Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming is entering the Medicare Advantage market for 2026 coverage. In its inaugural year, WyoBlue Advantage will be available to Medicare-eligible residents in 22 of Wyoming’s 23 counties. The company will offer both a Medicare-only…
Payer
UnitedHealthcare’s prior authorization gold card program has seen a more than 40% increase in the number of qualifying provider groups in 2025, the company shared with Becker’s. Launched in October 2024, the program reduces prior authorization requirements in favor of…
Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations generated record savings and continued to improve quality performance in 2024, CMS said Aug. 28. In 2023, the program saw $2.1 billion in net savings. Five notes: 1. Out of 476 ACOs, 75%…
Cigna’s Evernorth is investing $3.5 billion in Shields Health Solutions, a specialty pharmacy company launched after Walgreens went private in August. Evernorth’s investment in Shields is in the form of preferred stock and is not expected to have a major…
Californians enrolled in Medicare Advantage are facing slower growth in healthcare costs compared to those in traditional Medicare, according to new research from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Five notes: 1. Between 2013 and 2023, average monthly healthcare…
Advertisement
From the Justice Department expanding its criminal investigation into the company, to the completion of its acquisition of Amedisys, here are 12 updates on UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries that Becker’s has reported since Aug. 7: 1. Two U.S. senators…
The independent dispute resolution process created under the No Surprises Act has generated at least $5 billion in costs since its launch in 2022, largely due to high dispute volumes and provider wins, according to a study published Aug. 25…
Massachusetts has approved $75.6 million in health insurance rebates for more than 350,000 residents and small businesses. The rebates are required under the state’s medical loss ratio law, which mandates that insurers spend at least 88% of premiums on medical…
The Justice Department has expanded its criminal investigation into UnitedHealth Group, examining the company’s pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx, and how it compensates its employed physicians, Bloomberg reported Aug. 26. The probe now goes beyond the previously reported potential Medicare…
As some insurers and health systems pull back on their Medicare Advantage offerings for next year, Intermountain’s Select Health says it is strategically positioning itself for continued, long-term success in the program by focusing on key areas that will drive…