Cigna pays $172M to settle MA upcoding allegations
The agreement settles a whistleblower lawsuit against Cigna that the Department of Justice joined last year, and requires the payer to undergo annual auditing from an independent entity.
AHA urges lawmakers to roll back online tracking tech restrictions
The hospital lobby argued recent guidance limiting third-party tracking technology prevents providers from sharing reliable healthcare information.
Walgreens reportedly considering ex-Cigna exec for CEO
The pharmacy giant is considering handing the reins to former Express Scripts and Evernorth CEO Tim Wentworth, according to Bloomberg, as Walgreens searches for a chief executive with deep healthcare experience.
Congressional Democrats open investigation into Medicaid MCOs over claims denials
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., sent letters requesting information on coverage denials to seven payers, including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Centene.
CMMI increased federal spending by $5.4B during its first decade, report finds
The Congressional Budget Office report estimated the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, which was created in part to reduce spending, will increase net federal spending by $1.3 billion from 2021 through 2030.
Inside Kaiser Permanente’s labor relations breakdown
Kaiser Permanente’s novel labor approach allowed for decades of stability, however, over a dozen sources familiar with the situation said fractured relationships are straining current negotiations.
A matter of trust: More delays for the VA’s EHR system
Shira Fischer, a physician policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, discusses why user trust is key to improving the embattled Oracle Cerner rollout at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Harbinger Health raises $140M to study blood-based cancer screening test
The test developer will use the Series B funding to complete a 10,000-subject clinical trial ahead of a planned launch in 2025.
Telehealth satisfaction higher among younger patients, survey finds
Older generations may be struggling to easily access and use telehealth providers’ digital interfaces, a JD Power survey suggests.
CVS hit with lawsuit from independent pharmacy over fees
A small Iowa pharmacy is accusing CVS Caremark of forcing independent pharmacies to sign one-sided contracts in order to stay in its network and continue dispensing drugs for its millions of covered lives.