Feds disclose False Claims Act investigation into multiple payers

UnitedHealth, Aetna, Bravo Health, Cigna, Health Net and Humana have all been named in a lawsuit that alleges the payers cheated the government out of hundreds of millions of dollars. 

By Luke Gale • March 20, 2017

Reports: Trump to pick former Anthem lobbyist to head DOJ antitrust division

The lobbying firm White House Deputy Counsel Makan Delrahim worked for, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, participated in the “antitrust issues associated with Anthem's proposed acquisition of Cigna.”

By Ana Mulero • March 20, 2017

Republicans may tweak AHCA to garner more support

With a vote before the full House scheduled for later this week, Republicans eager to replace the ACA are facing opposition to their replacement bill from both fringes of the party.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 20, 2017

GAO: HHS efforts to enhance patient access to EHRs fall short

The report calls for the HHS to develop performance measures to assess the effectiveness of its EHR engagement efforts.

By Meg Bryant • March 17, 2017

AHA: Anthem-Cigna would hinder innovation needed for value-based care shift

The organization says court documents suggest "Anthem has been less willing than Cigna to innovate to develop value-based reimbursement systems." 

By Ana Mulero • March 17, 2017

Slavitt joins healthcare team at Bipartisan Policy Center

Andy Slavitt, former acting administrator for the CMS, has emerged as an advocate for a bipartisan approach to crafting healthcare policy. 

By Luke Gale • March 16, 2017

AAMC increases projection of physician shortage up to 100K

The number of new physicians is "not keeping pace with the healthcare demands of a growing and aging population," the organization stated.

By Ana Mulero • March 16, 2017

CBO scores leaves some Republicans skittish about ACA replacement

The nonpartisan agency's report finding the ACA replacement bill would leave 24 million more people without insurance in 10 years received mixed reactions from GOP members.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 15, 2017

DOJ presses on against Anthem-Cigna appeal

"Anthem had no real plan to achieve" the medical cost savings it claimed the combined company would create, according to the new brief filed with the Court of Appeals.

By Ana Mulero • March 14, 2017

CBO: 24M more uninsured by 2026 under AHCA

The score of the ACA replacement bill from the Congressional Budget Office was worse for Republicans than many expected, but they responded by saying the report was flawed and pointed to budget savings the nonpartisan agency predicted.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 14, 2017

Merger ahead for two nonprofit patient safety organizations

The merger between The Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the National Patient Safety Foundation is expected to create a more influential advocate for patient safety.   

By Luke Gale • March 14, 2017

Seema Verma confirmed as CMS administrator

While Verma was confirmed as expected, a vast majority of Senate Democrats made clear they were not happy. 

By Luke Gale • March 14, 2017

ACGME approves 24-hour shifts for first-year residents

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2011 had shifted to a 16-hour shift length limit from a 24-hour cap.

By Luke Gale • March 10, 2017

ProPublica: Millions of dollars in unused medical supplies discarded

Hospitals point to patient safety guidelines as a defense for the practice of discarding medical supplies even when they are unused and unexpired. 

By Luke Gale • March 10, 2017

ACA replacement bill continues to face major hurdles

Two House committees spent hours marking up the bill Wednesday and into Thursday while more industry groups said they couldn't support the legislation.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 9, 2017

DC telehealth bill would expand physician pool for underserved areas of city

Currently, 17 states participate in the interstate licensing compact.

By Meg Bryant • March 8, 2017

Revised order on immigration does not quell healthcare concerns

An updated executive order could prevent medical students from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Syria from attending residency programs in the United States.

By Luke Gale • March 8, 2017

Negative reactions roll in for Republican ACA replacement bill

Members of the House Freedom Caucus said at a press conference that they plan to introduce the original ACA repeal bill from 2015 this week.

By Jeff Byers • March 7, 2017

HHS Secretary comments in support of Medicare for seniors

While Tom Price supported efforts to privatize Medicare as a member of Congress, he recently stated President Donald Trump's administration “believes in the guarantee of Medicare for our seniors."

By Luke Gale • March 7, 2017

CDC prepares for new strain of bird flu without appointed leader

A new strain of bird flu is on the rise, which has prompted the CDC to begin thinking about a new vaccine. 

By Luke Gale • March 6, 2017

Teladoc's membership grows by 55%, hits 17.5M

States have shown mixed progress with telemedicine adoption and coverage, a new report from the American Telemedicine Association revealed. 

By Ana Mulero • March 6, 2017

Cigna reverses course, says Anthem merger should be approved

Cigna now agrees the court decision that blocked its $54 billion merger with Anthem should be reversed after the U.S. Court of Appeals granted the motion to expedite the appeal process. 

By Ana Mulero • March 3, 2017

Thank Goodness It's Friday: Twitter investigates 'secret' GOP ACA replacement bill

In a strange turn of events, senators and journalists scoured the basement of Congress for an ACA replacement bill that was said to be "under lock & key, in a secure location." Here's everything you (don't really) need to know. 

By Ana Mulero, Jeff Byers & Shannon Muchmore • March 2, 2017

JAMA: Legislative action needed to improve healthcare competition

As hospital consolidation continues and more physicians turn to hospitals for employment, the authors state competition in many healthcare markets is on the decline.

By Jeff Byers , Luke Gale • March 2, 2017

Senate Finance Committee advances Verma's CMS nomination

Seema Verma is still expected to receive confirmation as the new head of the CMS, but several members of the Senate Finance Committee were absent from the scheduled vote Wednesday, causing a delay.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 2, 2017