Payer: Page 105


  • In reversal, GSK to restart limited payments to doctors

    It's a step back from a 2013 pledge that made the British drugmaker an outlier among its industry peers.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 3, 2018
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    Pair of doctor surveys find burnout fears, pessimism about value-based contracting

    More than half of respondents to a Doctors Company survey said EHRs are negatively affecting the physician-patient relationship, hurting productivity and damaging workflow.

    By Les Masterson • Oct. 3, 2018
  • Explore the Trendline
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    Trendline

    Payer/provider relationships

    As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

    By Healthcare Dive staff
  • GAO: rural hospital closures increasing, South hardest hit

    States with Medicaid expansion were less likely to have rural hospital closures than states that did not broaden the program, according to the analysis.

    By Oct. 2, 2018
  • Medicare Advantage premiums expected to drop again

    CMS predicted 36% of Medicare beneficiaries will have an MA plan in 2019, and more than 90% of them will have 10 or more plans to choose from.

    By Les Masterson • Oct. 1, 2018
  • Three-fourths of Medicare Advantage denials overturned on appeal, OIG finds

    The investigation revealed "widespread and persistent" problems with Medicare Advantage organization denial decisions and letters.

    By Sept. 28, 2018
  • Supreme Court to hear DSH payments case

    An appellate court found HHS violated the Medicare Act by altering the formula for disproportionate share hospital payments without public notice and comment.

    By Sept. 28, 2018
  • Deep Dive

    Hospitals prepare for uncompensated care payment change

    The move is meant to even the playing field for hospitals and create more transparency.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 28, 2018
  • Employer-based health insurance offerings increase for first time in decade

    Healthcare costs, however, remain a major concern for small businesses, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 28, 2018
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    Bipartisan opioid bill has IMD exclusion, expands MAT

    The legislation, which also opens up non-addictive pain management alternatives and increases enforcement of illegal fentanyl, is expected to pass both houses as early as next month.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 27, 2018
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    Montgomery County Planning Commission
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    Aetna sells Medicare Part D business to WellCare subsidiary

    The deal is meant to grease the wheels for approval of the payer's pending $69 billion acquisition by CVS.

    By Sept. 27, 2018
  • Safety-net hospitals get break on FY19 readmission penalties, analysis finds

    Some penalties are being cut by half or more, and 65 safety-net facilities that were penalized last year will see no dock at all this year, according to a data review by Kaiser Health News.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 27, 2018
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    AHA study finds hospital outpatient departments see sicker, poorer Medicare patients than independent docs

    The research comes as CMS is proposing site neutral payment for hospital and nonhospital outpatient clinics.

    By Sept. 26, 2018
  • UnitedHealthcare threatens to drop Envision providers

    Envision, which employs more than 23,000 clinicians, said it is preparing to continue to serve patients and hospitals "without disruption regardless of the contract status with any payer."

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 26, 2018
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    Maryland reinsurance program credited for premium decreases

    Before CMS approved the program, the state's four individual health plans requested an average increase of 30.2%, but they have now put forward rates with an average decrease of 13.2%.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 26, 2018
  • Medicaid expansion particularly helped rural areas, small towns, report finds

    "Overall, the experience of Medicaid expansion states demonstrates the great opportunity for states that have not yet expanded Medicaid," Jack Hoadley, lead author of the report, said in a statement.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 26, 2018
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    Montgomery County Planning Commission
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    New York regulator warns CVS-Aetna merger could raise prices, reduce consumer choice

    The state's top financial watchdog said the pharmacy chain's PBM would have an incentive to give the largest drug discounts to Aetna members, causing "anti-competitive effects" in the rest of the market.

    By Sept. 26, 2018
  • CVS execs promote proposed Aetna merger as cost saver

    The deal would allow the pharmacy chain to have more touch points with the payer's members, particularly those with chronic diseases, company leaders said.

    By Sept. 25, 2018
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    Reports explore connection between race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, health

    The study by U.S. News and the Aetna Foundation found that the strongest predictors of community health performance were factors like high homicide rates, low birth weight and access to healthy, affordable food.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 25, 2018
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    Major healthcare groups question Medicare ACO proposal

    CMS would like more providers to take on risk, but practices have been slow to transition.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 24, 2018
  • Medicaid spending increase expected to exceed GDP growth over next decade

    A new HHS Office of the Actuary report projected an average annual rate increase of 5.7% until 2026.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 24, 2018
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    CMS chooses organizations to help develop QPP quality measures

    The seven participants include a hospital, specialty groups, colleges and an employer coalition. Their focus areas will include mental health, orthopedic surgery, pathology, radiology and palliative care.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 24, 2018
  • Amazon-JPM-Berkshire venture reportedly hires consulting powerhouse

    Chronic conditions make up 86% of the nation's $2.7 trillion annual healthcare bill, according to the CDC.

    By Sept. 21, 2018
  • Iowa's Medicaid managed care costs rise faster than before

    Medicaid per-member costs increased an average of 4.4% in the first full year of privatization. That's nearly triple the 1.5% average the previous six years.

    By Les Masterson • Sept. 21, 2018
  • Fitbit rolls out connected health platform for health plans, employers

    The tool leverages the company's wearables technology with Twine Health's disease management know-how.

    By Sept. 20, 2018
  • Lack of consistent process hinders data sharing among HHS agencies, report finds

    Issues include lack of processes and accountability for data sharing, as well as resource constraints.

    By Sept. 20, 2018