Payer

Employer-sponsored health costs rose 3.2 percent on average in 2022 and are expected to rise 5.4 percent in 2023, according to a Dec. 8 Mercer survey. 

Sponsors of a bill reforming the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process said the legislation is "one step closer to becoming law" after CMS released a proposed prior authorization improvement rule Dec. 6. 

A judge granted the University of Minnesota a temporary injunction in the university's lawsuit against UCare, preventing the payer from amending its bylaws to change its board while litigation is ongoing. 

Labor unions contracted with Elevance Health for self-funded plans are suing the payer, alleging Elevance Health does not allow self-paid plans to access their own claims data and charged the self-pay plans higher rates than it had negotiated with hospitals. 

In the first five weeks of open enrollment, 1.2 million people have signed up for ACA exchange plans for the first time, and 4.3 million have renewed their plans or selected new options on the marketplace, HHS said Dec. 7. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new regulation aimed at protecting consumers from "unfair, surprise costs" when they rely on incorrect information in an insurer's healthcare provider directory. 

Using electronic processes is by far the most common way commercial health insurers said they streamline prior authorizations, according to a Nov. 14 America's Health Insurance Plans survey. 

Blue Shield of California is expanding its collaboration with home health provider DispatchHealth. 

Startup health plan Enthea has raised $2 million in seed funding and is preparing to launch the nation's first employee benefit for psychedelic-assisted therapy in dozens of markets next year.

Eleven states will provide government health benefits to children without permanent legal status in 2023, Stateline reported Dec. 6.