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CVS Health and Aetna close $69 billion merger
CVS Health and Aetna closed their $69 billion merger on Wednesday, bringing together one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains and one of the largest health insurers in a deal that transforms the healthcare landscape.
Top Tenet executive leaving at end of the year
Eric Evans, Tenet Healthcare Corp.’s president of hospital operations, is leaving the hospital chain at the end of the year. His position will be eliminated.
State reinsurance helps lower premiums, but fails to lure insurers
Reinsurance programs have successfully stabilized individual insurance premiums and boosted enrollment in Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon, but the programs have been less effective at attracting more insurers to sell individual plans in those states.
America’s Essential Hospitals gives providers new tips to discuss costs
America’s Essential Hosptials unveiled an online library where providers can access tools to discuss cost of care challenges for patients.
Wage index reform could buoy rural hospitals
HHS’ Office of Inspector General has proposed changing the wage index in a new report that found the current system has led to millions in improper hospital payments, often acutely impacting rural providers.
CMS launches new consumer tool to compare surgery prices
The CMS has launched a new tool to make it easier for consumers to know their out-of-pocket costs for surgery.
Amazon technology deciphers text in electronic health record
Amazon Web Services launched a new service that pulls key information from unstructured electronic health record data, giving access to what often remains hidden in notes.
Ascension to become sole owner of hurricane-damaged Florida hospital
Ascension plans to become the sole owner of a hurricane-damaged hospital it operates through a joint venture with Ardent Health Services through its member, Ascension Sacred Heart Health System.
CMS has a plan if federal judge strikes down ACA
CMS Administrator Seema Verma wants to reassure individual market enrollees that they won’t lose access to care if a federal judge in Texas strikes down the Affordable Care Act.
Virginia submits proposed Medicaid work requirement plan to feds
Virginia has submitted its proposed work requirement plan for some Medicaid recipients to the federal government for approval.
