Hospitals delaying projects amid ACA repeal uncertainty

Hospitals can’t predict how many patients will be insured in a post-ACA world or what type of health insurance coverage they will have.

By Meg Bryant • March 24, 2017

ACA repeal bill dies in House, GOP says it will move on

It’s a stunning turnabout for Republicans who have campaigned for seven years on repealing and replacing the ACA and a major blow for President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 24, 2017

Explore the 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

Survey: Most patients aren't budgeting for out-of-pocket healthcare costs

High-deductible health plans are on the rise, but most patients would be pressed to cover associated out-of-pocket costs if required, according to a survey from Amino and Ipsos. 

By Luke Gale • March 21, 2017

Why the GOP's proposals to cap Medicaid funding won't work

Limiting the amount of funding made to state’s Medicaid programs to generate federal savings could cost billions of dollars and strip millions of Americans from their health insurance coverage.

By Ana Mulero • March 21, 2017

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

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

WSJ: Clover Health eyes $120M to join the unicorns

Investors have delivered serious amounts of cash to health insurance startups in recent years. 

By Luke Gale • March 16, 2017

How to get better value from telehealth

“If you give consumers a convenient alternative, they will take advantage of it,” RAND Corporation’s Scott Ashwood said.

By Meg Bryant • March 16, 2017

Mayo Clinic to give preferential treatment to privately insured patients

The decision was driven by rising uncompensated care costs associated with treating Medicaid patients and low Medicaid reimbursement rates.

By Luke Gale • March 16, 2017

Math gaffe resulted in $133M Medicare overpayment in Massachusetts

Nantucket Cottage Hospital overstated wages and wage-related costs by $232,365, HHS' Office of Inspector General found.

By Jeff Byers • March 15, 2017

HSA providers stand to benefit under Republican-led healthcare reform

There will be more than 27 million active HSAs with upwards of $53 billion in total assets by the end of next year, according to Devinir Research.

By Luke Gale • March 15, 2017

UPMC sets sights on central PA health system

Blue Cross and Highmark, which dominate the Harrisburg market, could see new competition from UPMC’s health insurance plan. 

By Meg Bryant • March 14, 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

Higher physician spending not associated with lower admission rates

To reduce wasteful healthcare spending, policies targeting both physicians and hospitals may be more effective than solely focusing on hospitals, researchers suggest.

By Jeff Byers • March 13, 2017

Children's Minnesota, Blue Cross contract dispute could affect 70,000

The dispute stems from Blue Cross' demands the hospital system agree to discounts for patients covered by the state’s Medicaid program.

By Meg Bryant • March 10, 2017

Payers of the future will need to play nice with providers for the patient's sake

Changing market dynamics around consumerism and big data is shaping five new insurer models, PricewaterhouseCoopers finds.

By Jeff Byers • March 9, 2017

Corporate leadership at Humana goes on stock selling spree

Humana executives sell thousands of their shares  – so far totaling $83 million – as Congress considers a new Republican healthcare reform plan.

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

3 Republican concepts for replacing the ACA — and what they mean

Republicans are scrambling to quell fears as they act on their long-held promise to repeal the ACA. But the plans put forward would do little for those with high healthcare needs and low or moderate incomes. 

By Shannon Muchmore • March 7, 2017

Study: Telehealth use could drive up costs

Average annual spending on acute respiratory illness rose $45 per telehealth user largely due to new utilization, RAND researchers concluded in a new study published in Health Affairs. 

By Meg Bryant • March 7, 2017

Humana shaves jobs in realignment

The cuts will not affect the size of Humana’s Louisville headquarters. 

By Meg Bryant • March 3, 2017

GOP expected to introduce ACA repeal bill this week

A draft of the bill dated February 24 was leaked on Friday following Sen. Rand Paul’s quest on Thursday for the document.

By Shannon Muchmore • March 3, 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

CDC: Patients with multiple chronic conditions face barriers to healthcare

While fewer patients with multiple chronic conditions are delaying care for reasons related to cost, more are delaying care for other reasons. 

By Luke Gale • March 2, 2017