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Top Stories: ATA opposes DEA changes to telehealth prescriptions; AHA favors further study of telehealth
It’s been a big week for telehealth. What’s new in the world of virtual care? We’ll go over the latest in this week’s Top Stories, including the AHA’s support of bipartisan telehealth legislation, and results of a telemedicine-focused Rock Health study…
House committee investigating potentially anticompetitive PBM tactics
The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into pharmacy benefit managers’ tactics that Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said are “harming patient care and increasing costs for consumers.”
Medicare Advantage margins higher for insurers despite dip
Payers saw their Medicare Advantage margins revert back to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, yet those margins were still double those seen in other markets, according to a new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
By the end of 2021, gross margins pe…
Clover Health cuts losses, logs $84M loss in Q4
Medicare Advantage insurtech company Clover Health logged an $84 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2022, much less than the $187.2 million loss it sustained during the same quarter in 2021, according to the company’s earnings report.
Hospitals more stable to start the year, but challenges remain
Hospitals entered 2023 on more stable footing, following the worst financial year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they still face a range of persistent challenges, including higher labor expenses, lower patient volumes and a fundamen…
Medicare Advantage sees fewer avoidable hospitalizations than original Medicare
Medicare Advantage had fewer avoidable hospitalizations for ambulatory care−sensitive conditions (ACSCs) when compared to traditional Medicare, but were more likely to have observation stays and emergency department direct discharges for the same condi…
Optum to payers: Two new Azheimer’s drugs are in the pipeline
A new Optum report highlighting upcoming medications in the drug pipeline is meant as a heads-up for payers as they track developments with a couple of therapies for Alzheimer’s disease – lecanemab and donanemab.
Plastic surgeons top list of physicians ranked by happiness
How happy are physicians? It varies according to specialty, a new Medscape report has found, with plastic surgeons apparently the most content in and out of work.
American Hospital Association voices support for telehealth expansion bill
The American Hospital Association has come out in support of bipartisan legislation, introduced in the House of Representatives, that would require the Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, and Medicaid and CHIP…
Interoperability improving, though rural hospitals still lagging
Interoperability continues to improve among hospitals, according to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information. As of 2021, 88% of hospitals engaged in electronically sending and obtaining patient health information, through either q…
