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
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
Humana Finds VBC Payments Impact Kidney Care
Humana has been a leader in developing value-based care (VBC) payments in the Medicare Advantage (MA) world. Its latest study finds that VBC payments reduce costs for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
#humana #vbc
Missouri And Texas Could Face Funding Cuts Over Government Program Application Processing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is telling Texas and Missouri they could face funding cuts based on their processing of government program applications.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#tx #mo #cms #medicaid #chip
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/medicaid/texas-missouri-medicaid-backlog-review-cms
States Want Ability To Police Pharmacy Benefits Managers
Interesting request from a bipartisan group of state attorneys general asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a case they say limits states’ ability to police pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). States are frustrated by the vast control three major PBMs have and believe federal oversight is lacking. A lower court says federal laws trump state laws on PBM oversight.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#pbms #drugpricing
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/legal/oklahoma-pbm-pharmacy-benefits-manager-law-supreme-court
Biden Proposes Medical Debt Be Erased From Credit Reports
In some election-year politicking, President Biden has proposed that medical debt not be a factor in determining a credit score. While the timing is suspect, I am a believer given the predatory nature of hospital and provider (many of them owned by private equity firms) lawsuits seeking to recoup exorbitant billed charges.
Additional article: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/biden-administration-plan-remove-medical-debt-credit-scores/ and https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4716225-biden-administration-moves-to-ban-medical-debt-from-credit-reports/mlite/
(Some articles may require a subscription.)
#medicaldebt #healthcare
Independent Pharmacies Impacted By New Medicare Drug Rule
Independent pharmacies have raised issues with the impact of a new federal Medicare rule that requires the pass-through of all concessions and discounts (except rebates) at the point of sales. While chains can handle it, independents rightfully have raised issues with the impact it has had on cash flow. The Biden administration champions the change as a break for seniors and the disabled in Medicare. But it also is a good example of the impact that regulations have on small business.
#cms #pharmacies
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/biden-medicare-dir-fees-reform-pharmacy-cash-flow/
Nursing Home Staffing May Be Overturned In The Senate
A resolution aimed at overturning President Biden’s controversial nursing home staffing rule could pass the Senate. While there is bipartisan concern in the House, no word yet on its chances there.
#nursinghomes #staffing
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/11/nursing-home-senate-biden
Marketing Organizations Oppose New Rules
A good article on the huge debate on new Medicare marketing rules. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rather strict rules related to compensation for agents and upstream brokers/third party marketing organizations (TPMOs). Insurers came out in opposition to the rule as did TPMOs. At least one TPMOs is suing to stop the rule. Plans should not oppose the change. CMS is absolutely right on this issue. They are protecting Medicare beneficiaries’ best interests. The practices of TPMOs, with many plans’ concurrence through unseemly compensation agreements, is clearly abusive and works against members’ best interests. Plans should focus on issues of principle.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#tpmos #medicare #marketing
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/medicare-advantage-brokers-lawsuit-cms-compensation-cap
Biden Expands Navigator Funding
The Biden administration announced new navigator funding for the Exchanges. It also touted the over 21 million now enrolled in the program. I also noticed an interesting statistic. While Medicaid enrollment is down by more than 10 million from its high in March 2023, enrollment in March 2024 was about 12 million higher than in February 2020. Still, we will see an increase in our uninsured rate due to the losses.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#coverage #medicaid #exchanges #aca #obamacare
Cigna Pushed Back On Need For Acquisition To Meet Financial Targets
Cigna Chief Financial Officer Brian Evanko says it does not need an acquisition to meet its financial targets. Cigna bucked the trend by announcing it will shed its Medicare Advantage (MA) book of business due to financial and operational issues. Speculation is that Cigna will eventually gobble up Humana, an MA-dominant business.
#medicareadvantage #cigna #humana
https://www.beckerspayer.com/m-and-a/cigna-cfo-we-dont-need-mergers-or-acquisitions.html
— Marc S. Ryan
