Revenue Cycle and Payer News 7-30-2019

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Posted By: Annmarie Budniak July 30, 2019

In the News:

House Votes Overwhelmingly to Repeal Obamacare “Cadillac” tax
CBS News reports that the Democratic-led House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted to repeal a tax on high-cost health insurance plans under Obamacare known as the “Cadillac tax.”

Scrutiny of CVS-Aetna deal shows AMA’s powerful impact
The AMA (@AmerMedicalAssn) has presented evidence showing that the CVS-Aetna merger will hurt competition and increase premiums in the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) market. Notably, prior to joining forces, Aetna and CVS had competed against each other for PDP customers on factors such as quality and price.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Statement on Energy and Commerce Markup on Surprise Billing
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (@BCBSAssociation) Senior Vice President Justine Handelman issued a statement in response to the new amendment being considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee during today’s markup on surprise billing.

Study: Enhanced Health Benefits from a Tailored Medication Management Approach for Medicare Advantage Part D Participants
Key findings from a Humana Inc. (@humana) study, published in the June 2019 issue of Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy (JMCP), highlight the differences in effectiveness between medication therapy management (MTM) services and the untapped potential for certain interventions.

Financial News:

Centene Corporation Reports 2019 Second Quarter Results And Increases 2019 Guidance
Centene Corporation (@Centene) announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019, reporting diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.18, and Adjusted Diluted EPS of $1.34.

Anthem Reports Second Quarter 2019 Results, Raises Full Year Outlook
Anthem, Inc. (@AnthemInc) reported second quarter financial results driven by strong revenue growth and steady progress on the implementation of IngenioRx.

Collaboration News:

UnitedHealth Group Announces Atlanta HBCU Partnership, $8.25 Million Investment in the Education of Future Data Scientists
UnitedHealth Group (@UnitedHealthGrp) and the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC), the oldest and largest consortium of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), are partnering on a new initiative to prepare students to meet the growing demand in the marketplace for data analytics experts.

Cigna Collaborates with Memorial Sloan Kettering to Improve Care for People Undergoing Cancer Treatment
Global health service company Cigna and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have started a program that aims to enhance care for people receiving chemotherapy to treat any type of cancer.

Making the Cut:

WellCare Receives NCQA Quality Accreditation for Its Medicare Advantage Plan in California
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (@wellcare_health) announced the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded accreditation status to its Medicare Advantage plan in California.

Apollo Managed Care attains URAC Health Content Provider Accreditation
Apollo Managed Care, Inc. (Apollo), an organization offering medical review criteria and clinical guidelines, announced that it has earned Health Content Provider Accreditation from URAC – an independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation. By achieving URAC Accreditation, Apollo has demonstrated a comprehensive commitment to quality care, improved processes and better patient outcomes.

Cigna and Express Scripts Named Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion
Cigna (@cigna) and its Express Scripts business were both named as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion after earning scores of 100 on the 2019 Disability Equality Index® (DEI). The index is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN, and measures inclusion across six categories: culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices, community engagement, supplier diversity and non-U.S. operations.

 

Upcoming Events

National Conferences on Medicare, Medicaid, and Dual Eligibles
When: September 23 – 26, 2019
Save when you register by July 29, 2019.
Where: Washington, D.C.
Twitter: @ahipcoverage

National Conferences on Medicare, Medicaid, and Dual Eligibles – Health care remains at the top of the to-do list for the administration, lawmakers, and health care professionals. Yet as the intensity of debate surrounding health care intensifies, one thing remains the same: changes to health care impact people in very real and personal ways. This fall, join health care experts, government officials, academics, health insurance providers, and industry thought leaders as we discuss strategies to make the Medicare and Medicaid programs better for the people they serve while making them affordable and fiscally sustainable.

TPA Connect
When: November 5 – 6, 2019
Save when you register by July 29, 2019.
Where: Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore
Twitter: @HCAAinfo
Hashtag: #TPAConnect

TPA Connect – HCAA is proud to announce its inaugural TPA Connect event. This intimate gathering of TPA leaders serves as an important step in expanding the networking, education and advocacy reach of HCAA to new faces in new markets.