M&A, debt dampen US healthcare risk profile, report finds

The number of investment grade bonds in healthcare has nearly tripled since 2008 to $609 billion, according to Fitch Ratings.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 30, 2018

ACA premiums would be lower if not for GOP efforts, report finds

Premiums in unsubsidized exchange plans will be 6% higher next year than if Congress and the White House didn't implement policy changes like zeroing out the individual mandate penalty, according the Kaiser Family Foundation.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 29, 2018

LifePoint beats Q3 expectations as RCCH merger looms

The Brentwood, Tennessee-based system reported revenue of almost $1.6 billion despite persistently weak volume, just exceeding analyst estimates.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated Oct. 29, 2018

Softer bookings dampen Cerner's Q3 growth

The EHR company is again under fire for performance on its $4.3 billion Department of Defense Contract.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 26, 2018

Healthcare M&A drops in volume, value for Q3, PwC says

This quarter saw the fewest number of deals since the beginning of 2017. Long-term care remained the most active sub-sector with 102 deals.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 26, 2018

Employers doing little about healthcare waste, report finds

Though 57% of employers believe that up to a quarter of healthcare dollars are wasted, most don't collect or analyze data to track waste, according to the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 25, 2018

CVS-Aetna merger hits snag in New York, clears Connecticut

New York financial regulators want assurances the companies won't raise premiums in the state.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 22, 2018

Hospitals could save $11M per year by streamlining supply chain services

Data analytics and physician engagement are key to reining in supply chain costs, according to Navigant Consulting.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 19, 2018

#AHIPMMD: Optum touts social determinants, Medicaid popularity up

Understanding a member and even their hierarchy in the family are tools to better predict healthcare use and spend, Optum's Jim Dolstad told AHIP conference attendees in D.C. this week.

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 19, 2018

Walgreens teams up with Michigan health system to deliver health, pharmacy services

McLaren Health System will offer retail health clinic, urgent care and primary care services within the pharmacy chain's stores throughout the state.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 19, 2018

Hospitals making limited progress toward cost containment, survey shows

Fewer than one in five executives cited cost reductions greater than 5% in any priority area this year, according to Kaufman Hall.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 18, 2018

Hospital M&A down slightly in Q3

Texas has seen the most activity this year with five deals, including two in the third quarter, according to Kaufman Hall.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 17, 2018

Sutter requests competitor pricing data as part of antitrust lawsuit

Hospitals have balked at the request, saying the information is proprietary.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 17, 2018

UnitedHealth grows Q3 revenue, eyes 2019 expansion

The country's largest commercial payer picked up 2.8 million members, including more than 500,000 in Medicare Advantage, over the past year.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 16, 2018

Aetna settles HIV disclosure investigation for close to $650K

The multistate settlement stems from 2017 mailings that revealed some policyholders' HIV/AIDS or A-fib status.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 15, 2018

Immigration rule change could force millions off Medicaid, report warns

The Trump administration is proposing a change to "public charge" policies that could also lead to higher costs for providers via uncompensated care and more ER visits, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 15, 2018

Grassley urges FTC to investigate hospital-payer contracts

The Senate Judiciary chairman is concerned that anticompetitive contracts could limit access to affordable care.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 12, 2018

DOJ clears CVS-Aetna union

Approval of the $69 billion deal comes with a condition to sell Aetna's Medicare Part D business. 

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 10, 2018

Mayo, Geisinger among 1,300 providers signing up for BPCI-A

CMS announced the participants for its latest bundled payment model, including 832 acute care hospitals and 715 physician group practices.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 10, 2018

Health spending growth gap continues between public and private payers

The sector seems to be in a "post-recession, post-expanded coverage period of steady, moderate growth," according to a report from Altarum.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 8, 2018

Payers find financial success in the ACA exchanges

Insurers have found footing after years of uncertainty, but risks remain.

By Les Masterson • Oct. 8, 2018

Reuters: Change Healthcare retains investment banks for future IPO

It would be the first digital health company to go public since iRhythm Technology two years ago.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 5, 2018

CMS tweaks local coverage policy to speed access to medical devices

AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker said the agency's actions are commendable, but more should be done.

By David Lim • Oct. 5, 2018

CVS, Aetna defend merger potential to Connecticut regulators

The $69 billion deal is considered to have a good chance for approval. Aetna agreed last week to sell its standalone Medicare Part D business to help clear antitrust hurdles.

By Samantha Liss • Oct. 5, 2018

Q3 digital health funding soars to $3.3B across 93 deals

The quarter saw six megadeals over $100 million, bringing the year's total so far to 10, Rock Health reports.

By Meg Bryant • Oct. 4, 2018