Jeff Lagasse

Author's posts

Medicaid insurers ‘missing opportunities’ to improve maternal care

States could do more to require Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to improve access for maternal health, according to an Office of Inspector General report.

In M&A deals, seller size by revenue is significantly above historical norms

Healthcare mergers and acquisitions activity remained steady in the third quarter this year despite ongoing financial pressures in the industry, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest M&A Quarterly Activity Report.
Nineteen hospital and health system deals…

OIG: Opioid treatment gaps persist among Medicare, Medicaid enrollees

There are significant barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) among Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly in rural and underserved areas, with many counties lacking either medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) or…

UnitedHealthcare sues CMS over Medicare Advantage star ratings downgrade

UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest players in the Medicare Advantage market, has filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) following a downgrade in its star ratings.

Employers look to dodge cost-shifting in midst of rising expenses

As the cost of healthcare in the U.S. continues to rise, many employers are rethinking their plan designs instead of passing the added expenses onto workers, found a report from global advisory and broking firm WTW.

Health system operating margins declined in August

Performance metrics were mixed for many healthcare organizations in August, with patient demand stalling as expenses continued to rise, according to new data from Strata Decision Technology.

Improving health equity could add $2.8 trillion to GDP by 2040

Addressing health inequities could add $2.8 trillion to the U.S. economy by 2040, significantly boosting GDP and improving population health, while corporate profits could increase by $763 billion by that time, according to a new Deloitte analysis.

CVS Health mulls potential breakup in midst of strategic review

CVS Health is undergoing a strategic review that could reshape its future, and has retained bankers to help assess a variety of options, including a potential breakup of the business, The Wall Street Journal has reported.

UMC Health System hit with IT outage linked to ransomware

University Medical Center (UMC) Health System in Lubbock, Texas, is facing a significant disruption following a large IT outage, part of a ransomware attack that has impacted its ability to deliver care and conduct routine operations. 
The ransomware i…

OIG: New York paid $23.3 million in Medicaid payments to deceased beneficiaries

An audit finds $7.8M in federal funds were claimed for enrollees who were incorrectly assigned to eligibility groups.