Author: Andrew Cass

The Federal Communications Commission said federal and state governments — as well as their partners — can make Medicaid enrollment calls and text messages without violating robocall and robotext prohibitions. 

South Dakota voters passed a Medicaid expansion measure in November, but now state lawmakers are proposing a ballot issue that would add work requirements to that expansion, CBS affiliate KELO reported Jan. 23. 

Clovis, Calif.-based Community Health System is back in network with UnitedHealthcare and continues to negotiate new contracts with the two other payers it went out of network with at the end of 2022, The Fresno Bee reported Jan. 22.

The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority is investigating UnitedHealth Group's proposed acquisition of the health technology firm EMIS Group, Seeking Alpha reported Jan. 20. 

Cigna's pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts' St. Louis (Mo.) County headquarters has been sold for $36 million just as the company renewed its lease, the St. Louis Business Journal reported Jan. 18. 

Half of patients with high-deductible health plans said they have received a surprise medical bill, according to a survey from Akasa, a revenue cycle firm that uses artificial intelligence.

Cigna's health services arm Evernorth has named Adam Kautzner, PharmD, president of Express Scripts, its pharmacy benefit manager. 

UnitedHealthcare is planning to terminate its Medicaid managed care contract with Philadelphia-based Temple University Health System on Feb. 1 if the sides are unable to strike a new deal, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported Jan. 17.  

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, said the stories he heard from clinicians in a recent listening session about the challenges prior authorizations pose were "deeply touching and I'd say disturbing as well."

HHS and CMS have spoken to Illinois officials to discuss "serious issues" raised in a November report about Centene's foster care contract performance, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Jan. 13.