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Fewer MA plan members actively managed their health during the COVID-19 pandemic
In a year when it seemed like everyone was focused on healthcare, fewer Medicare Advantage plan members actively managed their care.
According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study, although overall customer satisfaction with Medicare A…
COVID-19 recovery is hampered by mounting physician shortages, AAMC finds
Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was never going to be an easy proposition for the healthcare industry, but efforts to bounce back are complicated by an ongoing shortage of physicians, which is poised to worsen over the next decade-plus.
More than 30% of hospitals are near the “danger zone” of denial rates
Hospital claim denial rates have hit new highs, with a 20% increase in those rates over the past five years, suggesting that better claims denial management processes are necessary, finds a new survey from research firm Harmony Healthcare.
Biden Administration invests $3 billion from ARP as part of COVID-19 antiviral development strategy
Drawing from the American Rescue Plan, President Joe Biden’s administration is setting aside more than $3 billion to accelerate the discovery, development and manufacturing of antiviral medicines. The move is part of what the Biden Administration is ca…
Judge dismisses HHS challenge of AstraZeneca’s 340B contract pharmacies lawsuit
A federal court this week denied a request from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to nix a lawsuit from drugmaker AstraZeneca over the 340B drug discount program. The court said HHS’ position that the 340B statute requires drug manufactu…
HHS earmarks $80M from ARP for public health IT and better COVID-19 data collection
As part of the American Rescue Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is establishing an $80 million Public Health Informatics and Technology Workforce Development Pr…
Vaccination rates for Blacks and Hispanics could lead to wider disparities
COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower among Blacks and Hispanics than for other groups, and will likely remain lower even after the country has met its vaccination goals, which could lead to widening disparities and hamper recovery from the pandemic, new
AHA wants Express Scripts to rescind 340B claims reporting policy
The American Hospital Association has sent a letter to Express Scripts asking the pharmacy benefit manager to rescind a policy requiring contract pharmacies to apply a unique code for claims under the 340B drug discount program.
Cleveland Clinic, IBM, Aetna and Anthem partner to form blockchain firm Avaneer Health
Major healthcare companies Cleveland Clinic, IBM, Aetna and Anthem have joined forces to create a new blockchain health firm, Avaneer Health, which will be housed in Chicao and work to use blockchain to increase efficiency in healthcare and reduce admi…
Humana acquiring onehome in effort to expand value-based home care
Major insurer Humana has signaled its intent to acquire One Homecare Solutions, or onehome, in an effort to grow its presence in the value-based home healthcare space. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though the insurer expects it will n…
