New Study Suggest FTC Scrutiny Of Hospital Mergers Is Meager A new study says the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) scrutiny of mergers is low and mergers lead to increased prices. Part of the issue is low funding for the FTC. (Article may require a subscription.) #ftc #manda #mergers #acquisitions #hospitals https://www.modernhealthcare.com/mergers-acquisitions/antitrust-enforcement-falls-short-hospital-mergers-study More On 2024 MA Star Recalculations Additional articles on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to recalculate Star scores for 2024 and reopen bids for those who received higher scores. Reports suggest 76 contracts with 44 health insurers would gain at least 0.5 Stars. This could mean an additional $1 billion in revenue to plans, which goes out to members in added benefits. Some big plans receive additional dollars. Additional article: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/report-medicare-advantage-quality-ratings-get-new-calculations #medicareadvantage #stars #cms https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/cms-recalculates-medicare-advantage-star-ratings/718967 Are Lawmakers Serious On Stabilizing Medicare? Members on each side of the aisle on the House Budget Committee said they

CMS To Recalculate 2024 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings After losing two lawsuits on their methodology, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it has recalculated 2024 Star measures for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.  It will give plans that saw increases a short window to revise 2025 plan bids and benefits that have already been submitted. Additional article here: https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/scan-cms-recalculate-ma-star-ratings-rebidding-process-come (Some articles may require a subscription.) #medicareadvantage #stars #cms https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/cms-to-recalculate-medicare-advantage-star-ratings-report.html Major MedPAC Recommendations In Annual Report MedPAC, the congressional policy arm for Medicare, issued its annual report today. It analyzes and makes recommendations for reforming Medicare physician pay, prior authorization in Medicare Advantage (MA), and MA encounter data. I will do an in-depth blog in the near future on the MA recommendations. (Article may require a subscription.) #medpac #medicare #providers #medicareadvantage #healthplans https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/medpac-june-report-examines-physician-fee-pay-prior-auth-irf Progressive Warns Of Medicare Drug Negotiation Repeal The Center for American Progress (CAP), a progressive policy group

National Healthcare Spending Projections The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary released its annual re-estimates of spending over a 10-year horizon.  While 2023 healthcare expenditures will be finalized in December, current estimates are that national healthcare spending grew by 7.5% in 2023 to about $4.8 trillion, or 17.6% of gross domestic product (GDP). Part of the costs were record coverage. Medicare spending is projected to have grown 8.4% in 2023, with costs over $1 trillion. Private health insurance spending is expected to have increased 11.1%.  Medicaid spending is expected to have grown by 5.7%.  This is lower due to dropping enrollment. National health expenditures will rise to $7.7 trillion and capture nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy by 2032. I will have a blog next week digging into all the stats. Additional articles: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/policy/national-health-spending-projected-reach-77t-2032-cms and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/national-healthcare-spending-growth-cms-report/718718/ and https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-releases-2023-2032-national-health-expenditure-projections (Some articles may require a subscription.)  #healthcare

More Information On Elevance Health Star Lawsuit Win Yesterday we told you about Elevance Health’s win in court on the 2024 Star calculations.  Other healthcare publications have written stories today.  The pressure is on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to respond.  I have also linked the lawsuit below. Additional articles: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/elevance-medicare-advantage-star-ratings-lawsuit-cms and https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/elevance-health-gets-partial-victory-in-star-ratings-lawsuit.html#:~:text=The%20judge%20ruled%20partially%20in,only%20for%20BCBS%20of%20Georgia.  and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/elevance-wins-medicare-advantage-star-ratings-lawsuit-hhs/718550 Opinion: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24740919-elevance_becerra_6724_order (Some articles may require a subscription.) #medicareadvantage #stars #cms https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/elevance-health-earns-partial-win-legal-fight-over-ma-star-ratings Hospitals Raise Issues With Medicare Rate Hike And Requirements Hospitals pushed back on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed regulatory changes and rate hikes. Hospitals raised concerns about new quality reporting requirements and changes to medical residency training programs.  It claimed the 2.6% rate hike was inadequate. At the same time, hospitals are opposing site-neutral payments, which would save the system and patients huge sums. #hospitals #medicare https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/hospital-groups-push-back-cms-woefully-inadequate-inpatient-pay-bump-fy2025 Humana Finds VBC Payments Impact Kidney Care Humana has

Elevance Wins Star Lawsuit A second lawsuit has been decided in favor of a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan and against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the calculation of Star scores. In this case, Elevance Health won its suit and a judge declared that Georgia contract scores must be revised. It will be increasingly difficult for CMS to ignore these rulings. I will write on this on LinkedIn tomorrow. (Article may require a subscription.) #medicareadvantage #cms #stars #elevancehealth https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/elevance-medicare-advantage-star-ratings-lawsuit-cms White House Announces Cybersecurity Support For Hospitals The White House announced that Microsoft and Google will provide free or discounted support to help hospitals strengthen their cybersecurity. (Article may require a subscription.) #hospitals #cybersecurity https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/google-microsoft-cybersecurity-rural-hospitals-safety-net Supreme Court To Hear Hospital Funding Case The Supreme Court said it will review a lower court decision that limits Medicare payments for hospitals under the federal disproportionate share hospital program. It is a rather

Oscar Continues Good Performance, Lays Out Strategy Oscar Health reports its first quarterly net profit and hit 1.5 million enrollees in the Exchanges. It plans on investing in individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRA) in tandem with its Exchanges offerings as well as re-entering Medicare Advantage. Additional article: https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/oscar-health-plans-to-double-its-membership-5-things-to-know.html #oscar #exchanges #aca #obamacare #ichra #medicareadvantage https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/oscar-health-growth-ambitions-doubling-its-footprint-planned-ichra-products-launch-and-more The Troubles Of Retail Meets Healthcare Good article on the general struggles with low-reimbursed primary care and additional challenges retailers have had. #retailmeetshealthcare #primarycare #healthcare https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/retail/industry-voices-walmarts-exit-health-centers-reflects-broader-challenges-primary-care Kroger Health Offering GLP-1s Kroger Health joins a growing number of providers driving expensive GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.  This is bound to continue to drive the shortages those with disease states face. (Article may require a subscription.) #kroger #weightlossdrugs #drugpricing https://www.modernhealthcare.com/patient-care/kroger-health-little-clinics-glp-1s-wegovy-zepbound Walgreens Will Not IPO Boots Struggling Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. is killing an initial public offering for its UK Boots drug chain. It may still be looking for