Jeff Lagasse

Author's posts

Half of rural hospitals in the red, pressured by high Medicare Advantage enrollment

America’s rural health safety net is feeling pressured, with half of all rural hospitals in the U.S. now in the red. And according to new research from Chartis, high enrollment of rural residents in Medicare Advantage plans could make the situation worse.

CDC expanding University of Michigan hypertension model to other states

Embedding pharmacists as part of the healthcare team at University of Michigan primary care clinics and community retail pharmacies has proven so effective in controlling blood pressure that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now replica…

Humana sued over alleged Medicare Advantage 340B overpayments

Montgomery, Alabama-based Baptist Health is suing major insurer Humana over alleged Medicare Advantage underpayments for outpatient drugs purchased through the 340B program.
The hospital claims that reimbursements for the drugs were determined by a pay…

CDC cautiously eyeing new COVID-19 variant

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now monitoring a new COVID-19, BA.2.87.1, which has more than 30 changes in the coronavirus spike protein and has been detected nine times in the Republic of South Africa.

HHS rule to support Tribal child support programs

The U.S.

FTC scores $195M judgment against Simple Health over allegedly bogus insurance

The Federal Trade Commission has obtained a $195 million judgment against Simple Health Plans and its CEO, Steven J. Dorfman, over charges they duped consumers into signing up for “sham” healthcare plans that did not deliver the promised coverage or be…

Administration to set sights on homelessness as a health issue

The U.S.

HHS seeks to enhance care for substance use disorder

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office for Civil Rights and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has finalized modifications to the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Recor…

Amazon’s One Medical is closing corporate offices

Amazon-owned One Medical has confirmed that it is closing several of its offices in a move intended to cut costs, with offices in New York, New York, Minneapolis, Minnesota and St. Petersburg, Florida set to shutter their doors by the end of February.

New Calibrate CEO seeks to strengthen partnership with Optum Rx

Rob MacNaughton has been named new chief executive officer of Calibrate, a clinician-guided, value-based obesity treatment program, and one of his first missions will be to solidify a relationship with Optum Rx as a strategic partner during the company…