News

Medicaid-focused managed care company Centene is adding to its portfolio a data-drive health engagement platform, a sign of the increasing interest in wellness for both commercial and publicly-insured populations.

Amid a fractious public dispute with its chief rival, Highmark and its health system are making a community investment that, though unlikely to turn a profit, may reap returns in loyalty and reputation.

Competition for treating America's hepatitis C population is intensifying among pharmaceutical companies and benefits management firms, suggesting a thaw in the $1,000 per-pill price of last year's blockbuster.

Managed care organization Health Net Inc. said this week that it has formed an accountable care organization with John Muir Health, bringing together a network of medical centers and physicians to cover three counties in California.

While prices have increased everywhere, the rate of increase was much lower at hospitals in states using the site.

Firm uses software to quickly determine which employees are eligible for Medicaid, then helps those workers sign up.

Minneapolis-based health system Allina Health intends to work with Salt Lake City-based data warehousing company Health Catalyst on a 10-year initiative to build a new model for improving outcomes system-wide.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services has extended the contract with four private companies it previously hired to track down, remedy and often recover improper Medicare payments.

The Affordable Care Act is on the move in Western states, with the governors of Utah, Wyoming and Montana all working to hammer out deals with the Obama administration to expand Medicaid in ways tailored to each state.

The Washington State Hospital Association this week launched a transparency website, giving the public access to information and ratings on the services it provides.