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Non-Network Plans Could Thrive Non-network plans have been approved as qualified health plans on the Exchanges under a new rule and a number of prominent healthcare companies, including Sidecar Health, may offer such plans in the future. Non-network plans do not hold contracts or negotiate prices with hospitals and doctors, but outline for enrollees how much they will pay for specific services. Usually, such prices are based on average local prices. The Trump administration has argued that such plans encourage innovation and lower costs. Opponents argue that such plans will boost costs for other enrollees if such plans end up as benchmark plans in the Exchanges. Further, they say healthier people could be attracted to such plans and increase risk in more comprehensive ones. Last, they also say such plans could end up being expensive for many due to limited benefits. States do have the choice to approve the offering

KHN Covers Alternative Insurance As traditional insurance coverage premiums spike, many are turning to alternative insurance coverage. Kaiser Health News looks at the issue. These policies are not qualified health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and often have limits and gaps. This coverage is different from cheaper, qualified coverage on the Exchanges, such as catastrophic coverage as well as reforms made by a recent rule proposed by the Trump administration. One popular alternative as premiums spike are so-called sharing initiatives, many of the Christian-based. #healthcare #coverage https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/alternative-health-plans-growth-sharing-ministries-short-term-aca-premiums/ CVS Sues To Overturn TN Law on PBMs CVS has filed a lawsuit to challenge a Tennessee law that would bar pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning pharmacies in the state. This takes effect in 2027 and will prohibit people or companies from owning, managing or controlling pharmacies in the state at the same time as PBMs and health insurance issuers. Other

Feds To Use AI To Audit States The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will use artificial intelligence to review state audits of federal funding recipients, including Medicaid agencies. HHS told governors that its new Audit Enforcement and Risk Oversight initiative will review the previous five years’ worth of audits of state agencies. The agencies are required to conduct audits of state programs and grantees if expenditures of federal funds are over $1 million. (Article may require a subscription.) #fwa #trump #hhs https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-hhs-ai-medicaid-audit-states-funding Point32Health Reports Q1 Profit Turnaround Point32Health reported an adjusted net income of $248 million in Q1 2926, a reversal from a $21 million adjusted net income in Q1 2025. Point32Health is the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan parent. #healthplans #margins https://www.beckerspayer.com/financial/point32health-posts-86m-operating-income-in-q1/ — Marc S. Ryan

340B Hospital Lawsuit: The Pot Calling The Kettle Black Three health systems – Mount Sinai in New York, Michigan Medicine, and University of Kansas City Health — have filed federal lawsuits against CVS Health. The hospitals allege that CVS and sister companies diverted about $250 million from 2020 and 2025 in savings generated through the 340B drug pricing program. The 340B program requires brand drug makers to offer discounted prices to hospitals and safety net providers. Oftentimes, various healthcare entities are part of the adjudication and documentation process. The complaint alleges that CVS health companies used a series of intercompany service transactions to divert the funds and retain them when they should have been given to the hospitals. I have argued that vertically integrated companies use all sorts of inter-company transfers to retain dollars within the family. So, I don’t doubt that what is alleged is possible. At the same time,

Second Provider Tax Rule Issued Under OBBBA Under a proposed rule implementing aspects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Medicaid reductions, state-directed payments would be capped at 100% of Medicare rates in states that expanded Medicaid and 110% in non-expansion states. The rule saves more than $775 billion over 10 years, including $510 billion in federal savings. Another rule that was finalized in April ends states’ ability to use certain provider taxes to generate additional federal Medicaid matching funds. That rule bans states from imposing higher tax rates on Medicaid business than on non-Medicaid business and blocks indirect tax structures designed to bypass those limits. The proposed rule would apply to hospital inpatient and outpatient services, skilled nursing facility services, and qualified practitioner services at academic medical centers. The policy would be expanded to all services in 2029. Certain payments are temporarily grandfathered, although they will be reduced

Exchange Enrollment Likely To Decline By Millions This Year Healthcare policy group KFF finds that enrollment in Exchanges could decline to 17.5 million people this year. About 23.1 million enrolled as of January 1, which was already down from 2025 by 1.2 million. KFF used data from a Wakely Consulting study. Just 86% of people enrolled in an individual market plan as of January 2026 paid their first month’s premium. If such trends continue, enrollment in the Exchanges could decrease between 17% to 26% over the course of 2026. The fall would include future unpaid premiums, mid-year attrition, and other impacts. KFF also looked at all the cost impacts of expiring premium studies. Earlier it estimated that premiums would increase 114% if all enrollees stuck with their same plan. The new analysis finds that premiums in the aggregate actually increased by 58% for enrollees, which accounts for people switching to

More Drugs On TrumpRx President Trump announced that more than 600 generic drugs will be available through the TrumpRx website and billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban of Cost Plus Drug was there to celebrate with him. Some are critical of the initiative, arguing that lower prices may be available through insurance or elsewhere. But there is no denying that Trump’s many drug price reform initiatives are redefining drug price in the nation. #drugprices #trump https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5884064-trump-adds-600-generic-drugs Cassidy Loses Primary Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-LA, lost his primary battle by coming in third, which means he is out as a senator next year. President Trump endorsed a conservative congresswoman in the primary given Cassidy’s contentious relationship with the White House. This will mean a new Senate healthcare head is in the cards for 2027 whether or not the GOP keeps control. #congress #midterms #healthcare https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/senate-help-chair-bill-cassidys-primary-loss-casts-congressional-health-policy