Author's posts
Medical Mutual set to acquire ProMedica insurance subsidiary
Cleveland-based Medical Mutual has announced its intent to purchase Paramount Health, a Northwest Ohio-based health insurance company owned by ProMedica.
Paramount, which offers Medicare Advantage, Individual ACA, commercial group and short-term insura…
Blue Shield California offering pathway to GEDs
In a partnership with GED Testing Service, which administers the official GED test, Blue Shield of California Promise Health plan is offering to pay for Medicaid enrollees who wish to become high school graduates through the General Education Diploma, …
$50 million in CMS grants to go to healthcare access for school children
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will be doling out $50 million in grants for states to connect millions more children to healthcare services, particularly for mental health, at s…
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts postpones anesthesia policy
On January 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts implemented a policy that would have limited coverage of monitored anesthesia care for certain patients receiving colonoscopies and other endoscopic procedures. But due in part to pushback from the …
Humana posts $541 million loss in Q4, blames high Medicare Advantage costs
Despite logging $26.6 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023, insurer Humana posted a $541 million overall loss, pinning much of the blame on a higher-than-anticipated increase in Medicare Advantage costs.
Optum Perks eyeing Rx costs with telehealth solution
Prescription provider Optum Perks is launching a new telehealth solution offering low-cost care and prescription treatments for hundreds of conditions ranging from acne to a cough to high blood pressure.
The offering is meant to address the cost burden…
HHS promoting access to contraceptive care
The Department of Health and Human Services is renewing a push to protect and expand contraception access, sending a letter to Medicare plans, health insurance issuers, and state Medicaid and CHIP programs about upholding their obligations under federa…
AHA says Medicare payments to long-term care hospitals are inadequate
A change in Medicare payments to long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) may result in such hospitals incurring ever-increasing losses while threatening beneficiaries’ future access to care, according to a new white paper published by the American Hospital As…
UHC debuts resource hub in bid to expand wellness programs, lower costs
UnitedHealthcare is debuting a new resource hub designed to help simplify the process for employers of selecting and purchasing health programs for employees. The idea is that members will have an easier time using wellness offerings while employers wi…
