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AHA urges CMS to address prior authorization issues affecting Medicare Advantage payments
The American Hospital Association has sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requesting that the latter revise proposed regulations regarding prior authorizations, citing “issues” that may be affecting Medicare Advantage patien…
UnitedHealthcare and Optum launch virtual-first health plan design
Major insurer UnitedHealthcare has unveiled a new virtual-first health plan dubbed NavigateNOW, developed in conjunction with sister company Optum, which promises a more integrated approach to both virtual and in-person care.
The new health plan opens …
Doctor on Demand, Grand Rounds Health rebrand as Included Health
Several months ago, Doctor on Demand and Grand Rounds Health announced plans to merge, and this week heralded the announcement that the two companies, which have been operating independently, will now operate under the banner Included Health.
Hospitals pay high turnover costs due to RNs leaving the profession
Due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic, registered nurses are leaving healthcare, with many retiring early or simply leaving the profession for other pursuits, burdening hospitals with exorbitant turnover costs, a new report finds.
Most Medicare beneficiaries don’t compare coverage options during open enrollment
With the Medicare open enrollment period set to begin October 15, a
Medicare, Medicare Advantage enrollees have comparable healthcare experiences
Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans is increasing rapidly, and many insurers are expanding their MA offerings in a bid to grab larger portions of the market share. Medicare Advantage touts itself as having certain advantages over traditional Medicar…
Large majorities want Medicare to negotiate drug prices, poll finds
Large majorities of American voters across all political stripes favor letting Medicare negotiate drug prices, and most don’t buy into the argument that high drug prices are needed for drug companies to invest in new research, according to a new poll f…
Northwell Health selects Northwell Direct’s provider network for employee benefit plan
Northwell Health has selected Northwell Direct to supply the provider network for the health system’s 2022 healthcare benefits for about 75,000 employees and dependents, eschewing the traditional approach of teaming with a private insurer.
Hospitals have spent more than $3B securing personal protective equipment during COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across the U.S. have spent more than $3 billion to procure personal protective equipment for worker and patient safety, although PPE costs have steadily declined since the second quarter of 2020, according to dat…
OSF Healthcare buys majority stake in Illinois Kindred hospital
Kentucky-based Kindred Healthcare and OSF Healthcare have received approval from state regulators in Illinois to jointly own the Greater Peoria Specialty Hospital, which will now be known as the OSF HealthCare Transitional Care Hospital, located in Peo…
