Finances: Page 6
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Walgreens makes progress on turnaround in Q1, though losses grow
Despite a $265 million net loss, investors saw reason for optimism in the quarter, including renegotiated pharmacy contracts and the closure of 70 underperforming stores.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 10, 2025 -
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Deep DiveHealth insurers will step off the roller coaster in 2025
After a turbulent year, things should calm for payers with the advent of a business-friendly Trump administration — though challenges will persist. Here are experts’ biggest predictions for 2025.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 8, 2025 -
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Stopgap funding bill includes sweeping PBM reform, preserves telehealth flexibilities
The bipartisan agreement will fund the government through March. It could also reshape the pharmacy supply chain by reforming how controversial drug middlemen do business.
By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 18, 2024 -
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Centene lobbies Trump administration to preserve Medicaid, ACA following ‘tragic’ year
The insurer warned Republicans about the political ramifications of cutting healthcare programs during its investor day, which began with a moment of silence for slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 13, 2024 -
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New bipartisan legislation would force insurers, PBMs to sell pharmacy businesses
The PBM Act would make companies like CVS and UnitedHealth that own health insurers or PBMs sell pharmacy assets. That would help independent pharmacies, but may not help patients, according to one expert.
By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 11, 2024 -
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Fitch bumps outlook for nonprofit hospitals in 2025
Improved management of labor expenses contributed to the ratings change.
By Susanna Vogel • Dec. 11, 2024 -
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About 1 in 3 retail pharmacies have closed since 2010: study
Independent pharmacies were more likely to shut down, possibly because they’re more often excluded from pharmacy benefit managers’ networks, according to research published in Health Affairs.
By Emily Olsen • Dec. 4, 2024 -
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CMS recalculates Medicare Advantage stars for UnitedHealth, Centene
After both insurers challenged the agency in court, the CMS improved scores for 12 UnitedHealth contracts and seven Centene contracts.
By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Illustration: Xavier Lalanne-Tauzia for Industry Dive
Ascension reduces operating loss, grows volumes in Q1
The provider is rebounding from a sweeping cyberattack this spring that took its electronic health record offline for weeks and led to significant losses.
By Susanna Vogel • Dec. 3, 2024 -
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Sanofi joins J&J, Eli Lilly in proposing 340B rebate model
Sanofi plans to phase in its own rebate model for 25 drugs — including anti-inflammatory injectable Dupixent, one of the top 10 drugs in global sales — early next year. It’s unclear how regulators will react.
By Rebecca Pifer • Updated Nov. 27, 2024 -
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MPT installs new leadership at Prospect hospitals as system continues to miss rent payments
Prospect has attempted to sell hospitals to generate liquidity, but has been unable to offload several of its properties.
By Susanna Vogel • Updated Nov. 25, 2024 -
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CareMax, dragged by Steward, files for bankruptcy
CareMax was the exclusive Medicare managed service organization to Stewardship Health. Steward’s bankruptcy posed an “existential threat” that CareMax said it couldn't overcome.
By Susanna Vogel • Updated Nov. 20, 2024 -
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Offering health insurance is becoming less lucrative
In the third quarter, the seven major publicly traded insurers’ medical loss ratios increased an average of 3.3 percentage points year over year — a major jump in medical costs.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 18, 2024 -
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High labor expenses still challenging providers: report
Medical groups' median investment in each employed physician surpassed $300,000 for the first time ever in the third quarter, according to Kaufman Hall.
By Emily Olsen • Nov. 13, 2024 -
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Pharmacy costs, high utilization drive Kaiser to $608M operating loss in Q3
Kaiser said it would institute cost-cutting measures in response to the lackluster financial results, but didn’t detail specifics.
By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 12, 2024 -
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Cigna confirms it is not pursuing Humana acquisition
The flat-out denial comes after Cigna CEO David Cordani tried to discourage persistent speculation of a Humana merger earlier this fall.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 11, 2024 -
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Private equity dealmaking in healthcare services falls again in Q3: PitchBook
Still, PitchBook analysts said the PE market is poised for a turnaround.
By Emily Olsen • Nov. 8, 2024 -
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MedPAC backs tying physician pay to inflation, but ducks specifics
During a meeting Thursday, commissioners debated different solutions to lackluster physician pay with one theme in common: linking doctors’ annual payment update to the Medicare Economic Index.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 8, 2024 -
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CVS appoints new Aetna head following mixed third-quarter results
This year has been defined by an unsuccessful fight against elevated medical costs for CVS. The third quarter was no different.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 6, 2024 -
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MACPAC calls for greater transparency amid steep rise in Medicaid directed payments
Dramatic growth in an opaque Medicaid funding mechanism is exacerbating concerns about the program’s fiscal integrity — while spurring financial gains for the hospital industry.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 5, 2024 -
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Physicians, hospitals decry 2025 Medicare payment rates
Physicians will see their Medicare reimbursement fall 2.9% next year if Congress doesn’t stop the cuts. Meanwhile, reimbursement for hospital outpatient departments is rising 2.9%.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 4, 2024 -
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Cigna CEO tamps down on Humana deal speculation
Despite reports this fall that the two payers had reopened merger talks, Cigna plans to use excess cash to buy back its shares, David Cordani told investors.
By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 31, 2024 -
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Humana boosts 2024 earnings guidance thanks to Medicare Advantage member retention
The insurer said it doesn’t expect earnings growth next year due to significant investments it plans to make to boost MA stars.
By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 30, 2024 -
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Rising healthcare costs could trickle down to workers: employer survey
Employers said higher drug costs pose the biggest threat to healthcare affordability, according to the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions report.
By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 30, 2024 -
Illustration: Xavier Lalanne-Tauzia for Industry Dive
Demand for services boosts Tenet’s third-quarter revenue to $5.1B
Despite beating estimates for revenue, the health system lowered the upper end of its full year revenue outlook. Analysts said the revision was due in part to the sale of some hospitals.
By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 29, 2024
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