More Embarrassing Statements By Robert Kennedy At Second Hearing
After a tough day yesterday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. continued his lackluster performance in front of a Senate committee by again confusing key details in Medicaid and Medicare. It seems the man proposed to be the next health and human services chief of the United States does not quite know the four parts of Medicare, a program that has hit over $1 trillion annually. Unfortunately, the two days of grilling shows he really has no business becoming the future secretary.
His nomination is hurt by his lack of healthcare policy knowledge as well as controversial positions. Democrats pounded him on these for a second day. He has yet failed to convince three key Republicans to support him – Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins. Mitch McConnell might also oppose him. Three GOP no votes with no Democratic support could be enough to confirm him – 50-50 with VP JD Vance breaking the tie. Cassidy was especially concerned about Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism. Democrat Jon Fetterman was sympathetic to Kennedy, but his support is now in question after Kennedy’s poor performance.
Additional articles: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/live-updates-rfk-jr-senate-confirmation-hearing-day-2 and https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/rfk-faces-first-round-questioning-senators and https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/top-republican-airs-concerns-about-rfks-bully-pulpit-and-vaccine-hesitancy and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/rfk-jr-fumbles-medicare-basics-during-second-confirmation-hearing/738824/ and https://insidehealthpolicy.com/inside-drug-pricing-daily-news/cassidy-left-undecided-rfk-jr-after-vaccine-exchanges and https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/washington-watch/114017 and https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/features/114010 and https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5117209-robert-kennedy-senate-hearing/ and https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5116914-senate-health-committee-critiques-robert-f-kennedy/?tbref=hp
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#rfkjr #hhs #healthcare #trump #congress
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/rfk-jr-hearing-cassidy-collins-murkowski
Cigna Repeats What Has Been Seen With Other Insurers
The Cigna Group saw a 34% decline in profits year over year due to rising costs within its insurance segment. This matches what other big healthcare entities have reported for Q4 and all of 2024. Cigna’s stock dropped on the news.
The Cigna Group reported $1.4 billion in profit for the fourth quarter of 2024, below The Street’s expectations. Profits for the full year were $3.4 billion, down from the $5.2 billion the company reported in 2023.
Cigna’s medical loss ratio hit 87.9% in the fourth quarter vs. 82.2% in Q3. Full-year 2024 MLR was 83.2%, compared to 81.3% in 2023. Cigna is primarily a commercial insurer.
Revenues from service engine Evernorth were $53.7 billion, up from $40.5 billion in the prior-year quarter. The division brought in $202.5 billion in revenue for the full year. Revenues at the insurer were flat in the quarter and for the year.
Cigna announced it will spend up to $150 million to reform its prior authorization, patient advocacy, and provider services. It also said it is on track to close the sale of its Medicare Advantage (MA) business in the first quarter of 2025 to Health Care Service Corporation, a multi-state mutual Blue. It has about 600,000 MA lives.
https://www.beckerspayer.com/m-and-a/cignas-medicare-advantage-sale-on-track-to-close-in-q1.html and https://www.modernhealthcare.com/finance/cigna-prior-authorization-david-cordani and https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/cigna-earnings-medical-costs-pharmacy-benefit-manager and https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/cigna-posts-3-4-billion-profit-in-2024.html and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/cigna-express-scripts-plan-reform-q4-2024/738731/
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#cigna #healthplans #medicareadvanage #commercial #employercoverage #margins
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cigna-posts-14m-profit-miss-medical-costs-remain-elevated
House Lawmakers To Unveil Medicare Doc Fix
House lawmakers are planning to unveil a bipartisan bill that will fully restore the 2.8% Medicare reimbursement cut that took effect on January 1 for Medicare physicians and boost rates by 2.5%. Providers want the bill to be attached to a FFY 2025 continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of September.
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#medicare #physicians #rates
Plans Collaborate On Shared Primary Care VBP Reimbursement
Aetna, Blue Shield of California, and Health Net will launch a shared, value-based payment (VBP) model for primary care physicians in California. It will cover 11 small independent providers across the state with 17,000 patients. The program aims to address primary care reimbursement challenges, improve health equity, and boost health outcomes.
#healthplans #physicians #vbc #valuebasedcare
— Marc S. Ryan
