Report predicts 6% increase in healthcare costs in 2017

Employers are looking beyond cost-sharing to solve increases as the Cadillac tax faces repeal and workers struggle to pay for health plans with high deductibles. 

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • March 1, 2017

Growing attention on surprise medical bills highlights need for legislative action

Surprise medical bills have caught the attention of journalists and researchers. As more and more information becomes available, it seems there is a growing appetite for federal legislation to address the problem. 

By Luke Gale • March 1, 2017

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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

Three priorities for Seema Verma as she nears CMS confirmation

ChenMed's Dr. Jeffrey Kang believes Verma could strengthen Medicare Advantage in part by increasing access to seniors with low incomes.

By Dr. Jeffrey Kang • Feb. 28, 2017

Tenet Healthcare suffers revenue loss, readies for policy changes

"We've also significantly increased the proportion of our earnings that come from businesses that are far less reliant on government programs than the core hospital business," Tenet CEO Trevor Fetter said

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 28, 2017

Study: Hip, knee implants cost insurers twice as much as hospitals

The difference between what hospitals and insurers pay for such implants totaled about $425 million, researchers at the Boston Children's Hospital found.

By Jeff Byers • Feb. 28, 2017

Trump meeting with insurers, governors as repeal effects weighed

The president is reportedly scheduled to meet Monday separately with governors concerned over Medicaid funding and insurers in the wake of a GOP-leaked ACA repeal draft bill.

By Jeff Byers • Feb. 24, 2017

Cigna announces new CFO, promotes other execs

The company's current chief financial officer, Thomas McCarthy, will retire this summer. 

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 24, 2017

CMS extends non-ACA compliant plans to end of 2018

The federal agency is leaving it up to the states to decide whether the individual and small group insurance policies can be renewed.

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 23, 2017

Aetna and Humana adjust their capital after failed merger

One payer has sold $73.8 million in shares, while the other has repurchased shares amounting to $3.3 billion.

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 23, 2017

Samsung wades into digital health services

At HIMSS17, the electronics company announced it has partnered with American Well with the goal of expanding telehealth services and with T-Mobile to launch an IoT solution for senior care.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 22, 2017

Trump administration delays payer exchange deadlines, stalls on subsidies

Federal agencies are now working to stabilize the health insurance exchanges despite President Donald Trump's campaign promises to repeal the ACA.

By Luke Gale • Feb. 22, 2017

Judge grants Anthem's motion for a speedy appeal in Cigna merger case

The decision comes after the health insurance giant was granted a temporary restraining order to prevent Cigna from terminating the $54 billion deal.

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 21, 2017

Judge temporarily bars Cigna from dumping Anthem merger deal

A temporary injunction would preserve the deal’s current legal status, said Judge Travis Laster of the Delaware Court of Chancery. 

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 17, 2017

Molina hangs 2016 income losses on poor ACA market performance

“While we experienced strong enrollment growth across our business and have made progress on our cost cutting efforts, today’s results highlight the continuing challenges we face in the ACA Marketplace,” said CEO Dr. J. Mario Molina said.

By Jeff Byers • Feb. 16, 2017

Is it too late to stop a death spiral on the ACA insurance exchanges?

The Trump administration has taken steps to stabilize insurance exchanges next year but payers are running out of time to decide their participation. Market uncertainty could see more insurers making their way for the door.

By Luke Gale • Feb. 16, 2017

High costs give palliative care increased industry interest

“There’s no question that palliative care teams reduce avoidable crises and rationalize the care so that patients get only the care they want and need,” says Diane Meier, director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 15, 2017

CMS drops rule aimed at stabilizing ACA market

Expanding pre-enrollment verification and shortening the open enrollment period in the individual market are among the changes to the ACA the federal government is proposing. 

By Jeff Byers , Ana Mulero • Feb. 15, 2017

Kaiser Permanente rebounds from poor 2015 profit performance

Kaiser Permanente Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals enjoyed a solid year financially after it saw profits drop 40% from 2014 to 2015. 

By Luke Gale • Feb. 15, 2017

Humana to exit ACA exchanges

The health insurance company, which ended its plans to merge with Aetna on Tuesday, said it is "seeing further signs of an unbalanced risk pool."

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 15, 2017

California regulator report reveals insurers' flawed network lists

Cigna, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare were among major health plans in 2015 that reported inaccurate information to California’s managed care regulator.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 14, 2017

Cigna ends Anthem merger; insurers sue each other

Cigna is seeking over $14 billion in damages from the failed merger bid. Anthem responded by filing for a restraining order that would stop Cigna from ending the deal. 

By Ana Mulero , Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 14, 2017

Aetna, Humana drop merger plans

Aetna will now pay Humana the $1 billion breakup fee as the planned $37 billion merger has officially fallen through.

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 14, 2017

Studies show ACOs drive down spending regardless of structure

Accountable care organizations have shown an ability to drive down post-acute care spending and savings can be achieved through different reimbursement models, but further savings are possible. 

By Luke Gale • Feb. 14, 2017

Congress joins executive branch in move to stabilize ACA exchanges

As Republicans continue to explore potential replacement plans, they are taking steps to improve insurance exchange stability beyond this year. 

By Luke Gale • Feb. 14, 2017

Anthem fails to extend Cigna merger deadline, requests speedy appeal in antitrust case

The health insurance giant argued a speedy appeal process would benefit consumers, the judge "made serious errors of law, fact, and logic" with the court ruling to block its deal and it would "suffer irreparable harm" if the appeal is delayed.

By Ana Mulero • Feb. 13, 2017