Government: Page 73
-
Missouri judge blocks voter-approved Medicaid expansion
Despite of the win at the ballot box in 2020, the state legislature failed to make funds available to expand the program to about 230,000 low-income adults.
By Samantha Liss • June 24, 2021 -
Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
FDA documents show how controversial Alzheimer's drug decision was reached
A group of statisticians who had argued for rejection were overruled, internal memos show, as high-ranking agency officials got behind an accelerated clearance for Biogen's drug.
By Jacob Bell , Ned Pagliarulo • June 23, 2021 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Getty Images
TrendlineSurprise 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 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
CMS releases $20M in grants to bolster state-based marketplaces
States with their own eligibility platforms have enrolled more than 3.8 million people in ACA plans so far for the 2021 plan year. Many are now eligible for lower out-of-pocket costs or reduced monthly premiums.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 23, 2021 -
Getty / Edited by Healthcare Dive
LifePoint to acquire Kindred, adding long-term and rehab facilities to its footprint
The private-equity backed companies did not disclose terms, but jointly took in about $14 billion in combined revenue in 2017, the last year of publicly disclosed information about their operations.
By Ron Shinkman • June 22, 2021 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
New York passes safe staffing law for hospitals, nursing homes
"This law doesn't state that ratios must be stipulated, but inevitably that's what it means," said Judy Sheridan-Gonzales, president of the New York State Nurses Association.
By Hailey Mensik • June 22, 2021 -
Courtesy of Siemens Healthineers
UnitedHealthcare skimping on COVID-19 test pay, California doctor group alleges
The California Medical Association says UnitedHealthcare still is not covering the cost of all COVID-19 diagnostic testing, despite state and federal guidelines that require the services to be provided at no cost to patients.
By Susan Kelly • June 22, 2021 -
Record 1 in 4 Americans now covered by Medicaid, CHIP
Nearly 10 million people enrolled between February last year, a month before the COVID-19 national emergency began, and January 2021 — a 14% jump from previous enrollment stats.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 22, 2021 -
Adeline Kon/Healthcare Dive
Black patients were more likely to die of COVID-19 largely due to inferior hospitals
A recent study in JAMA Network Open showed how inequities in housing influence where Black people seek care and how that affects the quality of care they receive.
By Samantha Liss • June 21, 2021 -
Courtesy of Walmart
OpinionBetter data sharing among MCOs, public health, Medicaid could boost vaccination efforts
The CEO of Medicaid Health Plans of America says plans are already helping states manage and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by using data analytics and demographic information to target outreach to those most at risk.
By Craig Kennedy • June 21, 2021 -
Medicare CGM eligibility widened in potential boon for Abbott, Dexcom
CMS opened up coverage for therapeutic continuous glucose monitors, eliminating a rule that patients must use a blood glucose monitor and require at least four self-monitoring blood glucose tests per day to have devices covered.
By Ricky Zipp • June 21, 2021 -
Jacob Bell/Healthcare Dive
FDA lays out device cybersecurity efforts as feds look to implement Biden executive order
The president signed an order last month seeking to bolster the nation's cyber posture amid growing threats from hackers.
By Greg Slabodkin • June 17, 2021 -
Stefani Reynolds / Stringer via Getty Images
MedPAC says lower clinical lab fees don't impact access, prompting industry ire
The clinical laboratory group, whose members include Quest and LabCorp, contends the report to Congress contains "biased" commentary that ignores the value of lab tests and importance of timely patient access.
By Nick Paul Taylor • June 17, 2021 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Hip, knee bundled pay program results similar as voluntary or mandatory: JAMA study
The results of a University of Pennsylvania analysis of more than a million Medicare claims for joint replacement surgery lend support to CMS' expected policy shift toward more mandatory bundled payment arrangements.
By Susan Kelly • June 16, 2021 -
State employee health plans know hospitals drive most costs, but struggle to make a dent
Most states instead focus on attempting to control prescription drug costs and lower utilization, according to the Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms' poll.
By Shannon Muchmore • June 16, 2021 -
Stefani Reynolds / Stringer via Getty Images
MedPAC: Overhaul MA payments and streamline CMMI models
The group floated changing the Medicare Advantage benchmark calculation in its annual report to Congress, while Medicaid advisers separately suggested ways to curb specialty drug prices.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 16, 2021 -
Majority of hospitals not complying with price transparency rule: JAMA
"Compliance may increase over time, but the early selective compliance suggests reluctance that may persist," researchers said, suggesting policymakers consider stiffer penalties than the current $300 a day fine.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 15, 2021 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Providers ask HHS for more flexibility in deadlines to use COVID-19 relief funds
The American Hospital Association wrote that the previous guidance limiting new deadlines to funds received after June 2020 "disadvantages certain providers without providing a clear policy rationale."
By Shannon Muchmore • Updated June 24, 2021 -
Retrieved from National Nurses United.
NNU tees up fight amid HCA, Sutter, CommonSpirit contract talks: 'Put patients before profits'
Employment contracts covering tens of thousands of unionized nurses at the country's biggest health systems expire this summer, and labor unions are using the pandemic as a rallying cry for reforms.
By Susan Kelly • June 14, 2021 -
Courtesy of Novavax
Novavax says vaccine 90% effective against COVID-19 in large trial
Highly anticipated results from a Phase 3 study testing the biotech company's shot showed it to be strongly protective and safe, a potential boon for the world's vaccination efforts.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated June 14, 2021 -
Retrieved from C-SPAN on February 23, 2021
HHS warns providers, insurers COVID-19 testing must be free for patients
The American Clinical Laboratory Association, which has members including Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, has complained that guidance on the topic had only served to muddy what it saw as clear congressional mandates.
By Greg Slabodkin • June 10, 2021 -
Brian Tucker/Healthcare Dive
'The lights are no longer green': Antitrust regulators reassess pharma deals
The FTC and its counterparts abroad are rethinking their approach to drugmaker acquisitions. Past scrutiny offers clues where they may look next.
By Jonathan Gardner • June 10, 2021 -
Industry awaits Supreme Court decision on ACA case
A ruling on the fate of the landmark law could come as early as Thursday morning.
June 9, 2021 -
A first-of-its-kind Alzheimer's drug raises heavy questions around who will and won't get it
Biogen priced its newly approved medicine Aduhelm at an average cost of $56,000 a year. Cigna, which estimates out-of-pocket costs may hit $10,000, is working on a value-based payment agreement with the drugmaker.
By Jacob Bell • June 9, 2021 -
Erik S. Lesser via Getty Images
US bets $1.2B on Merck's last hope for a COVID-19 drug
Though most of Merck's COVID-19 efforts have come up short, its antiviral pill could still have a role, as signaled by the U.S. government's sizable financial commitment.
By Ben Fidler • June 9, 2021 -
Courtesy of Walmart
Walmart, Amazon simultaneously add prescription discounts to membership perks
Walmart+ members can access some medications at zero cost and thousands of others at discounts of up to 85%. A day later, reports surfaced that Amazon is offering prescriptions for Prime members at the equivalent of $1 per month.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 9, 2021
Previous
