Payer

As insurers continue to face major financial pressures related to covering weight loss drugs, many are steering more patients toward bariatric surgery to achieve similar results.

UnitedHealth Group and several of the company's leaders are facing a shareholder derivative lawsuit alleging they failed to disclose that the Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation into the company.

Medicare Advantage organizations are facing major challenges, including rising utilization rates, reduced reimbursements, and an evolving regulatory landscape.

Medicare Advantage plans received $50 billion in payments between 2018 and 2021 for "questionable diagnoses" insurers added to medical records, a Wall Street Journal investigation published July 8 has found. 

Payers have faced state penalties over the last year for slow reimbursements, improper claims denials, or the sale of unapproved products.

Here are five updates on prior authorization, Becker's has reported since June 18:

Forty organizations received revised star ratings from CMS after the agency recalculated its star ratings for 2024. 

HHS' Office of Inspector General will audit Medicare Advantage plans' use of prior authorization in post-acute care settings. 

A group of 24 lawmakers expressed concern Express Scripts could be limiting Tricare beneficiaries' choice of pharmacies. 

Texas has fined Cigna $600,000 for failing to comply with multiple independent claims dispute resolution requirements under state law.