Author's posts
Premier’s stock jumps 14% on Q4 earnings report
Premier’s stock price closed more than 14% higher after reporting strength in fourth-quarter revenue for its group purchasing business and modest growth in its performance services business.
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute awards $85M for studies
The board of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute agreed to award $85 million for 16 new studies on treatment options for conditions like opioid abuse and cancer.
Court upholds Wolf order organizing home healthcare workers
Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled that Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf did not exceed his authority when he set up a process to give some union rights to home-based workers who care for elderly and disabled people.
GAO urges scrutiny of Medicaid managed care organizations
The U.S. comptroller general urged a Senate panel to tighten oversight of Medicaid providers and managed care plans, and criticized the Obama administration lax auditing of Medicaid insurers as millions joined the rolls through expansion.
Metro Health names next president and CEO
Dr. Peter Hahn, who was hired in 2016 as Metro Health’s chief medical officer, will start his new position of president and CEO of the health system on Oct. 1, succeeding Michael Faas.
Swapping brand-name combination drugs with generics could save Medicare $1 billion annually
Combination drugs ideally reduce the number of pills a patient has to take and improve adherence. But that isn’t the case when branded pharmaceutical drugs are prohibitively expensive and end up costing Medicare $925 million more than their generic…
Anthem partners with Walmart to provide over-the-counter drugs to seniors
Through a new partnership beginning in January, Anthem’s Medicare Advantage members will be able to use their insurance to shop for over-the-counter drugs and other items, such as first-aid supplies and support braces, at Walmart’s 4,700 stores and…
Highmark Health grew profit in first half of 2018
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh-based Blues insurer that owns Allegheny Health Network, reported higher operating revenue and profit in the first half of 2018, though its commercial insurance business fell.
100 days in, Azar says drug blueprint has helped curb prices
HHS Secretary Alex Azar called the actions stemming from the administration’s drug blueprint so far “the tip of the iceberg,” while unveiling a department analysis that shows an overall drop in brand-name drug price increases and more price cuts.
Mission Health pledges $90 million to local foundations if HCA deal closes
Mission Health, the not-for-profit health system that HCA Healthcare is looking to buy, will place $90 million into six local foundations if the deal closes.
