Employer-sponsored health costs rose 3.2 percent on average in 2022 and are expected to rise 5.4 percent in 2023, according to a Dec. 8 Mercer survey.
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The number of powerful voices calling for an end to the nation's COVID-19 public health emergency is growing larger.
Hawaii's largest purchaser of health insurance is allowing nearly 200,000 current and former county and state government employees to switch their health coverage from Kaiser Permanente to Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's BCBS affiliate.
There are 33 states that are using the federal ACA exchange as their health insurance marketplace for 2023, while 17 states and Washington, D.C. administer their own exchanges.
Aetna is moving out of its 83,512-square-foot call center in Bethlehem, Pa., The Morning Call reported Dec. 8.
In 2022, payers expanded their mental health networks and focused on wellness and whole-person care.
Sponsors of a bill reforming the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process said the legislation is "one step closer to becoming law" after CMS released a proposed prior authorization improvement rule Dec. 6.
A judge granted the University of Minnesota a temporary injunction in the university's lawsuit against UCare, preventing the payer from amending its bylaws to change its board while litigation is ongoing.
Labor unions contracted with Elevance Health for self-funded plans are suing the payer, alleging Elevance Health does not allow self-paid plans to access their own claims data and charged the self-pay plans higher rates than it had negotiated with hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota has promoted Megan Houn to vice president of government affairs and public policy.