The Office of Personnel Management announced 2026 federal worker health premiums this month, ahead of the open enrollment period. The health benefits season runs from Nov. 10 through Dec. 8. Shane Stevens, OPM’s associate director for healthcare and insurance, said…
Author: Elizabeth Casolo
Sens. Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Raphael Warnock sent a letter Oct. 10 to Deloitte, Conduent, General Dynamics Information Technology and Gainwell Technologies probing how they determine Medicaid access. The letter comes amid broader legislation that enforces stricter…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that aims to curb inflated drug pricing by pharmacy benefit managers on Oct. 11. The legislation restricts “spread pricing,” wherein PBMs charge a plan or insurer more than the total paid to the…
CMS released its Medicare Advantage star ratings for 2026 on Oct. 9. Strong ratings, with five stars being the highest score, lead to plans earning quality bonus payments. Eighteen plans achieved a 5-star status, versus only seven last year. These…
CMS shared its Medicare Advantage star ratings for 2026 on Oct. 9. Strong ratings lead to plans earning quality bonus payments, while plans that consistently underperform may encounter more oversight and a higher risk of contract cancellation. The number of…
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The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services proposed pulling back on Medicaid’s coverage of GLP-1s for weight loss, according to a budget document acquired by the Rhode Island Current. In April, the Trump administration said it will…
Premiums for employer-provided coverage could increase by about 5% to 14% for employers that cover GLP-1s, according to an Oct. 9 analysis from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. With 55% of employers covering GLP-1s for diabetes and 36% for both…
West Virginia may have paid managed care organizations up to $32.4 million for ineligible Medicaid participants, according to an October audit report. The audit examined payments from 2019 to 2020 and was inspired by Louisiana audits involving Aetna. MCOs get…
Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans lack robust behavioral health networks, according to an October brief from the HHS Office of the Inspector General. The OIG analyzed four MA plans and two Medicaid managed care plans across 10…
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is offering a voluntary separation program to about 18% of its employees — totaling nearly 800 people — a company spokesperson told Becker’s. Employees who are at least 55 years old and have worked…