Anthony Brino
Hospital systems and other nonprofit healthcare institutions could soon find themselves losing long-held tax exemptions, as another major health system, New Jersey's Atlantic Health System, has lost its legal fight to avoid paying property taxes.
Individual marketplace plans are in for huge rate increases next year, some fear, but the ACA markets so far suggest that many organizations, including provider-owned plans, are holding the line, according to researchers with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute.
With Aetna's market share set to balloon next year after its takeover of Humana wraps up, the insurer is trying to assuage health systems that might fear greater reimbursement pressure.
If the $37 billion cash-and-stock deal is approved as a whole by regulators, Humana will bring Aetna's membership to more than 33 million.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services, an integrated delivery system with eight hospitals, 700 physicians, 100-plus clinics and a 300,000-member health plan, will take on care coordination and prevention for more than 12,000 members in UnitedHealthcare's employer-sponsored plans in New Mexico.
Insurers can focus on optimizing individual plans with cost-comparison and provider-choice tools and value-based benefit designs, expert says.
Customers and healthcare providers are accusing Blue Cross Blue Shield companies of exploiting the franchising model to inflate premiums and unfairly control market share, according to lawsuits that threaten Anthem's M&A strategy and could empower health systems and other insurers across the country.
The evolution of deadly, infectious bacteria must be countered with the healthcare system’s own transformation in prevention, consumer advocates and government experts argue.
Oregon regulators are working with insurers to increase premiums, after a $127 million collective shortfall last year.
Cigna's leaders thought the deal was rife with corporate governance problems and lacked security in the face of Anthem's own uncertainties.