Payer: Page 45


  • Medicare enrollment form and money.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    Despite rosier trust fund outlook, time running out to stabilize Medicare funding, researchers warn

    Though it’s tempting to interpret the recent Medicare trustees report as good news, academics are arguing lawmakers can’t wait until hospital trust fund insolvency is imminent before taking action to bolster the program.

    By June 13, 2022
  • FTC
    Image attribution tooltip
    Carol Highsmith. (2005). "Apex Bldg." [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
    Image attribution tooltip

    FTC launches investigation into PBMs; CVS, UnitedHealth, Cigna and more hit with requests for data

    Pharmacy groups cheered the news, which reversed a vote earlier this year by FTC commissioners not to investigate PBMs' pricing and contractual practices.

    By June 7, 2022
  • Explore the Trendline
    Image attribution tooltip
    Yujin Kim/Healthcare Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • Pear Therapeutics prescription digital therapeutic Somryst for chronic insomnia
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Pear Therapeutics
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pear sets out payer strategy as it seeks to quadruple prescriptions of digital therapeutics

    Pear shared real-world data that linked its digital therapeutic for substance use disorders to an estimated $3,591 reduction in per-patient costs.

    By Nick Paul Taylor • June 7, 2022
  • Dollar bills and finance and banking on digital stock market financial exchange
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Payers to return $1B to enrollees after record years of rebates, KFF says

    The amount reflects the third-straight year of large insurer rebates as payers experienced high profits from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By June 3, 2022
  • Medicare enrollment form and money.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Trustees' report shows additional breathing room for Medicare solvency, though concerns remain

    Stronger-than-expected economic recovery from COVID-19 pushed back Medicare's go-broke date by two years, though budget hawks are warning the sunnier outlook might rely on outdated assumptions.

    By June 3, 2022
  • PBM practices are keeping consumers from generics savings, white paper finds

    Consumers are overpaying for generic drug prescriptions by as much as 20% due to pharmacy benefit manager practices like copay clawbacks and spread pricing, researchers found.

    By June 1, 2022
  • A photo of Biogen's Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Biogen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Medicare premiums will remain unchanged after Aduhelm price cut spurs review

    The HHS Secretary had hoped premiums could be cut for seniors sooner rather than later but there are "legal and operational hurdles" to changing premiums midyear, according to a statement released Friday.

    By May 31, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Adobe Stock
    Image attribution tooltip

    Rollback of pandemic protections to test Medicaid managed care organizations

    At question is whether insurers will be able to shift Medicaid members who lose coverage to subsidized marketplace plans.

    By May 26, 2022
  • A headshot of Scott Leffler, Clover's new CFO
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Clover Health
    Image attribution tooltip

    Clover Health appoints Scott Leffler as CFO following role turnover

    Leffler joins the nine-state insurtech from sterilization and lab services provider Sotera, where he was CFO for five years.

    By May 26, 2022
  • Dozens of orange prescription bottles with white caps and labels layered in a jumple.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Study: Pre-deductible HSA coverage of chronic condition meds won't jack up premiums

    A 2019 IRS notice expanded the list of medications and health services that some plans may cover pre-deductible, including those used to treat chronic conditions.

    By Ryan Golden • May 25, 2022
  • North Carolina Republicans draft Medicaid expansion bill

    The proposal, which signals growing support for expansion among state lawmakers after years of opposition, would add 600,000 low-income adults to the safety net insurance program.

    By Susan Kelly • May 25, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    AHA urges DOJ to probe Medicare Advantage plans that deny care

    The hospital lobby is pushing the Justice Department to punish Medicare Advantage organizations that routinely deny coverage to beneficiaries.

    By Susan Kelly • May 23, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by ProviderTrust

    Travel nurses: a challenging population for credentialing and monitoring

    Travel nursing continues to rise – how are you monitoring license verifications across state lines?   

    May 23, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    David Paul Morris via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Google hires former FDA digital health officer to global strategy post

    In his new role, Bakul Patel will help Google build a unified digital health and regulatory strategy.

    By May 19, 2022
  • A calculator and stethoscope rest on a medical bill.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hospitals charge employer health plans more than 2 times what they charge Medicare for same services

    Rand researchers also found wide price variations across states. Florida, West Virginia and South Carolina had relative prices at or above 310% of Medicare prices, according to the report.

    By Hailey Mensik • May 18, 2022
  • Oscar Health ads
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Oscar Health
    Image attribution tooltip

    Oscar faces shareholder lawsuit alleging it misled investors

    The insurer is accused of failing to disclose the potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business before its March 2021 IPO.

    By Susan Kelly • May 17, 2022
  • A doctor and a businessperson shaking hands.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Humana expanding primary care clinics through second joint venture with PE firm

    The payer plans to open about 100 new value-based primary care clinics for Medicare patients between 2023 and 2025 through the latest deal.

    By Hailey Mensik • May 17, 2022
  • Insurers seek steep marketplace premium hikes in Vermont

    Proposed average increases on individual and family plans would buck the national trend of declining ACA exchange premiums. The increases would reach 17% for MVP Health Care and 12% for Blue Cross Blue Shield.

    By Susan Kelly • May 16, 2022
  • Oscar Health ads
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Oscar Health
    Image attribution tooltip

    Oscar Health withdraws from 2 states

    Leaving Arkansas and Colorado won't have a material effect on the company's income, and should reduce the insurtech's overhead in areas like compliance work and statutory reporting, executives said.

    By May 11, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Insurers saw profits rise in Q1 as cost increases weighed on hospitals

    The results spurred payers to paint an improved financial outlook for the full year compared to earlier estimates for 2022.

    By May 9, 2022
  • A collage showing two nurses, one standing with a mask and another donned in personal protective equipment pulling a curtain shut.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Yujin Kim/Healthcare Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Cigna Q1 profit increased on lower COVID-19 costs as patients were less ill

    Cigna executives said medical expenses in the quarter were better than they estimated due to lower COVID-19 testing and treatment costs.

    By May 6, 2022
  • A photo of a Biogen sign
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Biogen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Biogen, having scrapped Aduhelm, tries to convince investors of turnaround plan

    Though executives claimed that inking deals and de-risking research programs are priorities, analysts questioned whether any meaningful strategic changes will occur in the near term.

    By Jacob Bell • May 5, 2022
  • Centene's headquarters in Clayton, Missouri, a suburb outside of St. Louis.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Samantha Liss/Healthcare Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Centene to sell 2 pharmacy businesses as it advances portfolio review

    The news builds on the payer's plan to sell off non-core assets as it looks to sharpen its focus on its main business.

    By May 5, 2022
  • The United States Capitol in February 2020
    Image attribution tooltip
    Megan Quinn/Healthcare Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hospital, payer, IT groups urge Congress to overturn ban on unique patient identifier

    Industry groups are ratcheting up the pressure on Congress to nix a decadesold ban on using federal funding to create a UPI. Subcommittees, meanwhile, are continuing hearings for 2023 appropriations bills.

    By May 5, 2022
  • A photo of a Biogen building
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Biogen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Biogen CEO to step down as company pulls back from Alzheimer's drug

    Michel Vounatsos, Biogen's CEO since 2017, will be replaced as the company "substantially" eliminates the commercial workforce around Aduhelm, which has generated paltry sales in the face of resistance from insurers and doctors.

    By Jacob Bell • Updated May 3, 2022