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Industry Updates

This broad category includes articles concerning health insurance costs, carrier and health plan news, changing benefits technology, and surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation and others on employee benefits.

As Premiums Rise, A Majority Of Americans Are Reviewing Insurance Policies To Find Savings

As personal insurance rates continue to increase for a myriad of reasons, around 70% of U.S. consumers are actively reviewing their insurance policies in an effort to find savings, according to a survey from Trusted Choice, national brand representing the members of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”). Among those shopping around, 45% ...

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3 Thing To Know About Specialty Pharmacy In 2024

Specialty drug costs keep going up for plan sponsors Here are a few considerations employers and their brokers and consultants need to take into account in the coming years.

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Drugmakers Set To Raise U.S. Prices On At Least 500 Drugs In January

Drugmakers including Pfizer (PFE.N), Sanofi (SASY.PA) and Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502.T) plan to raise prices in the United States on more than 500 drugs in early January, according to data analyzed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors. Excluding different doses and formulations, more than 140 brands of drugs will have their prices raised next month, the data showed. The expected ...

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Medicaid Spending on Prescriptions Has Risen Despite Lower Utilization

Although there’s been lower utilization of prescription medications, Medicaid spending on prescription drugs has increased, a recent report shows. The KFF report relied on 2016 to 2022 State Drug Utilization Data, as well as CMS-64 Financial Management Reports from fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2022. It comes as states unwind the continuous enrollment provision, which prevented ...

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Nearly 20% Of Hospitals Have Been Warned Over Price Transparency Violations

Nearly 20% of U.S. hospitals have been warned that they violated the federal price transparency rules that went into effect in 2021, according to a Dec. 20 report from Bloomberg.  Government regulators evaluated 1,750 hospitals as of early December, and about 1,300 have received warnings of rule violations, according to the report. Most corrected errors after ...

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FTC, DOJ, HHS’s New Health Counsels To Take On Price-Gouging

Three major government agencies are adding new officials to investigate price-gouging in health care — positions experts say will help the three agencies better coordinate across the government.

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Biden Administration To Impose Inflation Penalties On Dozens Of Drugs

The Biden administration said on Thursday it had identified 48 drugs in the Medicare program whose prices rose quicker than inflation during the fourth quarter of the year and may require their makers to pay rebates.

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Americans Less Satisfied With Almost Every Part Of The Health System

Americans' satisfaction with almost every major part of the health care system has dropped since 2010, according to a new Gallup analysis.

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CMS Finalizes Updated Fees For No Surprises Act Dispute Resolution

The Biden administration on Monday released amended fees related to independent dispute resolution under the No Surprises Act. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had established initial fees, but the guidance was vacated by a Texas judge in a win for providers, forcing the agency to pause IDR. The independent dispute resolution approach is ...

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HCSC, Elevance Health Explore Purchase Of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage Business

While its merger with Humana may have fallen through for now, Cigna is attracting plenty of interest for the rumored sale of its Medicare Advantage business, Bloomberg reported. Sources close to the matter told the outlet that Health Care Service Corp. and Elevance Health are “competing” to scoop up the MA segment. Cigna is expecting ...

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