Tragedy In New York
A tragedy in New York today as UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the leader of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance subsidiary, was shot and killed just before an investor meeting in Manhattan. All indications point to the fact that the shooting was premediated and targeted and not a random act. Our thoughts and prayers are with Thompson’s family and the UnitedHealth community.
Additional articles: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/people/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shot-new-york-city and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-nyc/734557/
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#unitedhealthcare
Progress On Stop Gap Measure To Fund Government
Republican lawmakers have proposed a lame-duck healthcare deal to Democrats that includes extending key Medicare telehealth measures and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program for three years as well as a one-year Medicare physician pay patch. This would be paid for with a full repeal of the Biden administration’s nursing home staffing rule and pharmacy benefit manager reforms.
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#crs #governmentshutdown
Nine States Would Rollback Medicaid Expansion
As we have outlined before, this Kaiser Health News article discusses how nine states would automatically or nearly automatically end their Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansions if reimbursement is cut. That could impact more than 3.7 million low-income people.
#aca #obamacare #medicaid #coverage
S&P Global Ratings Says Trump Win Is Net Negative For Heathcare
Analysts with S&P Global Ratings say that major ratings impact for healthcare companies will not occur over the near to intermediate term. But Trump’s win could mean a net negative for the industry from a credit perspective. Discussed are possible expiration of the enhanced subsidies in the Exchanges, Medicaid reductions, headwinds in Medicare Advantage (MA), and lessened but some possible antitrust scrutiny. Also, there is the possibility that additional drug price reform could occur. Regulatory agency reform could also impact the healthcare industry.
#healthcare #healthcarereform #trump
Big Three PBMs Reforming And Embracing Transparency
The largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) say they are embracing change and adopting transparent pricing in relationships. They say more and more employers are now adopting some aspects of their transparency products. The PBMs say it could mean the eventual end of traditional models, including spread pricing. Some are skeptical that the changes are truly transparent.
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#pbms #drugpricing
1 in 3 Retail Pharmacies Have Closed Since 2010
About one in three pharmacies have closed since 2010, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. Independent pharmacies were more likely to shut down, likely due to discrimination from pharmacy benefits managers and steerage to owned retail entities.
#drugpricing #pbms #pharmacies
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/1-in-3-retail-pharmacies-closed-since-2010-health-affairs/734563
— Marc S. Ryan
