Payer

Medicare beneficiaries pay more on average than commercial beneficiaries for "ultra-expensive" drugs, a study published in JAMA Health Forum found. 

Optum Rx is launching a new initiative aimed at using pharmacies to bridge healthcare gaps in rural and underserved communities. 

Member satisfaction in commercial health plans declined from 2022 to 2023, especially among younger generations, according to J.D. Power's 2023 Commercial Member Health Plan study. 

Customer satisfaction in health plans is declining, according to J.D. Power's 2023 Commercial Member Health Plan study. 

Florida officials are defending their Medicaid redetermination process after health advocacy groups asked Gov. Ron DeSantis for a pause after about 250,000 residents were disenrolled from the program, Florida Politics reported May 24. 

A minimum of 80 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries disenrolled from the program were booted for procedural reasons in nine states, according to a June 29  report from KFF. 

An alternative to UnitedHealthcare's imminent gastroenterology endoscopy prior authorization policy was rejected by representatives from three GI societies, who said that they were "not in a position to appropriately evaluate the UHC proposal with the limited information presented."

Insurance regulators in Massachusetts are examining Point32Health after the company reported a data breach affecting its Harvard Pilgrim commercial and Medicare Advantage plans, State House News Service reported May 29.

Payers can do more to improve the usability of price transparency data, a group of researchers wrote in Health Affairs. 

Medicare Part D beneficiaries that don't receive low-income subsidies spend 2.5 times more out-of-pocket on "ultra-expensive" drugs than those with commercial insurance, a study published May 26 in JAMA Health Forum found.