CMS on July 21 proposed sweeping changes to Medicaid provider tax policy that would replace the longstanding 6% federal threshold with state- and provider-specific limits, phase down allowable taxes in Medicaid expansion states, create a new provider tax class for…

CalOptima Health, the public Medi-Cal insurer for Orange County, Calif., will soon begin selling individual plans on the state’s ACA marketplace, Covered California, for the 2027 plan year. CalOptima will offer coverage in Orange County and is the only new…

Imagine360 introduced a new health plan offering called Choice360 July 21, which will launch for the Jan. 1, 2027, plan year. Imagine360 offers alternative health plans for self-funded employers. Choice360 incorporates Health Rosetta’s advisor support model to help employers maximize…

HHS and CMS are deferring more than $1 billion in federal Medicaid funds to Minnesota and California, agency officials confirmed July 21.  The agencies said they are deferring approximately $867.5 million in payments to California and $199 million to Minnesota…

From posting nearly $5.5 billion in profit for the second quarter, to its Optum arm striking a partnership with Anthropic, here are 10 updates on UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries that Becker’s has reported since July 2:  1. UnitedHealth Group…

Basing Medicaid drug prices on what other wealthy countries pay could save 47 states and the District of Columbia a combined $8.6 billion — about 35% of net spending on the drugs studied — according to research published July 15…

The Maryland Department of Health did not audit pharmacy claims for three of its four fee-for-service pharmacy programs, leaving approximately $674.5 million in fiscal 2025 claims without routine reviews for fraud, waste, abuse and billing violations, according to a July…

A federal judge has paused eight provisions of CMS’ 2027 ACA marketplace rule, blocking a slate of eligibility, verification and plan design changes just days before they were set to take effect July 20. Judge Brendan Hurson of the U.S.…

A newly proposed federal bill would create a government-run public health insurance option sold on the ACA exchanges and permanently extend the enhanced premium subsidies that lapsed at the end of 2025.  The Medicare-X Choice Act, introduced July 15 by…

UnitedHealth Group still expects a Medicare Advantage enrollment loss for 2026, but the company lowered its projection on a July 16 earnings call. During the company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call in January, UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel said he…