Humana Shares Plummet After Feds Slash Rating
October 3, 2024
Morning Briefing
Humana’s stock took a tumble after the provider admitted to the SEC that only about 1 in 4 of its members were signed up to Medicare Advantage plans rated four stars or more. Meanwhile, CMS is making it harder in 2025 for insurers to get top marks, due to changes in the way stars are calculated.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 22, 2023
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
A failed covid drug trial, orphan drugs, Medicare Advantage enrollment, hospital prices, vaccines, mpox, and more are in today’s news.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 2, 2023
February 2, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s roundup covers Medicaid, covid variants and treatments, abortion pills, Medicare Advantage, overdoses, mental health, and more.
Senators Slam Medicare Advantage Insurers Over ‘Exorbitant Salaries’
March 24, 2023
Morning Briefing
Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley lobbed criticism in a series of letters to Humana, Centene, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna CVS Health, Molina Health, Elevance Health, and Cigna, Stat reported. Also: Medicaid news from North Carolina, Connecticut, and Montana.
Cardiologists Suggest Health Records Should Note Gender Identity
January 26, 2024
Morning Briefing
Since little is known about unique health challenges LGBTQ+ people face, Stat says, researchers are pushing for health systems to record patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to boost data collection. Also in the news: Medicare Advantage data transparency issues.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Booster Time
August 19, 2021
KFF Health News Original
As the delta variant continues to spread around the U.S., the Biden administration is taking steps to authorize covid vaccine boosters, require nursing home workers to be vaccinated and protect school officials who want to require masks despite state laws banning those mandates. Meanwhile, the U.S. House is returning from its summer break early to start work on its giant budget bill, which includes a long list of health policy changes. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Human Error In ICUs Has Led To Patient Harm In 23% Of Cases: Study
January 9, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study finds that delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses and other such human errors made in intensive care units have hurt patients more often than previously estimated. More health industry news reports on Medicare Advantage, private investments, cancer treatments, and more.
CMS Signals That Medicare Advantage Payments Will Decline In 2024
February 2, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services previewed Wednesday its 2024 payments and rates for Medicare Advantage. While a rate increase is proposed, insurers could see an average 2.3% cut to baseline payments, Stat reports. The agency also released planned changes to Medicare Part D and the star ratings programs.
Study: When Private Equity Buys Hospitals, Medical Errors Soar
January 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
A major study found that the rate of serious medical complications increased when hospitals were bought by investors, sometimes at alarming rates. Also in the news: Medicare Advantage plans hitting rural hospitals; a health care data breach affecting over a million people; and more.
White House Moves To Crack Down On Medicare Advantage Care Denials
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Final regulations issued Wednesday mean Medicare Advantage plans won’t be able to reject coverage of care that would otherwise be covered for those enrolled in the traditional Medicare program, Stat explains. Nursing home payments, hospital executive compensation, and more are also in the news.
Decisions by CVS and Optum Panicked Thousands of Their Sickest Patients
By Arthur Allen
February 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Pharmacy closures by two of the biggest home infusion companies point to grave shortages and dangers for patients who require IV nutrition to survive.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Reaches 31 Million Though Is Slowing
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
In an analysis by the Chartis Group, enrollment in Medicare Advantage 2023 plans is up 5.5%. Last year’s signups grew 9% over the previous year. Other news relates to inpatient claim denials, Medicare drug pricing negotiations, and more.
Study Shines Spotlight On TB Outbreak From Contaminated Bone Graft
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Bone allografts contaminated with tuberculosis are the subject of the new study. The donated tissue caused two deaths. Also in the news: CVS Health predicts Aetna will enroll many more Medicare Advantage beneficiaries than it had predicted; Marshfield Clinic and Essentia Health called off a merger; and more.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, January 31, 2023
January 31, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s roundup covers the covid emergency end, Medicare Advantage overpayments, birth control, health care expenses, birth rate, and more.
UnitedHealth Sued Over Coverage Denials
November 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The insurance giant uses an artificial intelligence tool to allegedly deny post-acute care coverage to Medicare Advantage members, a newly filed lawsuit says. Separately, the Justice Department is dropping an antitrust case against a UnitedHealth Group affiliate over hiring agreements.
CDC Advisory Panel Giving Incorrect Advice For Stopping Hospital Infections: Experts
September 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Hundreds of health industry experts will send a second letter to the CDC asking the agency to hold public meetings over proposals to update its Isolation Precautions guidance. Also in the news: the NCQA’s 2023 health plan ratings, Medicare Advantage ads, and more.
CMS Sets Tougher Penalties For Improper Medicare Advantage Charges
January 31, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that it could claw back $4.7 billion over 10 years from pending audits of private Medicare Advantage insurers’ charges. The companies didn’t get the leniency they sought for diagnostic errors, which could set up court challenges. Insurers did a major reprieve from returning overpayments from 2011 to 2017.
Medicare Advantage Insurers Boosting Marketing Efforts
November 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
A report in Modern Healthcare says that insurers are stepping up their marketing to attract more enrollment. Separately, Oscar Health has “all but abandoned” that market after attracting too few policyholders. USA Today explains why private Medicare plans are set to pass traditional ones.
CMS Eases Expected 2024 Payment Rate Cut To Medicare Advantage Insurers
April 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medicare Advantage providers face a 1.12% average cut in next year’s reimbursement rates, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Friday — lower after intense industry lobbying than the 2.3% drop regulators had previously proposed. Additional changes aimed at combatting overbilling by providers will be phased in over a 3-year period.
Why Doesn’t Medicare Cover Services So Many Seniors Need?
By Julie Rovner
August 11, 2021
KFF Health News Original
When the program began half a century ago, backers believed the benefits would expand over time, but politics and concerns about money have stymied most efforts. Now congressional Democrats are looking to add vision, dental and hearing care.
