Payer: Page
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Democrats urge Republicans to focus on Medicare Advantage upcoding instead of Medicaid cuts
Stopping MA insurers from inflating their reimbursement is a better strategy to save federal dollars than restricting benefits or cutting eligibility in Medicaid, the Democrat lawmakers wrote to GOP leadership.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 9, 2025 -
Courtesy of UnitedHealth Group
Shareholders sue UnitedHealth for obfuscating business impacts from Thompson death
The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, alleges that UnitedHealth and its executives didn’t properly warn investors about how the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson would affect its business.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 8, 2025 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Yujin Kim/Healthcare Dive
TrendlinePayer/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 -
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Health insurers see signs of life in Q1
Payer profits fell in 2024 as Americans, especially older ones, utilized more medical care. But efforts to resuscitate margins appear to be working for most — at least for now, according to first quarter results.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 7, 2025 -
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UnitedHealth, Amedisys reach new deal to sell home health and hospice locations if merger approved
The sales are contingent on the closure of UnitedHealth’s acquisition of Amedisys, which has been held up after the Department of Justice sued to block the deal last year.
By Emily Olsen • May 6, 2025 -
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Trump releases 2026 budget including heavy healthcare cuts
White House officials say the budget, which would slash the HHS’ discretionary funding by 26%, is necessary to curb government bloat. Medical groups say it amounts to an attack on biomedical funding and public health.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 5, 2025 -
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Sponsored by Quest DiagnosticsMind the gap: How lab partners can help Part C plans adapt to Medicare Star Rating changes
A 1-star boost in Medicare ratings can add up to $16.2M in revenue and 8–12% enrollment growth.
May 5, 2025 -
Julia Rendleman via Getty Images
Cigna doubles down on GLP-1 support programs with 2 new launches
On Friday, the company’s health services unit Evernorth unveiled new programs in a reliable growth area: helping payers manage GLP-1 utilization. Cigna also posted first quarter results well above analyst forecasts.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 2, 2025 -
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DOJ accuses CVS, Humana, Elevance of paying kickbacks to Medicare Advantage brokers
According to the complaint, the insurers paid brokers eHealth, GoHealth and SelectQuote hundreds of millions of dollars for enrolling seniors in their MA coverage — regardless of the plans’ suitability for those members’ needs.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated May 2, 2025 -
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CVS plans to exit ACA individual exchanges, strikes Wegovy deal with Novo Nordisk
Aetna is once again retreating from the Affordable Care Act market, while its parent company notched a deal with Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk that should expand access to its in-demand GLP-1 at the expense of Eli Lilly’s.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 1, 2025 -
Courtesy of UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth names new CEO of Optum
Patrick Conway will replace Heather Cianfrocco, who is being promoted to UnitedHealth’s executive vice president of governance, compliance and information security, the company announced Tuesday.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 30, 2025 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Republican lawmakers urge CMMI to focus on cost savings, transparency
Lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee also accused CMMI of promoting “a political agenda,” like focusing on health equity and minimizing the importance of cost savings.
By Emily Olsen • April 30, 2025 -
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Humana posts ‘really good’ first quarter on stable medical costs
Despite the outperformance, the payer’s stock was largely flat following the earnings release — a market reaction that reflects the uncertainty facing Humana.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 30, 2025 -
Julia Rendleman via Getty Images
Cigna CIO departs to lead tech, operations group at UK bank
Noelle Eder resigned earlier this month, marking the latest in a string of recent C-suite changes at the healthcare company.
By Roberto Torres • April 29, 2025 -
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Getty Images
TrackerThe Trump administration is overhauling healthcare policy. Follow the changes here.
The FDA said it’s sending letters to drugmakers demanding they take down or modify ads that don't comply with federal guidelines, out of concern consumers aren’t seeing a “fair balance” of risks and benefits in drug ads.
By Healthcare Dive staff • Updated Sept. 10, 2025 -
Samantha Liss/Healthcare Dive
Centene raises outlook for revenue — and costs — in 2025
Centene’s first-quarter results didn’t appear to quell investor concerns about volatility in the health insurance market.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated April 25, 2025 -
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Blue Shield of California exposed data of 4.7M people to Google
The insurer learned that Google Analytics shared member data with its advertising service from April 2021 through January 2024.
By Emily Olsen • April 24, 2025 -
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Molina reports mixed Q1, says Medicaid rates are increasing
The California-based insurer’s results were “good enough,” one analyst said.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 24, 2025 -
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CMS may be angling to reform Medicaid state directed payments
A new regulation pending in front of the Office of Management and Budget suggests the Trump administration may be moving to overhaul the controversial financing mechanism.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 23, 2025 -
Permission granted by Elevance Health
Elevance brushes off fears of spiking Medicare Advantage costs
Investors balked last week after UnitedHealth reported first-quarter MA utilization grew at twice its expected rate. Yet Elevance said spending was in line with expectations, a development one analyst called surprising.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 22, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik / Staff via Getty Images
Dr. Oz sworn in as CMS administrator
During a ceremony at the Oval Office, Mehmet Oz said he would focus on reducing chronic disease, “modernizing” Medicare and Medicaid, and targeting fraud, waste and abuse in government insurance offerings.
By Emily Olsen • April 21, 2025 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Arkansas passes law banning PBMs from owning pharmacies
The law in particular will affect CVS and UnitedHealth, both of which operate physical pharmacies in the state along with specialty and mail-order pharmacy businesses.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 21, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
HHS restructuringBudget draft outlines Trump’s plan to slash federal health programs
An OMB document proposes to cut the HHS budget by roughly one-third as well as eliminate several divisions and programs.
By Sydney Halleman • April 17, 2025 -
Courtesy of UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth posts ‘unacceptable’ first quarter, slashes 2025 guidance
The healthcare juggernaut’s results came in unusually below Wall Street’s expectations and caused its stock to plummet Thursday. The development bodes ill for the rest of the managed care sector, analysts said.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 17, 2025 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
CMS rejects Humana’s Medicare Advantage star ratings appeal
The decision, which Humana disclosed in a Tuesday filing with the court overseeing its lawsuit against the HHS, will be reviewed by Dr. Mehmet Oz, the new CMS administrator.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • April 16, 2025 -
Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
Trump signals plan to address ‘pill penalty’ of drug pricing law
The president’s executive order promising to lower pharmaceutical prices includes support for a fix long sought by the industry, and could augur a new push for Medicare site neutrality.
By Kristin Jensen • April 16, 2025
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