Employer Sponsored Health Insurance Premiums Grew by 7% in 2023
The average annual premium for employer-sponsored health insurance increased by 7 percent in 2023, a KFF survey revealed. The 2023 benchmark KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey included interviews...HHS Patient Assistance Program Aims To Boost Access to COVID-19 Drug
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will ensure access to a coronavirus therapy from Pfizer for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured through a patient assistance program,...Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Fall for Second Consecutive Year
The average star ratings for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans fell for the second year in a row to 4.04 and 3.11 stars, respectively, CMS data revealed. The star rating...Medicare Part B Premiums, Deductibles Will Increase in 2024
Monthly Medicare Part B premiums will increase by nearly $10 in 2024 due to a projected increase in healthcare spending, CMS announced. Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital...Who is Challenging the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Rule?
The Medicare drug price negotiation provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act hold promising spending reductions for beneficiaries, but drug companies are not backing down without a fight. In August...Does Medicaid Managed Care Impact Specialty Care Access for Kids?
Medicaid managed care enrollment was not associated with poorer specialty care access for children with special healthcare needs, but it was tied to greater caregiver frustration and reduced mental...What Are Major Payers Offering Medicare Advantage Members in 2024?
As Medicare’s open enrollment period approaches, payers have announced new Medicare Advantage plan offerings for 2024. Because Medicare Advantage plans receive flexibility to cover...UHC Commercial Plan Focuses on Price Transparency, Preventive Care
UnitedHealthcare’s Affordable Care Act-compliant employer-sponsored health plan, Surest, is the payer’s fastest-growing commercial plan. Data indicates that Surest’s emphasis on price...Medicaid Expansion Improved Health Equity for Redlined Areas
In historically redlined areas, states that adopted Medicaid expansion saw lower uninsurance rates than nonexpansion states, a study published in Health Affairs uncovered. Redlined areas were...Mortality Rates Among Women and Children Are Rising, UHG Report Finds
Mortality rates among women and children grew between 2018 and 2021, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing preventive care and public health interventions, a report from the United Health...CMS Orders States to Provide Continuous Coverage for Kids in Medicaid, CHIP
CMS is reminding state health officials of the upcoming continuous coverage requirements for children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Provisions in the...Alignment Health to Offer Medicare Advantage Plans That Address SDOH
Alignment Healthcare has partnered with Instacart to offer Medicare Advantage plans in 2024 that address social determinants of health, including food insecurity and transportation access. “Our...Sponsored by Zelis
How API Marketplaces and Strategic Partnerships Drive Payer Innovation
Improving the healthcare system is a joint effort. Healthcare consumers and providers increasingly seek clear communication and guidance through data-driven solutions. Payers and technology developers...AMA: Commercial Coverage of Digital Medicine Services is Inconsistent
Commercial coverage policies for digital medicine Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are inconsistent and lag behind Medicare, an issue brief from the American Medical Association (AMA)...Total Adoption of Continuous Eligibility May Improve Coverage Rates
While Congress has taken steps to ensure continuous eligibility for children on Medicaid, data indicates that expanding continuous eligibility to adults could result in lower uninsurance, some cost...CMS: Medicare Advantage Premiums Will See Little Change in 2024
Ahead of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, CMS has announced that Medicare Advantage premiums, benefits, and plan choices will remain relatively stable in 2024. “A top priority for CMS...Cigna Healthcare Invests $1M to Reduce Food Insecurity for Seniors
Cigna’s health benefits provider, Cigna Healthcare, will invest $1 million in community-based organizations to address food insecurity among older adults. “Too many people in our country,...Anthem Blue Cross Grants CA Orgs $1.2M to Address Mental Health
Anthem Blue Cross Foundation has awarded $1.2 million in grants to five California-based organizations that focus on addressing mental health and substance use disorders in surrounding...Sponsored by Zelis
