Jeff Lagasse

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Employers expect benefit costs to rise 5% for third straight year

Total health benefit cost per employee is expected to rise 5.8% on average in 2025, even after accounting for planned cost-reduction measures, according to an analysis based on a survey by Mercer.

Christus Health to see $25 million expansion at Texas hospital

Christus Health acknowledged the 75th anniversary of Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs this week with a ceremony and announcement of a $25 million hospital expansion.

Elevance to acquire Indiana University Health Plans

Elevance Health has entered into an agreement to acquire Indiana University Health Plans, a managed care organization created by Indiana University Health.
After the acquisition closes, IU Health Plans will operate as part of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue…

Many women skip care due to access issues, survey shows

The U.S. healthcare system may not be fully meeting the needs of women, if a new report is any indication. In a survey of consumers conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, women are 35% more likely than men to say they’ve skipped or dela…

Highmark partnering with VR company on low back pain

Highmark, a commercial health insurance plan based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will now cover RelieVRx, an FDA-authorized device for chronic low back pain (CLBP) created by AppliedVR, a virtual reality-based therapeutics company.
This makes RelieVRx a…

Compensation for specialties increasing while primary care slows

In AMGA’s newly released 2024 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey, medical groups and healthcare organizations report an increase in compensation of 3.6% for primary care specialties, 5.1% for medical specialties, 5.5% for surgical speci…

Health execs investing in AI to improve revenue cycles

Health system executives plan to invest in artificial intelligence, automation and managed services to improve revenue cycle performance over the next year, according to a new Guidehouse analysis.

Rite Aid comes out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The Rite Aid Corporation said it has successfully completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, cutting about $2 billion worth of total debt and adding $2.5 billion in exit financing.
The company said it would now have a…

Large PBMs control 70% of the market, report finds

Newly published data suggests low competition among middling players in the pharmaceutical supply chain, with numbers showing that the four largest pharmacy benefit managers in the country control roughly 70% of the national market.

Evernorth making Stelara biosimilar available for $0 out-of-pocket

Evernorth Health Services, a subsidiary of Cigna, plans to have a Stelara biosimilar available for $0 out-of-pocket cost for eligible patients of its specialty pharmacy, Accredo, beginning in early 2025.