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Private payers deny 15% of claims, survey finds
Nearly 15% of all claims submitted to private payers for reimbursement are initially denied, including many that were pre-approved to move forward through the prior authorization process, according to a new national survey of hospitals, health systems …
Humana, DUOS partner on digital care for veterans
Insurer Humana and DUOS, a technology-enabled service provider, are kick-starting a collaborative digital program aimed at improving health outcomes for U.S. military veterans living in Louisiana with chronic conditions.
Healthcare workers to benefit from $6B student loan relief
The Biden administration this week said it would release an additional $5.8 billion in student loan debt relief, this time targeting roughly 78,000 public service workers, including those in the healthcare industry.
$39.4M earmarked for grants addressing SUD, mental health
Funding opportunities for grant programs addressing behavioral health are being made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to the tune of $39.4 mil…
Regulators reviewing UnitedHealth’s $3.7B Amedisys acquisition
Regulators in Oregon are investigating a pending deal that would see UnitedHealth Group’s Optum subsidiary acquire home health provider Amedisys for an estimated $3.7 billion, with the regulators saying in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing th…
Highmark Health revenue grows 5%, hits $27.1B in Q4
In a 5% year-over-year increase, Highmark Health reported $27.1 billion in revenue, an operating gain of $338 million, and a net income of $533 million in 2023.
The organization attributed the results to its insurance business units, notably Highmark H…
CDC releases guide to minimize healthcare worker burnout
As part of the first federal campaign to address healthcare worker burnout, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released an evidence-based guide for hospital leaders to impr…
Elevance PBM CarelonRx to buy Kroger specialty pharmacy business
Grocer The Kroger Co. has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its specialty pharmacy business to CarelonRx, a subsidiary of Elevance Health, the companies said this week.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Medicare households spend more on healthcare, report finds
Those in Medicare households spend more on healthcare than those in other households – about twice as much, in fact, according to a new KFF analysis.
HHS seeks input from payers on Change cyberattack response
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm convened a meeting of payers on Monday to discuss actions they could take to mitigate the harm caused by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
