Category: Healthcare Finance News

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.

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.

UnitedHealth and Change win court case to merge

UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare have won their case to merge.
Federal Judge Carl Nichols on Monday denied the Department of Justice’s request to block the $13 billion merger, with the DOJ saying it is evaluating its next steps.

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…

Providence announces $712 million expansion in southern California 

Providence is investing $712 million in southern Orange County in California to build two new multi-specialty medical centers and a new patient care tower at Providence Mission Hospital.