Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Some Insurers Are Withholding Payments To Providers In Tug-Of-War Over Surprise Billing
The New York Times: Flouting Consumer Law, Insurers Refuse To Pay Medical Bills For Emergency Care
A law to end surprise medical bills has generated millions of high-dollar payouts for doctors. Health plans are now fighting back by frequently withholding money. (Sanger-Katz and Kliff, 11/3)
Modern Healthcare: ACA Subsidies Grow In States As Exchange Premiums Climb
Investments by states in new programs aim to blunt another year of big health insurance exchange premium increases despite a nearly $1 trillion reduction in federal funding coming for their budgets. Rhode Island and Virginia have committed tens of millions of dollars from their general funds to launch state subsidy programs in 2027. Connecticut funneled $10 million to its existing initiative to provide premium assistance for early childhood educators. (Tepper, 11/2)
Fierce Healthcare: FTC Warns About Deceptive Marketing As ACA Enrollment Opens
Open enrollment season is getting underway, and the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 25 companies that conduct marketing or generate sales leads for insurers. The commission said in an announcement that the letters aim to put these companies on notice about deceptive or unfair marketing tactics that are likely unlawful. Activities in question include misrepresenting the benefits or limitations of a plan, or portraying a plan as comprehensive when it isn't. (Minemyer, 11/2)
In other healthcare industry developments —
Bloomberg: Redeemer Health Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy In Pennsylvania
Redeemer Health, a nonprofit Catholic health system with facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday. The system includes a 239-bed acute-care hospital north of Philadelphia, as well as three skilled-nursing facilities, low-income housing, food pantries and a retirement community, according to a Monday press release. “Redeemer Health remains fully operational and continues to provide high-quality care to our patients throughout this process,” said Jim Logue, the group’s interim chief executive officer. (Querolo, 11/2)
Modern Healthcare: Providence, Compassus Complete Oregon Joint Venture
Providence has completed the final phase of a joint venture with home care company Compassus to provide home health, hospice and palliative care services in Oregon. The joint venture will operate under the name Providence at Home with Compassus, the two organizations said Monday in a news release. Under terms of the deal, Brentwood, Tennessee-based Compassus will manage 17 home care programs Providence previously operated across Oregon. (Eastabrook, 11/2)
WFSU: FSU Celebrates Completion Of $137.5 Million Health Research Building In Tallahassee
Construction is complete on FSU Health's $137.5 million Health Research and Collaboration building. The university unveiled it during a ribbon cutting Friday. (Wood, 11/2)
Chicago Tribune: Workers At UI Health Deliver 10-Day Strike Notice
About 200 advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and midwives at UI Health could strike as early as next week, saying they were left out of raises given to other workers. (Schencker, 11/2)
Fierce Healthcare: Brigham And Women's Nurses Reject Contract Proposal
Union nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital are set to strike in the coming weeks after failed contract negotiations, in what could be the largest open-ended nurse strike in Massachusetts history. Brigham and Women's Hospital said in a statement it received notice from the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) on Nov. 1 about an open-ended strike beginning Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 a.m. (Muoio and Gleeson, 11/2)
Also —
AP: Cancer Center Unveils Room Named For Late Mother Of Islanders' Matthew Schaefer
Before he was picked first in the draft by the New York Islanders last year, Matthew Schaefer made his late mother’s fight against cancer before her death in 2024 a central part of what motivates him. On Monday, he added another chapter to that journey. The R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center on Long Island unveiled the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Room, with Matthew, brother Johnny and father Todd on hand to see the finished product. (Whyno, 11/2)
MedPage Today: First Guidelines For Cancer Caregivers Address Key Information Void In Care
First-ever guidelines for cancer caregivers offer information and advice on topics ranging from medical management and emotional support to finances and legal issues. Published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the "NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Caregiving for People with Cancer" helps fill an information void created by the growing number of new cancer diagnoses and cancer survivors. (Bankhead, 11/2)
