Medicare Advantage in the headlines: 7 recent updates

New regulations for inpatient services in Medicare Advantage are looming, and new research has found MA enrollees with chronic conditions are likely to stay enrolled in the programand spend less time in the hospital than their fee-for-service counterparts. 

Here are seven Medicare Advantage updates Becker's has reported since June 21.

1. Molina Healthcare will purchase Bright Health Group's California Medicare Advantage business for $600 million.  The sale marks Bright Health's exit from the insurance business, and a significant expansion of Molina's Medicare Advantage membership. 

2. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with three common chronic conditions spend less time in the hospital than their counterparts in fee-for-service Medicare, an industry-backed report found. 

3. There are major changes afoot for Medicare Advantage plans and when they are required to cover inpatient services in hospitals for their members. The changes are likely to present challenges for hospitals and how physicians document inpatient care. Here are six things to know about the two-midnight rule and how it applies to Medicare Advantage. 

4. Medicare Advantage enrollees with more chronic conditions are not more likely to switch to fee-for-service Medicare, a study published June 26 in JAMA found. 

5. Cuts in Medicare Advantage benchmark payments did not lead to slower growth in enrollment, a study published June 24 in JAMA Health Forum found.  

6. Kaiser Permanente reduced rehospitalizations and deaths among Medicare Advantage members 30 days after hospitalizations using meal benefits. A study published June 25 in JAMA Health Forum compared Kaiser Foundation Medicare Advantage members with heart failure and other chronic conditions who received at least two medically tailored meals daily to those who did not receive meals. 

7. 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. Here's what to know about the controversial contract, which has drawn criticism from retirees and some city officials.