Admissions to drug treatment programs declined by nearly one-quarter during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the cuts steepest among people of color, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Category: Healthcare Finance News
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…
Centene settles Medicaid fraud claims with Texas for $165 million
Centene has settled with Texas for $165 million to resolve claims of Medicaid fraud by the Texas attorney general.
Centene made no admission of liability, and maintained that its business practices were lawful.
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.
AHA and AMA withdraw lawsuit over enactment of No Surprises Act
The AHA and American Medical Association have moved to dismiss their challenge to the federal government’s September 2021 interim final rule governing the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute resolution process.
HIMSSCast: Higher acuity patients are creating revenue challenges
The American Hospital Association in August reported that higher-acuity patients are causing unsustainable financial challenges for hospitals and health systems due to higher costs for labor, drug and supplies.
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.
