Today's Top 20 Stories

  1. 'We must be in a position to compete': Horizon Blue Cross pitches regulators on reorganization

    Andrew Cass -
    Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey executives urged state regulators to approve changes to its corporate structure, the Asbury Park Press reported Oct. 7. 

  2. 5 things to know about UnitedHealth Group's ownership of Kelsey-Seybold

    Andrew Cass -
    UnitedHealth Group's Optum arm bought Houston-based medical group Kelsey-Seybold Clinic earlier this year, but patients should not anticipate any immediate care or pricing changes, according to the Houston Chronicle.

  3. Average Medicare Advantage star rating decreases

    Rylee Wilson -
    The average star rating for Medicare Advantage plans decreased for 2023, after CMS implemented methodology changes in the way contracts are rated and ended most pandemic-era provisions.

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  1. Payers are steering their members to Mark Cuban's pharmacy

    Jakob Emerson -
    Mark Cuban's online pharmacy, Cost Plus Drug Co., is grabbing the attention of insurers, and the company has now nabbed its first payer partner, Capital Blue Cross. 

  2. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina adds fall prevention partnership

    Rylee Wilson -
    Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is working with nonprofit Green & Healthy Homes Initiative to help minimize the risk of in-home falls, the insurer said Oct. 5. 

  3. States reluctant to use Medicaid to expand abortion access

    Andrew Cass -
    In the two months since President Joe Biden signed an executive order encouraging states to use Medicaid to help cover costs for people who cross state lines for abortions, none have acted on the offer, Politico reported Oct. 4. 

  4. Aetna in the headlines: 8 recent updates

    Rylee Wilson -
    Here are eight recent stories Becker's has covered about the insurer and its parent company, CVS Health, since Sept. 20: 

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  1. States should invest in Medicare, Medicaid integration: Viewpoint

    Rylee Wilson -
    State Medicaid agencies should invest more in improving care for dual-eligible beneficiaries, healthcare strategists say in an Oct. 6 article for Health Affairs. 

  2. Centene subsidiary Meridian says companion program reduced costs by 33%

    Rylee Wilson -
    Meridian, a Michigan-based Centene subsidiary, said a program with companionship provider Papa reduced participant healthcare costs by 33 percent. 

  3. Former UnitedHealthcare exec joins TurningPoint Healthcare Solutions

    Andrew Cass -
    TurningPoint Healthcare Solutions has tapped former UnitedHealthcare Chief Growth Officer Shawn Mobley to serve as its chief commercial officer. 

  4. BCBS Federal Employee Plan to add benefits, decrease premiums for 2023

    Rylee Wilson -
    Blue Cross Blue Shield's Federal Employee Program will decrease dental and vision premiums and add benefits for 2023. 

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  1. Priority Health, Kroger launching co-branded Medicare plans in Michigan

    Jakob Emerson -
    Priority Health and Kroger Health are launching two co-branded Medicare plans in eight Michigan counties for 2023.

  2. Physicians sue Health New England over $2.5M in alleged unpaid claims

    Andrew Cass -
    A group of physicians at Holyoke (Mass.) Medical Center is suing insurer Health New England over $2.5 million in reimbursements the company allegedly failed to pay for emergency room treatments, MassLive reported Oct. 4. 

  3. CMS seeks public input on nationwide healthcare directory

    Rylee Wilson -
    CMS is seeking feedback on a possible national directory of healthcare providers. 

  4. Aetna, Emcara Health partner on home-based Medicaid in Florida

    Jakob Emerson -
    Aetna Better Health of Florida and Emcara Health are partnering to provide value-based primary care to 240,000 Aetna Medicaid members across the state.

  5. 7 Medicaid contract updates

    Rylee Wilson -
    Here are 7 Medicaid contract updates Becker's has reported since Aug. 10. 

  6. High-deductible plan enrollees less likely to receive substance use treatment: study

    Rylee Wilson -
    Enrollees in high-deductible health plans are less likely to receive treatment for substance use disorder than those with traditional plans, a new study published in the American Journal of Managed Care found. 

  7. Mississippi insurance commissioner pushes for new regulations amid Blue Cross, UMMC dispute

    Andrew Cass -
    Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney is urging state lawmakers to enact more regulations to prevent another contract dispute like the one currently playing out between the state's largest insurer and hospital, the Daily Journal reported Oct. 5.

  8. Majority of Americans have favorable opinion of Medicaid: survey

    Rylee Wilson -
    Most Americans have a favorable opinion of Medicaid, a survey from Morning Consult and the Modern Medicaid Alliance found. 

  9. BCBS Kansas invests in Mark Cuban-backed methadone management startup

    Rylee Wilson -
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas is backing Sonara Health, a startup methadone medication management system. 

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