An ATI Advisory analysis found the number of Medicare Advantage plans offering supplemental, non-medical benefits jumped to more than 2,200 this year from over 600 in 2020, the first year these benefits were allowed. A total of 1,091 MA plans will offer in-home support services this year, up more than fourfold since 2020, while 929 plans will offer food deliveries, up from 101 plans.
An analysis of employer-based insurance claims data from Merative MarketScan showed the total number of claims at the highest two levels of complexity climbed from 22% to 43% for emergency departments, urgent care, physician offices and other outpatient settings from 2004 to 2021. "There is a trend towards visits being billed at higher levels over time," said the authors of the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker report, adding the "trend impacts out-of-pocket costs in addition to overall health system costs."
DEI: Commitment and Belonging at All Organizational Levels As the industry continues its mission of increasing diversity in the executive levels and creating environments where all individuals feel they belong, committing to doing the work is the first step. Explore ways to achieve lasting change on your journey toward an equitable and inclusive workforce... read more.
Rural hospitals across the US have closed at least 89 obstetrics units from 2015 to 2019 to control costs despite the alarming growth in maternal deaths across the country, and data from the American Hospital Association showed around 50% of rural community hospitals in the country did not offer obstetric care by 2020. The closures appear to have worsened over the past year, particularly in rural areas with declining population and birth rates.
How health plans can link employee, SMB health One of the many challenges that small and medium-sized businesses face is meeting HR and compliance requirements. Find out how an HR and compliance solution can help health plans promote SMB and employee health — and provide a much-needed service. Learn more here
Erythritol, a sugar alcohol often added to reduced-sugar products and sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit, has been linked to blood clotting and a heightened risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, according to a study published in the journal Nature Medicine. Researchers said people with existing heart disease risk factors, including diabetes, who had the highest levels of erythritol in their blood, had double the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
A study published in the journal Clinical Cardiology found that people with insomnia had 13% higher odds of experiencing a heart attack, with even greater risk seen in those with insomnia and diabetes. Researchers also found that older adults who had trouble staying or falling asleep had twice the risk of heart attacks compared with non-insomniac counterparts.
A review of clinical trials found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and adverse neonatal outcomes or an increase in miscarriage risk, researchers reported in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.
In an industry that has struggled to quickly and meaningfully address healthcare claims payment accuracy, digital transformation once again proves its value. How can payers best take advantage of the potential of enterprise technology? Here's what we learned. Full story
Last year brought a new set of curveballs for those of us looking forward to some sense of normalcy. But those payers that kept pace with technology trends and kept focus on mission and long-term strategy continued to weather the uncertainty and even thrive. What does 2023 bring? Full story
Elevance Health agreed to acquire Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana for $2.5 billion, and additional conditions could increase the transaction's value by $1 billion, according to merger documents reviewed by Bloomberg. The majority of the funds from the acquisition, which is expected to be completed this year, will go to a foundation established in Louisiana after BCBS Louisiana becomes Elevance's for-profit subsidiary.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of wearable health trackers, which give clinicians a broader view of patients' health as well as baselines for individuals. Ambient sensors in homes that track biomechanics could help older people remain at home, and a combination of wearables and ambient technology could help patients actively participate in their own care as well as clinical trials and reduce inequalities, writes Brian Anthony, co-director of the Medical Electronic Device Realization Center at MIT.
Emmi® amplifies your care managers' impact Emmi® payer solutions easily deliver trusted, actionable health education information to members when and where they need it, while integrating seamlessly into care management workflows to improve operating efficiency. Learn more.
An FDA advisory panel has recommended approval of Pfizer's respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, voting 7-4 to back the vaccine for use in people ages 60 years and older. Study data showed the RSV vaccine to be effective and safe in preventing lower respiratory tract disease, and the FDA is scheduled to decide on the vaccine's approval by May.
Reata Pharmaceuticals announced that its drug Skyclarys has gained the FDA's approval as a treatment for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes progressive damage and affects approximately 5,000 patients in the US. The drug's price could be about $425,000 annually, the company has estimated.
California was scheduled to end its COVID-19 emergency declaration yesterday, while five other states -- Texas, Illinois, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Mexico -- still have theirs in place for the time being. Some local declarations also remain in force, such as that of Los Angeles County, which has nearly 10 million residents.
Ordinary job boards have their pros and cons. But the AHIP Career Center is all pros! Unlike mass market sites, the AHIP Career Center was created for health care professionals. With data tools that get you from pre-interview to onboarding faster. It's the better way to target health care's best and brightest. Start recruiting now!
Join us on Thursday, March 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET for "Saving Lives and Reducing Costs: Addressing Suicide Risk with Telehealth" as Brightside Health shows how payers can partner with technology-enabled, remote-first telehealth solutions to implement suicide risk reduction programs. Learn how these solutions serve as an effective model to efficiently treat high-severity and acuity cases, including those with elevated suicide risk.
