Reimbursement

Under the model, hospitals in 67 geographic areas will receive additional payments if quality and spending performance are strong, or if not, have to potentially repay Medicare for a portion of the spending for care for a lower extremity joint replacement procedure.

Aetna plans feature $10 copays for the specialists diabetics need such as endocrinologists, ophthalmologists and podiatrists, and offer free blood sugar test strips, glucose monitors and other diabetic supplies.

The news comes as more health plans move from broad networks and straightforward reimbursement approaches to narrow networks and value-based payments.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday announced a $32 million initiative to drive down the number of uninsured children by supporting outreach to get families with children eligible for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program enrolled.

Under the model, hospitals in 67 geographic areas will receive additional payments if quality and spending performance are strong, or if not, have to potentially repay Medicare for a portion of the spending for care for a lower extremity joint replacement procedure.

The goal is to increase the approximately 59 percent of Humana individual Medicare Advantage members who have primary care physicians participating in value-based relationships, to 75 percent by the end of 2017.

The nonprofit co-op Health Republic Insurance of New York owes hospitals within the Greater New York Hospital Association more than $150 million, according to a November 11 letter from President Kenneth Raske to member CEOs.

In 31 states and the District of Columbia, silver-level plans cover fewer than seven of the 10 most common drug treatment options or charge consumers more than $200 a month in cost sharing, according to an analysis of 2015 silver plans by consultant group Avalere Health.

The census found that 20 percent of Austin musicians live below the federal poverty level. More than 50 percent qualify for federal housing subsidies, and nearly 19 percent lack health insurance.

The nonprofit co-op Health Republic Insurance of New York owes hospitals within the Greater New York Hospital Association more than $150 million, according to a November 11 letter from President Kenneth Raske to member CEOs.