NC Medicaid remake hits benchmark
The effort to privatize North Carolina’s Medicaid program made its first substantive deadline last week, but Department of Health and Human Services officials warned lawmakers that putting the plan in …
Medicaid reform in NC has health care systems juggling best path for services
The state’s largest health care systems have been caught in a logistical tug-of-war after legislators proposed a hybrid strategy for handling the biggest piece of Medicaid reform. Do the systems …
HME News: New bid bill will drop soon
With no time to lose, HME industry stakeholders are ready for another run at the competitive bidding program. Legislation in the works by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., would delay the …
UnitedHealth to Launch Wearable Device Coverage Plan
Health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group and big chipmaker Qualcomm are rolling out nationwide a wellness health benefit that links patients and their wearable devices to a plan that offers cash rewards for …
Telehealth Expansion Proposed in Bipartisan Senate Bill
Earlier this month, a bipartisan group, led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), introduced a bill in the Senate focused on promoting cost savings and quality care under the Medicare …
Blue Cross Blue Shield groups weigh potential cost sharing strategies
The Wall Street Journal reports that Highmark Inc. is, with other health groups, part of very early-stage discussions regarding “combining some operations to share costs.” The talks apparently include Blue …
Medicare to cut payments to employer-sponsored Advantage plans
A new federal proposal would slash over payments made to Medicare Advantage plans sponsored by employers and unions years after an advisory board recommended the policy. The CMS proposed terminating …