Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
North Carolina County Green-Lights Hospital Merger That Residents Say They Don't Want
North Carolina Health News: Wake Commissioners Clear The Way For Atrium-WakeMed Deal At Contentious Meeting
With key legal details of a “strategic combination” between WakeMed Health & Hospitals and Atrium Health yet to be finalized, the Wake County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to move forward with one of the biggest and most contentious health care changes the county has faced in decades. The 5-2 vote came after months of debate, almost two hours of public comment on Monday and a lengthy discussion with the county attorney over changes to the deal. (Blythe, Crouch and Hoban, 9/22)
More updates about the healthcare industry —
Modern Healthcare: CVS Health Subsidiary Omnicare Wins Approval For Bankruptcy Plan
CVS Health subsidiary Omnicare won approval of its bankruptcy plan last week. A federal judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas authorized the long-term care pharmacy services provider’s agreement with the Justice Department on Thursday. CVS Health agreed in July to pay $130 million to the Justice Department within two weeks of the final agreement, and another $310 million by the end of March 2028. (Tong, 9/21)
Modern Healthcare: ICHRAs Plans Boosted By Feds, Rebranded As CHOICE
The stars may finally be aligning for individual coverage health reimbursement accounts after more than half a decade of hype. Employers have been able to give workers funds to buy individual market health insurance plans through ICHRAs from insurers such as Centene and Oscar Health since 2020. But adoption remains limited. These plans, which lean on the Affordable Care Act of 2010’s exchanges, have also been hampered by the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies at the end of last year. (Tong, 9/21)
Modern Healthcare: InnovAge CEO: Health System Partners Fuel PACE Growth
More partnerships with health systems are on the drawing board for InnovAge, a large operator of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. The Denver-based company’s joint ventures with Tampa General and Orlando Health are helping it enroll more patients in PACE and keep them out of the hospital, said CEO Patrick Blair. The health systems made financial investments in co-branded PACE centers. Blair said in an interview the company would also be open to acquisitions of PACE programs as it looks to expand to other states. (Eastabrook, 9/21)
KFF Health News: As Health Insurance Costs Soar, Healthcare Workers Also Feel The Pinch
Joshua and Ashley Durham run a family medicine practice, and for the first time in their lives, they have no health insurance. When the Durhams began their practice at the end of 2023 — he as a primary care physician and she as a pharmacist who handles the billing — the couple bought coverage for themselves and their two kids on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. But they said their monthly premiums for a similar health plan for this year rose several hundred dollars to nearly $1,600. (Norimine, 9/22)
