Integrated nonprofit health systems Kaiser Permanente and Renown Health have announced a joint venture giving the former an entry into northern Nevada. The deal, announced Wednesday, is still pending regulatory approval but is expected to close in early 2026. With it, the partners would own and operate a health plan and new outpatient care network ...
Two prior authorization reform bills have passed the California legislature and are headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. The California Medical Association, which supported the legislation, said in a Sept. 11 news release the bills “aim to dramatically streamline the system, ensuring timely access to care for patients.” If signed by Mr. Newsom, Assembly Bill 512 would: ...
A new analysis from Morningstar estimates that the major national firms will continue to grow their share of the market over the next decade. The study projects that the six largest carriers—Aetna, Centene, Cigna, Elevance Health, Humana and UnitedHealthcare—will insure 56% of Americans by 2034, increasing from 41% in 2014. As of 2024, these six ...
The chaotic national dialogue around immunizations could cause widespread and lasting damage to public health, even in places like the Bay Area where vaccine support remains robust, say experts in infectious diseases. As national leaders, including the United States’ own health secretary, argue about and frequently dismiss the value of vaccines across all ages, public ...
Vaccines are a big business. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to take a blowtorch to it. Next week’s meeting of an outside panel of vaccine experts could transform how major insurance carriers cover shots instrumental in containing the spread of deadly diseases like Covid-19, measles, mumps and rubella. Kennedy, as health secretary, has already stacked the influential panel with ...
A simple snack swap could deliver big health benefits, new research shows. A clinical trial led by Oregon State University found that eating about two ounces of almonds a day – roughly 45 nuts – was found to lower LDL cholesterol, the “bad” type that clogs arteries and also offer other surprising perks. The study, published in ...