Topic:

Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP

Latest Headlines

Latest Headlines

Feds to test new Medicare Part B payment models

Citing a new report that found prescription drug spending reached $457 billion in 2015, the federal government announced it will test new Medicare Part B payment models to try to tackle those spiraling costs.  

Report: Divestitures in Aetna-Humana merger won't help Medicare Advantage competition

Divestitures made during a previous healthcare insurance merger did little to maintain competition among Medicare Advantage plans, reaffirming concerns that the Aetna-Humana merger will increase premiums for seniors and lead to higher costs within the Medicare program, according to a new report from the Centers for American Progress.

CMS ramps up enforcement of Part C, Part D Medicare plan violations

A recently released list of financial penalties imposed on Medicare Part C and Part D plan sponsors shows that the government is increasingly coming down hard on health plans that violate federal regulations.  

Industry leaders weigh in on the state of the ACA

Some of the top healthcare policy experts in the country tackled the current state of the industry and the impact of the Affordable Care Act--both positive and negative--in a series of viewpoints published by the  Journal of the American Medical Association.

Insurers cash in on Medicare Advantage quality incentives

Private insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans are increasingly investing in quality initiatives that provide a boost to the plan's star rating tied to millions of dollars in government incentives, according to an article by  Kaiser Health News, published by  USA Today.  

The challenges and successes of Oregon's Medicaid CCOs

Now three years into its experiment to manage its Medicaid population through 16 coordinated care organizations, Oregon has promising results to report yet significant challenges to overcome, according to an opinion piece published in the  Journal of the American Medical Association.  

In Texas, ACA has done little to expand care access

Though the Affordable Care Act has lowered uninsured rates nationwide, Texas residents may now actually have more difficulty accessing care, according to  NPR.  

CMS proposes rise in 2017 Medicare Advantage payments

In addition to proposing changes aimed at improving the precision of payments to health plans, the federal government said it wants to raise Medicare Advantage payments by an average of 1.35 percent next year.

AHIP report: Enrollment in Medicaid managed care plans continues to rise

Enrollment in Medicaid managed care plans grew nearly 70 percent from 2007-2013, highlighting states' reliance on health plans that can improve outcomes for high-risk patient populations and save money in the process, according to a report from America's Health Insurance Plans.

Alabama shifts Medicaid to managed care plans run by providers

After receiving federal approval last week, Alabama plans to provide Medicaid coverage through managed care plans with a unique twist: Instead of handing the program to for-profit insurers, the state is giving the keys to providers, according to  Kaiser Health News.