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Blue Shield of California investing $7M in UC Berkeley diversity fellowship program
Blue Shield of California is investing $7 million over five years into a new fellowship program at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health that aims to increase diversity among healthcare professionals and train them to use data and analytics to improve public health and health equity. -
10 recent payer partnerships
From Humana's $1.2 billion joint venture to build 100 value-based primary care clinics to the expansion of a provider network to include Dominican Republic policyholders, these are 10 recent payer partnerships: -
Effect on premiums 'relatively small' when expanding pre-deductible coverage to HSA plans, study finds
The effect on premiums when pre-deductible coverage was expanded to 14 services in HSA-eligible health plans ranges from virtually nothing to 1.5 percent, according to a new study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. -
Health plan reports largest insurance data breach of 2022
Parker-Hannifin, a motion and control technology manufacturer, has reported a data breach affecting about 120,000 people to HHS, the largest HIPAA breach reported about a health plan on the HHS Office for Civil Rights portal in 2022. -
Maryland caps insulin copays at $30 per month
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed legislation May 16 that places a cap on insulin copays at $30 per month. -
Ohio counties offered the most Medicare Advantage plans — here's why
Among the 25 counties offering the most Medicare Advantage plans in 2022, 14 were located in Ohio, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. -
UnitedHealth embracing telehealth
UnitedHealth Group CEO Sir Andrew Witty said the company has built telehealth strategies to reduce wasteful spending and meet the need for more behavioral healthcare, The Wall Street Journal reported May 19. -
Texas city becomes 1st in state, 100th in nation to endorse 'Medicare for All'
The city of Denton, Texas, passed a resolution May 18 endorsing "Medicare for All," becoming the 100th municipality in the nation and the first in Texas to do so, according to WFAA. -
AHIP supports HHS plan to call, text Medicaid enrollees
Redetermining Medicaid eligibility after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency will require unprecedented effort, strain resources and create risks of coverage loss, America's Health Insurance Plans said in a May 17 letter to the Federal Communications Commission. -
Virginia company offering insurance-free health clinic to employees
Bloomberg Industry Group in Crystal City, Va., is offering a free in-house health clinic to all 950 of its employees, according to WJLA. -
Cigna accused of improper COVID-19 testing claim denial
Cigna has been hit with a proposed class action lawsuit over allegations the payer improperly denied COVID-19 testing claims, Lawstreet Media reported May 18. -
ChristianaCare expanding Delaware footprint, will open Medicare Advantage-exclusive clinics
Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare will open two new dual practice sites this fall that include a primary care clinic for families and a separate practice exclusively for members of the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware Medicare Advantage plans, which were developed last year between ChristianaCare and Dover, Del.-based Bayhealth. -
Kansas governor vetoes bill blocking her from accepting new state Medicaid bids
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed legislation that would have prevented her office from seeking new contracts with payers for the state's Medicaid program, The Kansas City Star reported May 13. -
Anthem, SCL Health contract negotiations ongoing amid rate increase dispute
Anthem and Broomfield, Colo.-based SCL Health are currently in negotiations for a new contract, NBC affiliate KKCO reported May 18. -
CMS launches more user-friendly Medicare website
CMS unveiled changes to the medicare.gov website May 18 that it said makes the site easier to use. -
Connecticut payer's computer error leads to release of members' info
Connecticut-based payer ConnectiCare said a computer system error resulted in the accidental release of personal information of 1,200 of its members, CT Insider reported May 18. -
Health leaders push for rehearing of UnitedHealthcare behavioral health case
Nine hospital and healthcare groups are calling on a federal appeals court to rehear a case involving United Behavioral Health's denial of 67,000 mental health and substance abuse claims. -
Commercial insurers paid hospitals 224% more than what Medicare did, study finds
Commercial insurers paid hospitals an average of 224 percent more compared to Medicare rates for inpatient and outpatient services in 2020, according to a new study from RAND Corp. -
Dallas suburb using COVID-19 relief to give health insurance to every resident
The city of Ferris, Texas is using its allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding to offer basic health coverage and a mobile health clinic to all 3,500 of its residents, according to NBCDFW. -
Federal judge blocks HHS gender transition coverage requirement after challenge from Christian group
A federal judge in North Dakota has temporarily blocked HHS and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from requiring the Christian Employers Alliance and its members to provide health plans that cover employees' gender transition procedures.
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