The share of traditional Medicare enrollees who bought Medicare Supplement coverage rose to 41% in 2021, compared to 35% in 2017, according to a report from America’s Health Insurance Plans. Medicare Supplement enrollees are three times less likely to have issues paying medical bills than those who only have traditional Medicare.
During a panel at the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum, three executives were asked what gives them comfort about the return to Medicaid redeterminations, as well as what worries them. One CMS official said she's pleased that states are ramping up communication efforts for Medicaid enrollees, but is concerned about the "insurmountable task" ahead.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
At the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum held last week, two healthcare leaders from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and CVS Health stressed that reducing maternal health disparities is a top priority, with several strategies at play. For CMS, the focus is on encouraging states to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage, while CVS Health is working to leverage doulas in their care delivery.
Research shows that about 73% of benefits leaders believe their companies have increased mental health support, but about 40% of employees either don’t believe or are unsure if their company promotes a healthy workplace. When it comes to if there’s a disconnect between employers and employees in mental health, the issue often lies in communication, said Adam Stavisky, senior vice president of US benefits at Walmart.
Patricia Kelmar, healthcare campaigns director at the Public Interest Research Group, is an advocate for the No Surprises Act. But there's one thing that bothers her: the fact that providers can ask patients to waive their surprise billing protections, she said Tuesday when speaking at the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum in Washington, D.C.
CMS put out a request for information in October about a CMS-led national provider directory that would allow patients to find and compare providers based on preferences like language and location. Alexandra Mugge, director and deputy chief health informatics officer of the Health Informatics and Interoperability Group at CMS, said there is stakeholder support for the national directory — if it's executed correctly.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Physicians face a lot of barriers from insurers in completing studies on drugs in the accelerated approval pathway, declared Dr. Robert Califf, commissioner of food and drugs at the Food and Drug Administration. Insurers need to help, he said during the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum.
Improving the mental health workforce shortage is one of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's top priorities right now, said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at HHS and the administrator of SAMHSA. To tackle this, the organization has several resources and grant programs in place to recruit more providers and support primary care physicians in treating mental health.
During an interview at the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum held Tuesday in Washington, D.C., CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure discussed CMS' key focus areas for 2023. This includes the end of the public health emergency, health equity and prescription drug costs.
AHIP and several other healthcare organizations launched the Connecting to Coverage Coalition last week in an effort to make the upcoming Medicaid redetermination process run smoothly. The coalition's website includes studies on Medicaid redeterminations and frequently asked questions for enrollees. AHIP also released a report that shows 53.6% of those who will lose coverage will transition to employer-sponsored insurance and 21.2% will become uninsured.
We will highlight Build My Health's revenue practice management tools, which could help physician practices add up to $250,000 to their practices.
The final rule calls for stricter audits on Medicare Advantage plans. AHIP president and CEO Matt Eyles referred to the rule as "unlawful and fatally flawed."
An AHIP survey found that 73% of commercially-insured telehealth users think that Congress should make telehealth provisions permanent. These provisions were put in place to meet Americans' needs during Covid-19.
CMS is proposing a system in which it would collect information from providers that would go in a single national directory it maintains. AHIP is seeking a more collaborative directory between the government and private insurers.
AHA’s report comes after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which would establish several requirements for the prior authorization process under MA plans. But AHA believes additional action is needed by the government.
The number of in-network behavioral health providers increased by 48% in the last three years among commercial health plans. The number of in-network inpatient psychiatric hospitals rose by 40%.