Jeff Lagasse

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Medicare Advantage boasts highest gross margins for insurers

The highest gross margins among insurers come from Medicare Advantage, which boasted gross margins per enrollee of $1,982 on average by the end of 2023, compared to $1,048 in the individual market, according to a new KFF

Modified criteria helping Mass General treat pediatric allergic reactions

A Mass General team has developed modified criteria that may help healthcare professionals more accurately identify anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, in infants and young children.

UHG, Amedisys divesting care centers to smooth merger bid

The planned $3.3 billion merger of UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys will likely close in the second half of the year, with both companies making a bid to mollify federal antitrust regulators by divesting care centers to VCG Luna, a VitalCaring Group aff…

Cleveland Clinic expands maternity program to more hospitals

After adopting a unique labor and delivery initiative in the fall of 2022, Cleveland Clinic is expanding its TeamBirth model to three additional hospitals, citing higher patient satisfaction and a reduction in Cesarean section rates.

Communication paramount in securing patient trust, survey finds

What patients need from providers and hospitals, even more than convenience and affordability, is clear and direct communication from their healthcare organization, according to the

OCR partners with Iowa on disability rights

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has entered into an agreement with the State of Iowa to enforce federal disability rights laws.
The agreement was spurred by an investigation, based on a complaint filed by Garret…

Prior authorization leads to serious adverse events for patients, AMA survey says

The prior authorization process continues to have a “devastating” effect on patient outcomes, physician burnout and employee productivity, according to a new physician survey from the American Medical Association.

FDA says updated COVID-19 shots should target KP.2 strain

The federal Food and Drug Administration is advising vaccine manufacturers to ensure new vaccines for 2024 and 2025 are targeting the KP.2 variant of COVID-19.
The agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted unan…

Medicare patients now eligible for Amazon RxPass

Amazon Pharmacy is expanding the prescription drug subscription program RxPass to Prime members who have health coverage through Medicare.
RxPass enables affordable access to common medications, free monthly delivery and the ability to connect with a p…

Uninsured rate to rise to 8.9% by 2034, CBO finds

The percentage of Americans who lack health insurance, which currently hovers around 7.2%, is projected to rise steadily through the years, hitting 8.9% by 2034, according to the latest data presented by the Congressional Budget Office.