Author's posts
California ACA rates to rise almost 9% next year
The 1.4 million Californians who buy coverage on the state’s individual insurance exchange will pay more in 2019 in part because the federal government zeroed out the federal penalty for not enrolling in coverage.
UPMC to end in-network coverage for Highmark’s MA members by July 2019
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that UPMC had to cover Highmak Medicare Advantage members in-network through 2019, marking the end of a long-standing feud between the state’s largest health system and insurer.
Hospitals are flirting with Medicare for All
House Democrats launched a Medicare for All caucus and its founder says some hospitals have been cautiously supportive behind closed doors.
NYC nurses to get $20.8 million in gender bias settlement
New York City will pay a group of nearly 1,700 nurses $20.8 million to settle a gender discrimination complaint filed by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
CMS starts the search for a chief health informatics officer
The new chief health informatics officer will manage the CMS’ interoperability and general health IT strategy, according to a blog post from CMS administrator Seema Verma. The application period for the position closes July 20.
CMS to open new comment period on Kentucky Medicaid waiver
The CMS plans to open a new 30-day federal public comment period on Kentucky’s Medicaid work requirement demonstration as a way to overcome a federal judge’s objections to the way the waiver was approved.
CHS to sell two Arkansas hospitals to Little Rock’s Baptist Health
Community Health Systems plans to sell two of its Arkansas hospitals to Baptist Health in Little Rock as part of its previously announced divestitures in the state.
Commentary: Taxpayers are entitled to reasonable prices on federally funded drug discoveries
The large price increases on brand name drugs and the high prices of new specialty drugs are driven by a desire for greater profits and not by the cost of research.
HHS taps Boehler to steer value-based care efforts
HHS Secretary Alex Azar has chosen Adam Boehler to help oversee efforts to develop value-based care initiatives at the agency.
Beth Israel-Lahey merger could raise healthcare spending
A Beth Israel-Lahey health system combination would increase the merged system’s leverage with commercial payers and potentially allow it to boost prices 5% to 10%, increasing spending by up to $250 million, a new report found.
