Category: Healthcare Finance News

Pfizer to seek FDA approval for maternal RSV vaccine

Drugmaker Pfizer, emboldened by positive results from an immunization trial for its bivalent respiratory syncytial virus 9RSV) vaccine candidate, will be seeking FDA approval for the vaccine this year, the company said this week.
Pfizer will be ending …

CVS and Walgreens agree to pay $10 billion to settle opioid claims

CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance have announced an agreement to pay $10 billion to substantially resolve all opioid lawsuits and claims against the companies.

Physician groups denounce 4.5% payment cut in final rule

While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is touting the behavioral health and other benefits of the physician fee schedule final rule released Tuesday, physicians are denouncing its 4.5% payment decrease caused by statutory-mandated cuts.

AHA calls outpatient payment rate in final rule ‘insufficient’ given cost pressures

The American Hospital Association is calling the government’s increase for outpatient care “insufficient” given extraordinary cost pressures.

Maryland puts $25M toward pediatric staffing as respiratory virus surges

The state of Maryland will be setting aside $25 million in state funding to hire and recruit pediatric intensive care unit staff. The funding is being made in response to a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with more than 500 RSV-related hosp…

CMS issues final payment rules for home health, infusion and ESRD

On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the 2023 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update final rule, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for home health agencies.
CMS also released payments in final rul…

ACA open enrollment kicks off today

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra touted the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August, in getting more people off the rolls of the uninsured and onto coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
HHS celebrated the 10-year…

Cigna enters value-based agreement with Heal in four states

Cigna has teamed with Heal in a value-based arrangement whereby the latter will be in-network for Cigna Medicare Advantage customers, providing in-home primary care for seniors, the insurer said last week.
The partnership will take root in four states …

Final Medicare rule aims to reduce gaps in coverage

A new final rule updates Medicare enrollment and eligibility rules as eligible individuals wade through their options during the open enrollment period.

Centene CEO releases plan for star rating turnaround in Q3 report

Medicare Advantage Star Ratings declined this year as predicted prior to their release on October 6, but Centene said this week that the results were slightly worse than expected.