Category: Healthcare Finance News

Kaiser Permanente joins federal effort to vaccinate 70% of adults by July 4

The health system is giving $10 million in community grants and offering incentives such as trips to theme parks and national parks.

Employer health costs projected to rise 6.5% in 2022 due in part to COVID-19

The return of deferred care will increase utilization and health spending, as will investment in new technologies.

Physician compensation remained modest but steady throughout the pandemic, new MGMA report finds

“MGMA’s modest compensation findings belie the turmoil of 2020,” says CEO and president Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright.

Biden bolsters payments for at-home COVID-19 vaccinations for Medicare beneficiaries

Medicare is incentivizing providers and will pay an additional $35 per dose for vaccine administration in a beneficiary’s home.

UnitedHealthcare looks to retroactively deny emergency room claims

The policy is an attempt to curb healthcare costs, but some providers are worried it could lead to lower reimbursement.

Biogen teaming with Cigna, CVS Health to increase access to its Alzheimer’s drug

The company will enter into a value-based contract with Cigna and an initiative with CVS Health based on screening and education.

Over 100 Houston Methodist employees sue health system over vaccine mandate

A group of Houston Methodist nurses threatened to walk off the job over the hospital’s mandate that they get vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 7 or be fired, according to abc13.

Walgreens completes $6.5 billion wholesale pharmacy sale to AmerisourceBergen

Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced it has completed the sale of its Alliance Healthcare wholesale pharmacy business to AmerisourceBergen for $6.5 billion.
The sale includes $6.275 billion in cash and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common sto…

CMS makes $80 million available for navigators in states with a federally-facilitated marketplace

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued the 2021 Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity, which will make $80 million in grant funding available to Navigators in states with a federally facilitated marketplace for the 2022 plan year. …

Health plan leaders request inclusion of audio-only telehealth visits to MA risk adjustment

The groups said the move is imperative to ensure health costs are captured adequately and premiums remain stable.