Wyoming’s proposal to CMS for the Rural Health Transformation Program included a pitch for “BearCare,” a state-operated public benefit plan to cover severe emergencies. Among them, bear attacks. Unlike other federal relief initiatives, the Rural Health Transformation Program is a…
Author: Elizabeth Casolo
Blue Cross of Idaho requested the Idaho Department of Insurance investigate Nutex Health after months of failed negotiations with Nutex’s Post Falls (Idaho) ER & Hospital, according to a Nov. 17 news release. The insurer expressed concern over the hospital’s…
Employers can expect a 6.7% increase in total health benefit costs in 2026 — the steepest in 15 years — according to the 2025 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans from consulting firm Mercer. The cost per employee is slated…
More and more payers and employers have been getting on board with surgical alternatives to GLP-1s for weight loss. A 2024 survey found most employer-sponsored plans covered these procedures, and covering GLP-1s for diabetes and obesity was much less likely.…
Independent Health plans to join fellow nonprofit insurer MVP Health Care, according to a Nov. 18 news release. Together, the organizations would encompass more than 1 million members, $7 billion in annual revenue and more than 3,000 employees. “Joining the…
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Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health reached an agreement with Humana to remain in network with the insurer Nov. 17, according to both the insurer and health system. “Humana and Bon Secours Mercy Health have agreed upon terms that will preserve…
A recent study from St. Louis-based Washington University assessed administrative burdens that low-wage individuals face with Medicaid and SNAP. While issues with SNAP were generally more prevalent, Medicaid had unique challenges. Here are five takeaways on Medicaid burdens: 1. The…
Afton, Wyo.-based Star Valley Health will return to Cigna’s network on Dec. 15, according to a Nov. 14 news release from the health system. Negotiations have been going for months. Star Valley Health sent a letter to patients after reaching…
Cigna Healthcare is launching Clearity, a copay-only, tech-enabled health plan, according to a Nov. 18 news release. The product is a tiered copay model without deductibles and coinsurance. Employers can choose from five plan designs, which include up to four…
It is no secret that Kentucky struggles with maternal and infant health outcomes. The state scored an “F” on preterm birth rates in the March of Dimes annual report card and is among the worst in the country for maternal…