CVS, Walmart resolve spat over pharmacy benefit pricing

The pact comes days after the two heavyweights said they'd hit a stalemate in contract negotiations.

By Kim Dixon • Jan. 18, 2019

CMS cuts ACA exchange fees, floats proposal to end silver-loading

While no regulations limiting or banning auto-enrollment and silver-loading are contained in the rule, the agency has requested public comment on the two issues for consideration in future rules before 2021.

By Tony Abraham • Jan. 18, 2019

ONC releases 2019 Interoperability Standards Advisory

The latest edition includes a new interoperability need for sending prescriptions to pharmacies for controlled substances.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 17, 2019

Nearly half of doctors feel burned out, Medscape survey shows

Urologists, neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists have the highest burnout levels, according to the report.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 17, 2019

Key House Democrat to focus on ACA, drug prices this year

With Democrats now in power of the chamber, the new chairwoman of a crucial oversight subcommittee laid out her priorities, including proposals she argues will bolster medical device safety.

By David Lim • Jan. 17, 2019

No single solution to patient matching challenge, GAO says

Questions about the accuracy of digital matching tools force providers to recheck results manually, according to the government watchdog.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 16, 2019

Massachusetts will ask Medicaid patients to rate their doctors

Nearly 250,000 beneficiaries will receive questions about primary care, mental health treatment and long-term care services in what the state says is a first-of-its-kind project.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 16, 2019

How a 'regulatory dead zone' may be holding up copycat insulin

The FDA has talked up biosimilars' potential impact on the insulin market, but changing regulations have complicated matters for would-be competitors.

By Andrew Dunn • Jan. 16, 2019

Traditional players focused on value-based care, interoperability to drive innovation, experts argue

Four panelists agreed Wednesday that the Trump administration is making some headway in initiatives that prioritize quality over quantity of care, but it's not enough.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 16, 2019

Democrats riding in on blue wave seek more liberal state, local health policies

Public health insurance options, individual mandates and a variety of Medicaid expansion plans are all on the table as newly installed governors and other officials announce their goals for the year.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 15, 2019

CVS chief says industry disruption should come from within

During an address in D.C. on Monday, the pharmacy chain's CEO Larry Merlo touched on challenges facing the industry and announced a five-year $100 million commitment to bolster healthcare resources in local communities.

By Shannon Muchmore • Jan. 15, 2019

Louisiana launching 'Netflix model' in Medicaid for hepatitis C drugs

The state is looking for a pharmaceutical partner on the project that will cap state spending on expensive treatments for the disease.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 14, 2019

About 1 in 5 healthcare payments is tied to value-based model

Participation in major clinical registries is growing on average 7% annually, according to the new paper on quality initiatives and resource needs. Tracking quality measures through registries is a critical step to value-based payments.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 11, 2019

No way to enforce hospital price transparency rule, CMS says

Administrator Seema Verma said the agency is seeking comments on what the enforcement mechanism should be for failure to post charges.

By Tony Abraham • Jan. 11, 2019

Dems seek answers from Trump admin on CMMI, ACA

Democrats — and one key Republican — are pushing for transparency within Medicare's innovation arm while also demanding details on ACA policies.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 11, 2019

Report calls for privatizing West Virginia's state-run hospitals

Ownership and operations of the seven hospitals would be transferred to a Hospital Facilities Authority, which would explore various privatization options.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 11, 2019

ONC to Congress: Room for improvement in data sharing

Ongoing barriers to seamless data sharing range from technical and financial to trust and business practices, according to the HHS IT department's latest progress report.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 10, 2019

Few digital health companies studying impact in high-burden populations, study finds

Only 16 of the more than 100 studies the authors looked at assessed a digital health product's impact on outcomes, and none measured its effect on cost or access to care, according to the report in Health Affairs.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 10, 2019

Government shutdown poses another hiccup for CVS-Aetna

CVS CEO Larry Merlo addressed the ongoing court review of the Aetna merger at J.P. Morgan's annual conference, saying it will not impede expected benefits from the marriage.

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 10, 2019

Grassley to zoom in on drug pricing, insurance mergers as Senate panel chair

The new Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee pledged to scrutinize mergers such as the CVS-Aetna deal and work to allow cheaper drug imports from Canada.

By David Lim • Jan. 10, 2019

Medicare joint replacement program could succeed in more regions, Health Affairs study says

The mandatory bundled payment model first implemented in 2016 has shown some ability to cut spending without negatively affecting care quality.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 9, 2019

High-cost Medicare patients more likely to be younger, low-income

One of the greatest predictors of a high-cost patient was whether they are dually eligible due to chronic kidney disease.

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 9, 2019

House Democrats hope to push all states to expand Medicaid

Meanwhile, some Republicans in D.C. support a partial Medicaid expansion for the 14 states that have not yet opened up their programs to include more residents.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 8, 2019

Convenience more important to patients than quality of care, survey finds

Nearly half of the organizations surveyed by NRC Health plan to invest in technology to gauge patient-experience metrics over the next year.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 7, 2019

Cancer treatment choices may be skewed by financial incentives, study shows

Physicians in freestanding radiotherapy centers were more likely to self-refer radiation treatment for patients, according to the report in JAMA Oncology.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 4, 2019