The coronavirus pandemic sparked a rise in telehealth use. Video and audio visits allow patients to connect with their providers virtually, eliminating the risk of a clinic visit. Meanwhile, remote...
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“Blue Cross”) has seen a boom in telehealth visits, particularly to serve mental healthcare needs, the company announced.
The payer saw the number...
Update 5/22/2020: This article has been updated to reflect that the one-sided risk corridor in the HEROES Act applies to individual and small group markets as well as self-insured and large group...
State health insurance marketplaces are playing a pivotal role in helping the uninsured access healthcare coverage by opening special enrollment periods, Commonwealth Fund researchers found.
By...
In the face of coronavirus, payers have a unique opportunity to show their support for provider networks in a tangible way.
For more coronavirus updates, visit our resource page, updated twice daily...
While coronavirus brought many non-clinical benefits to a halt, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) is making wellness programming available to its members in spite of the...
UnitedHealth Group is expanding access to vision care by enabling members to purchase eyewear remotely at low cost, the payer announced.
For more coronavirus updates, visit our resource page, updated...
States are facing higher Medicaid spending and higher enrollment than expected in 2020 due to the coronavirus, and that impact could continue into the following year, a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)...
Health payers recognize the importance of COVID-19 testing and treatment to keep their members healthy and fight the pandemic. That is why a majority are covering the costs of testing and treatment...
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued guidance extending flexibilities to high deductible health plan (HDHP), employer-sponsored cafeteria plan, and flexible spending arrangement (FSA) plan...
Coronavirus is changing member and beneficiary healthcare spending habits, including increased telehealth utilization and but lower overall healthcare utilization, a recent PwC Health Research...
Surplus funds that would normally go toward nonessential health services will instead be used to extend premium credits and waive cost-sharing for hard-hit populations, Priority Health announced.
For...
Between March 1 and May 2, 2020, around 27 million people became uninsured as a result of losing their jobs and employer-sponsored health plans, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) report...
More than six million seniors would face COVID-19 treatment out-of-pocket healthcare spending if diagnosed with the coronavirus, a Patient Assistance Network (PAN) Foundation issue brief recently...
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, payers are constantly reevaluating where they can best direct relief and recovery funding.
For more coronavirus updates, visit our resource page, updated...
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Humana have stepped up their commitments to Medicare Advantage members as states begin to reopen businesses and lift stay-at-home orders.
For more...
The Colorado House of Representatives laid aside the public option proposal, the Colorado Health Care Option, in light of coronavirus.
Three members of the Colorado House of Representatives wrote a...
As national unemployment mounts closer to historic levels, Medicaid expansion states will fare the surging uninsurance far better than nonexpansion states, according to a recent report from the Urban...
Molina Healthcare, Inc. announced that it will acquire Magellan Complete Care from Magellan Health, Inc. on April 30, 2020.
“We believe it will allow us to scale our enterprise-wide platforms...
Payers are in a unique position to respond to many aspects of the coronavirus from payment of testing and treatment to community education. But there is no playbook for appropriate or effective responses.
In such unique circumstances,...
