Author: Rylee Wilson

New York City's $15 billion contract to provide Medicare Advantage to 250,000 retired city employees and their dependents is facing more court challenges. 

GLP-1 drugs have shown short-term benefits for people with diabetes, but the long-term impact of the drugs is unclear, Elevance Health CEO Gail Boudreaux said in a June 21 Wall Street Journal report. 

CMS implemented several policy changes for Medicare Advantage plans in the first half of 2023, including adjusting payment rates and implementing stricter audits. 

Copay caps on prescription drug costs could slow the growth of retirees' expected healthcare costs, a report from Fidelity found. 

The way North Carolina's Medicaid expansion is financed could incentivize hospitals to increase prices, experts wrote in an article published June 21 in Health Affairs. 

Administrative costs for Blue Cross Blue Shield plans rose in 2022, according to an analysis from Sherlock Company. 

Georgia's Medicaid work requirement program is set to take effect July 1, and it could serve as a model for other states, Politico reported June 20. 

Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, has hired a lobbying firm to convince Congress to allow Medicare to cover the drugs for weight loss, Politico reported June 16. 

Aetna is defending a Medicare Advantage plan for retired New York City employees in court, and parent company CVS Health is sparring with Cigna over an executive's noncompete agreement. 

Medicare spending will grow by 8 percent in 2023, driven by higher hospital utilization and enrollment, CMS projects.