Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Judge Allows UnitedHealthcare Suit To Move Forward On Medicare Advance Overpayments
Modern Healthcare: UnitedHealthcare Can Sue Over Medicare Advantage Overpayment Rule
The CMS will have to defend in court its Affordable Care Act rule that treats Medicare Advantage overpayments like False Claims Act violations after a federal judge refused to toss UnitedHealthcare's lawsuit challenging it. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled on Friday that a group of UnitedHealthcare insurers participating in the Medicare Advantage program have standing to sue the CMS over a May 2014 rule detailing the requirements and penalties insurers face when they receive overpayments. (Teichert, 4/3)
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Advantage Plans To Receive 0.45% Rate Hike For 2018
The federal government bumped up average pay raises for 2017 Medicare Advantage plans and modified several of the program’s policies in favor of the health insurance industry. Payment rates for insurers that sell Medicare Advantage plans will rise by 0.45% on average for 2018, the CMS said in its final rate notice Monday. That's a slight bump from the 0.25% rate increase proposed in February. (Livingston and Dickson, 4/3)
