Smorgasbord of health items in massive 2-year budget deal

The agreement staving off an extended government shutdown includes a delay to Disproportionate Share Hospital payment cuts, a repeal of the ACA's Independent Payment Advisory Board and more funding to fight the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • Feb. 9, 2018

CVS easily beats Q4 forecast, sees Aetna deal on track

CEO Larry Merlo said on an earnings call "nothing that has surfaced" on the Aetna merger bid has come as a surprise, and he still expects the deal to close in the second half of this year.

By David Lim • Feb. 8, 2018

Tax bill sows confusion for nonprofit hospitals

While for-profit healthcare companies celebrate a windfall, nonprofit systems try to figure out how the tax cuts will impact them.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Management organizations can play key role in ACOs

A Health Affairs report found partnerships helped providers in ACOs with data, administrative, educational and care coordination services.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Express Scripts: Plan drug spending rose at slowest rate in 24 years

The PBM says its efforts to rein in rising drug costs have helped the plans it administers secure hundreds of millions in savings last year.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 7, 2018

Intermountain, Geisinger shift focus to patients in revenue cycle

Patients are now a major payer, and providers need to adapt their strategies.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

CHI continues turnaround, Q2 bolstered by lower restructuring costs

The health system posted an operating income loss of $1.5 million, a substantial improvement from the $146 million loss in the same period of fiscal year 2017.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 7, 2018

Humana Q4 earnings a mixed bag

After increasing individual Medicare Advantage membership by only 1% in 2017, the insurer gained more than 3 million members in January. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Rideshares fail to reduce patient no-show rates, study shows

A number of hospitals and health systems have partnered with Uber and Lyft in an attempt to help people get to appointments.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 6, 2018

Highest healthcare spenders vary each year

The top 5% of healthcare spenders in 2015 accounted for 53% of spending, a new Health Care Cost Institute analysis found.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 5, 2018

Medicaid work requirements bring uncertainty to hospital bottom lines, Fitch warns

Kentucky has already received a Medicaid waiver that allows it to implement work requirements, and seven more states could follow shortly.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 2, 2018

DOJ seeks more info on proposed CVS, Aetna merger

CVS did not say what information DOJ is seeking, but the request is not unexpected.

By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 2, 2018

Medicare Advantage plans to see 1.84% rate bump

CMS is also proposing opioid prescribing limits starting in 2019 for Part D plans to help stem the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • Feb. 2, 2018

Healthcare cloud computing market on track for $35B by 2022

Driving growth is the demand for anywhere, anytime access to health data.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 1, 2018

Changes from DC could mean a difficult year ahead for hospitals

​Issues facing hospitals this year include Medicaid DSH cuts, a possible return of mandatory bundling initiatives and CMS potentially moving hip replacement procedures to outpatient.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 1, 2018

Cigna revenue, membership up with commercial focus

Medicare Advantage membership growth is also expected to increase by 3% in 2018 and will likely accelerate in 2019.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 1, 2018

How Amazon, JPM, Berkshire could disrupt healthcare (or not)

News of three corporate giants forming an independent healthcare company "proves every business is a healthcare business," said David Vivero, CEO of the digital health startup Amino.

By Shannon Muchmore, Daphne Howland & Jeff Byers • Jan. 31, 2018

Anthem sees strong Q4, Medicare Advantage and PBM gains

The major Blues plan reported revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2017, as well as membership gains for the year.  

By Les Masterson • Jan. 31, 2018

State of the Union: 4 things Trump said on healthcare

Most of the healthcare ideas the president put forward have little chance of being enacted this year or lack funding to be effective.

By David Lim • Jan. 31, 2018

Court sets speedy 340B lawsuit schedule, siding with AHA

"We will continue to pursue our legislative and legal strategies to reverse these cuts, and expect to prevail in holding the agency accountable for overstepping its authority," Melinda Hatton, general counsel for the American Hospital Association, told Healthcare Dive.

By David Lim • Jan. 31, 2018

Hospital M&A hits new high in 2017 at $63B

The biggest regional health system transaction was the proposed merger of Advocate and Aurora Health Care.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 30, 2018

Medicare out-of-pocket costs seen rising to half of senior income

Older people in poor health, women and lower-income Americans are paying higher percentages of their per capita income on out-of-pocket Medicare costs.  

By Les Masterson • Jan. 30, 2018

Aetna posts strong Q4 profits, awaiting CVS Health merger

Aetna's net income of $244 million represents a 76% increase compared to the $139 million of profit posted during Q4 2016.

By David Lim • Jan. 30, 2018

Most hospitals will see Part B revenue increase despite 340B cut

The findings from Avalere come as hospitals challenge the 340B drug payment cut in court.

By David Lim • Jan. 29, 2018

One Brooklyn Health wins $664M to develop 32-site ambulatory network

"This holistic investment creates a sustainable, unified health care system to empower historically underserved communities, support health and wellness and ensure a brighter future for the people of Brooklyn," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

By David Lim • Jan. 26, 2018