UnitedHealth Group CEO Hears From Becerra And Providers
At an unprecedented meeting, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty heard from both Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and providers at a government sponsored meeting. The plea was for United to take responsibility for the Change Healthcare cyber attack and give additional financial support to providers.
In addition, HHS detailed more about what a $1.3 billion fund for cyber security would be used for. About 2,000 hospitals will receive incentive funds to adopt new cyber security practices. Another $153 million would go for various government initiatives.
Additional article: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/becerra-stakeholders-its-time-take-accountability-cybersecurity
#changehealthcare #unitedhealthcare #cyberattacks
New Study Says Provider Email Claims Largely Require No Patient Cost-Sharing
A new study says that less than 20% require a patient to pay out-of-pocket for so-called “email messaging” claims. Those that did paid a median of $25 per claim. Good summary of the trend.
#claims #coverage #providers
Majority Of For-Profit Hospitals Had Net Gains In 2023
While early in the year was tough, most large for-profit hospital chains had a net positive margin in 2023, bolstered in part by outpatient services.
#hospitals #margins
Advocates Of PBM Reform Upset There Was No Mention In SOTU And Want Action
Advocates for PBM reform are upset that President Biden mentioned nothing about PBM reform in the State of the Union. So far they have been shut out of bills in 2024 and prospects look somewhat dim. But they are calling for action.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#pbms #drugpricing
McConnell Deems ACA Repeal Largely Over
While Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, did not want to enter into the fray of the presidential election, he spoke for the majority of the Republican Party today when he said that repeal of Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act or ACA) is unlikely at best. His exact quote: “If he can develop a base for revisiting that issue, obviously we’d take a look at it, but it seems to me that’s largely over.”
This likely angered former President Donald Trump and a band of rightist Republicans in the House and Senate, but McConnell’s statement was largely correct and was a not-so-subtle-message to the repealers that it is an issues that could hurt the GOP in November. Since Trump became President, neither he nor the GOP has offered anything that resembled a credible solution. Largely, proposals have been a mishmash of skinny health insurance, devolution of funding to the states, and other tired and old proposals.
#mcconnell #aca #obamacare #exchanges #trump #biden
— Marc S. Ryan
