stake in the company, accused the Florida-based chain of poor corporate governance and urged Cano to oust CEO Marlow Hernandez.

By Emily Olsen • June 20, 2023

Humana becomes second major payer to flag higher outpatient volumes in Q2

Pent-up demand for healthcare delayed during COVID-19 is making a reappearance, pressuring medical costs for health insurers that had a financial windfall during the pandemic.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 16, 2023

US health spending to surpass $7T by 2031, CMS actuaries say

The unwinding of the COVID-19 public health emergency and recent legislation are expected to influence health spending across the country’s major payers over the next decade.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 15, 2023

Large, geographically diverse insurers see ‘very stable’ operating performance

Payers including UnitedHealth, Elevance Health, Cigna and Humana are benefiting from strong market share that aids them in negotiations with providers, Fitch Ratings found.

By Emily Olsen • June 14, 2023

UnitedHealth expects higher medical costs in Q2 as delayed care makes comeback

The insurer expects its medical loss ratio in the second quarter to reach or exceed its full-year target. UnitedHealth’s stock, along with that of other major Medicare payers, fell in Wednesday morning trading as a result.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 14, 2023

Wage growth at nonprofit hospitals falls below 2022 highs, but remains elevated

Nonprofits continue to add to payrolls as wage growth remains elevated above pre-pandemic levels, forcing hospital systems to consider cost-saving measures to offset labor costs.

By Susanna Vogel • June 12, 2023

Walgreens sells remaining stake in Option Care Health for $330M

Walgreens said it will use the proceeds to pay down debt and support strategic priorities. Option Care is currently under an agreement to buy Amedisys, but Optum recently made a competing bid for the home care company.

By Emily Olsen • June 12, 2023

FTC urges North Carolina legislators to drop UNC Health antitrust exemption bill

The bill’s sponsor previously told local media that it could give the nonprofit, state-owned system the chance to save struggling rural hospitals.

By Emily Olsen • June 7, 2023

Nonprofit hospitals have decreased charity care spending even as operating profits, cash pools grow

The new study is the latest in a string of research suggesting nonprofit hospitals’ balance sheets benefit from the latitude they have regarding charity care spending.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 6, 2023

UnitedHealth’s Optum makes all-cash bid for Amedisys

The $100-per-share offer comes a month after the home health company agreed to a deal with Option Care Health, which was set to close in the second half of the year.

By Emily Olsen • June 6, 2023

Biden signs debt deal, clearing path for $27B in COVID-19 clawbacks

Some of the funding is healthcare-related, and major programs like Medicaid and Medicare emerged unscathed after weeks of negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 5, 2023