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    CMS to increase oversight on exchange brokers

    The agency has reported a growing number of complaints about ACA health plan applications submitted by brokers. 

    By Emily Olsen • Oct. 7, 2024
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    Courtesy of UnitedHealth Group
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    UnitedHealth sues CMS over Medicare Advantage star ratings

    A handful of plans owned by the nation's largest MA payer are the latest to ask the court to help raise their valuable quality scores.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • Trendline

    Surprise Billing

    Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

    By Healthcare Dive staff
  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2021.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Texas sues major PBMs, pharma companies over high insulin prices

    The litigation comes as pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts, CVS Caremark and Optum Rx face growing criticism over their role in high drug costs — including a recent lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission.

    By Emily Olsen • Oct. 4, 2024
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    CMS should take stronger stance on hospital pricing compliance: GAO

    The CMS fails to check hospitals’ pricing data for accuracy and completeness, raising questions about whether the data can be used as intended to help payers and patients shop for services, according to the government agency.

    By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 4, 2024
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    Lawmakers urge Biden administration to extend telehealth prescribing flexibilities for opioid use disorder

    A bipartisan group of two dozen representatives pushed officials to preserve the pandemic-era prescribing changes for buprenorphine, arguing telehealth increases access and prevents overdoses.

    By Emily Olsen • Oct. 3, 2024
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    Medicare tweaks rules for second round of drug price talks

    The agency will offer earlier meetings with drugmakers as well as solicit more patient feedback on the process.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 3, 2024
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    Humana’s Medicare Advantage dilemma worsens amid precipitous drop in 2025 star ratings

    Only 25% of Humana members will be in plans with four stars or above next year, down from 94% this year, the insurer disclosed last week. The downgrade could wipe out Humana’s profits in 2026.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
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    Illustration: Xavier Lalanne-Tauzia for Industry Dive

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    CHS offloads two North Carolina hospitals to Iredell Health

    The sale offers a lifeline for struggling Davis Regional Psychiatric Hospital, which stakeholders worried could close after CHS’ deal to sell the facility to Novant Health fell through in June.

    By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 3, 2024
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    J&J drops 340B rebate plan following government pressure

    Threatened with steep sanctions and losing access to Medicare and Medicaid, Johnson & Johnson is rolling back a plan to give hospitals after-the-fact rebates for drugs in the 340B drug discount program.

    By Oct. 1, 2024
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    Tracking Steward's decline

    Steward CEO sues senators day before he steps down

    The news comes days after the Senate voted to hold Ralph de la Torre in criminal contempt for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena.

    By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 30, 2024
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    MA premiums to decrease on average in 2025

    The CMS said premiums, benefits and plan choices will hold steady in 2025, even as insurers have warned they could cut MA offerings in a bid to preserve profits.

    By Emily Olsen • Sept. 30, 2024
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    Karen Ducey/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The unexpected consequences of hospital quality scores

    One clinical affairs expert argues that it’s time to reexamine the federal Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program.

    By Alice Brewer • Sept. 27, 2024
  • Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
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    Senators introduce bill to set healthcare cybersecurity standards

    The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden and Mark Warner, would direct the HHS to develop minimum cybersecurity standards for providers, health plans, claims clearinghouses and business associates.

    By Emily Olsen • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), flanked by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 25, 2024 in Washington, DC.
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    Kent Nishimura / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Democrats introduce bill to make increased ACA subsidies permanent

    If the enhanced tax credits expire, healthcare costs for millions of Americans will suddenly increase, and some could become uninsured, Democrats say. But Republicans argue the subsidies are costly and create opportunities for fraud.

    By , Emily Olsen • Sept. 26, 2024
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    Tracking Steward's decline

    Senate votes unanimously to hold Steward Health Care CEO in criminal contempt

    It’s the first time in more than 50 years the Senate has voted to send a contempt charge to the U.S. Department of Justice, which will determine whether to bring charges against Ralph de la Torre.

    By Susanna Vogel • Updated Sept. 26, 2024
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    Ryan Golden/Healthcare Dive
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    Home care agency settles allegations it accommodated ‘race-based requests’ for aides

    The home health aide provider allegedly terminated the assignments of Black and Hispanic aides to accommodate patients’ and family members’ racial preferences, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.

    By Ginger Christ • Sept. 25, 2024
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    Remote patient monitoring in Medicare needs more oversight: OIG

    Regulators say Medicare needs more data and oversight to avoid fraud and misuse. Digital health advocates argue the service is still crucial for managing chronic conditions.

    By Emily Olsen • Sept. 25, 2024
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    HHS to invest nearly $75M in rural healthcare

    The funds will go toward expanding substance use disorder treatment and maternal healthcare services, as well as helping rural hospitals keep their doors open.

    By Emily Olsen • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Medtronic's Duet External Drainage and Monitoring System catheter is disconnected from a Luer connector in this photo.
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    Courtesy of Food and Drug Administration
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    CMS holds accountable care organizations harmless for ‘highly suspect’ Medicare billing

    Aberrant billing for urinary catheters last year could have made it harder for ACOs in Medicare to bring in shared savings. That’s no longer the case under a new final rule.

    By Sept. 25, 2024
  • Sen. Bernie Sanders and Novo Nordisk CEO lars jorgensen
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    Novo CEO pressed by Senate to cut prices of obesity, diabetes drugs

    CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen told lawmakers the company would consider new talks with insurers about the list prices of Wegovy and Ozempic if they pledge to keep the medicines on their formularies.

    By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Sen Ron Wyden sits behind a wooden podium with a microphone.
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    Overturning of Roe v. Wade

    Top Senate Democrat grills hospitals on EMTALA compliance as women denied emergency abortions

    Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., sent letters to eight hospitals that have reportedly refused patients emergency abortion care in potential violation of federal law.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks
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    Texas attorney general, generative AI company settle over accuracy allegations

    The agreement resolves allegations that Pieces Technologies made deceptive claims about the accuracy of its documentation products. Pieces denied any wrongdoing.

    By Emily Olsen • Sept. 23, 2024
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    Opinion

    Telehealth providers at a crossroads: Navigating insurance, compliance and cash-only models amid state regulations

    Providers using telehealth face an evolving landscape, and they must balance complexities around insurance, regulatory compliance and data privacy, argues one legal expert.

    By Paul Schmeltzer • Sept. 20, 2024
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    FTC sues major pharmacy benefit managers over insulin prices

    The agency brought action against Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum Rx, arguing their “anticompetitive and unfair” rebating practices “artificially inflated” the list price of life-saving insulin drugs.

    By Updated Sept. 20, 2024
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    House committee passes telehealth flexibility extension

    The bill would extend pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities in Medicare for another two years, averting a looming year-end deadline.

    By Emily Olsen • Sept. 20, 2024