Medicare Medicaid Category

Medicare & Medicaid

News articles in this section include actions by federal regulators like the CMS and HHS, as well as information on Medicare and state Medicaid coverage and benefits.

Telehealth’s Limits: Battle Over State Lines and Licensing Threatens Patients’ Options

If you live in one state, does it matter that the doctor treating you online is in another? Surprisingly, the answer is yes, and the ability to conduct certain virtual appointments may be nearing an end.

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Actuaries Project Future Virus Surges, End Of Regulatory Flexibility Key Drivers In 2022 Rates

Uncertainty over future surges of COVID-19 and the end of regulatory flexibilities are going to be major drivers for 2022 premiums on the individual and small group markets, a new actuary report finds. The report, released Thursday (PDF) by the American Academy of Actuaries, finds insurers face major uncertainties like the end of the public health emergency ...

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Medicare Trustees Project Hospital Fund To Run Out In 2026, Same Deadline As Year Before

Medicare’s insurance trust fund that pays hospitals is expected to run out of money in 2026, the same projection as last year, according to a new report from Medicare’s board of trustees. The report, released Tuesday, found Medicare spent $925.8 billion in 2020 and served 62.6 million people. It found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a ...

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Centene To Consolidate Its Medicare Advantage Plan Branding Under Wellcare

Centene is consolidating all of its Medicare Advantage (MA) brands under the Wellcare name, the government insurance giant announced Thursday. Centene closed its acquisition of Wellcare Health Plans in January 2020, which led to a slew of disparate MA brands across 33 states, the company said. The $17 billion deal created one of country’s largest sponsors of government insurance. ...

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Business Groups Withdraw Suit Challenging Health-Price Transparency Rule

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a Texas affiliate withdrew a suit filed to block parts of a federal rule requiring insurers and employers to disclose prices they pay for healthcare services and drugs.

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Anthem Blue Cross, Dignity Health Reach New Network Agreement In California

Anthem Blue Cross and Dignity Health have mended fences and reached a new network agreement in California.

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CMS Delays Enforcement Of Key Parts Of Price Transparency Rule By 6 Months

The Biden administration has delayed enforcement of key parts of a major insurer price transparency rule by six months until July 1, 2022, to give plans more time to comply. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the change in a new guidance released Friday focusing on the final price transparency rule released ...

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Alignment Healthcare Enters Into Agreement With CareMore Health, Adding More Than 3,000 Providers To Its 2022 Provider Network In Arizona...

Medicare Advantage company Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC) today announced the addition of CareMore Health to its provider network in Arizona and Nevada starting Jan. 1, 2022, pending regulatory approvals. This agreement provides new and existing Alignment Health Plan members access to 3,350 CareMore providers, expanding Alignment’s care options for seniors during Medicare’s annual enrollment period for 2022, ...

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Biden Calls On Congress To Act On ‘Outrageously’ High Drug Prices

President Biden on Thursday called on Congress to act to lower the "outrageously" high price of prescription drugs as lawmakers prepare to press forward on the issue.

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Here Are 3 Major Policy Areas That Health Industry Groups Are Closely Watching In $3.5T Infrastructure Bill

The Senate is getting into the nitty-gritty of what exactly will be included in a massive $3.5 trillion infrastructure package that seeks to make major reforms to Medicare. And that means healthcare industry groups are watching very closely.

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