Author's posts
BCBS: Racial disparities in maternal health complications increased during pandemic
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has released data showing evidence that women of color are at higher risk of pregnancy-related complications, regardless of having commercial health insurance or Medicaid.
Instead, the numbers indicate U.S. mater…
New ‘digital masks’ touted as means of protecting patient privacy
Technologists writing in the journal Nature have created a digital “mask,” dubbed the DM, which they say offers a pragmatic approach to safeguarding patient privacy in electronic health records and during virtual healthcare visits.
There appear to be c…
CVS makes strides on reducing suicide attempts by Aetna members by 20%
CVS Health has been working toward the goal of reducing suicide attempts by Aetna members by 20% by 2025, and today announced progress toward that end, seeing a 15.7% reduction in suicide attempts among Aetna members through March 2022 compared to 2019…
Transcarent introducing new pharmacy benefit offering
Employer health company Transcarent is rolling out an integrated pharmacy benefit offering designed to establish a new model for drug affordability and access, with transparency being a top-of-mind goal.
The offering promises easy-to-understand price t…
Walgreens buying remaining stake in Shields Health for $1.4 billion
Walgreens Boots Alliance is speeding up its plans for full ownership of Shields Health Solutions, and has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 30% stake for about $137 billion.
Cost, rate cuts won’t prevent Medicare hospital trust fund insolvency
The Medicare program, which provides health insurance coverage to 64 million elderly and disabled Americans, faces serious short- and long-term financial pressures.
Healthcare gas emissions responsible for 10% of national emissions, 98,000 deaths annually
The U.S. healthcare system is responsible for an estimated 10% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and they account for roughly 98,000 deaths annually, according to new findings from the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee.
HHS targeting mental health pay parity in new roadmap
As efforts to address mental healthcare access and pay parity are bogged down in Congress, the Biden Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services have established a roadmap for increasing access to behavioral health services, in addit…
CMS attempting to curb dubious telehealth claims
While the vast majority of providers billing for telehealth services do so in a way that poses no significant risk to Medicare, a small percentage of telehealth claims are problematic – and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking to c…
Evernorth expands digital health formulary to address substance use, anxiety
Evernorth, the health services business of Cigna, has expanded its Digital Health Formulary to include five new app-based programs designed to help people better manage their sleep issues, anxiety, alcohol and opioid use disorders, and inflammatory con…
