Inflation in 2021 may have offered drugmakers a catalyst for taking slightly bigger increases on a list price basis. But rebates to insurers are still keeping net price rises lower.
Expenses outpaced revenue growth as hospitals continued grappling with nationwide staffing shortages in November, according to Kaufman Hall.
The deal is designed to broaden Centene’s ability to provide “whole person” care, as the pandemic has highlighted the need for increased access to behavioral health services.
Molina is known for being acquisitive, but has been on a recent tear as it looks to capitalize on tailwinds in the Medicaid program.
Healthcare staff shortages and rising COVID-19 admissions are forcing hospitals to cancel elective surgeries and postpone diagnostic and imaging procedures.
The deal includes some staffing improvements that were top priorities for nurses, including limits on how many patients can be assigned in certain hospital units, along with wage increases, the union said.
Following concerns from hospitals regarding an apparent change to its ER coverage policy, the payer clarified no changes were made — or will be made — to how it approves or denies its members’ emergency claims.
HCA continues to double down on the Florida market where it has invested $3 billion over the last three years.
The agency granted emergency use authorizations to both companies’ over-the-counter diagnostics under a new accelerated review program. However, it may take months for them to scale up production.
The justices will hear arguments on the requirement that healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated, amid a flurry of legal challenges.