Collaboration News:
Cincinnati Children’s and CareSource agree to new Marketplace insurance contract
Cincinnati Children’s and health insurer CareSource (@caresource) have agreed to a new contract on a Marketplace insurance option, which will provide coverage for about 1,000 families who receive care at the medical center in Southwest Ohio.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Headway Announce Collaboration to Enhance Mental Healthcare System
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (@carefirst), a not-for-profit health plan in the mid-Atlantic region, announced a collaboration with Headway, a tech-enabled company that expands access to in-network mental health care by removing barriers faced by providers, payers, and the people they serve, to support CareFirst’s mental healthcare system.
athenahealth Implements DrFirst’s Digital Engagement Solution to Encourage Patients to Follow Prescribed Treatment Plans
athenahealth, a provider of network-enabled software and services for medical groups and healthcare organizations nationwide, and health technology pioneer DrFirst (@DrFirst) announced they are partnering to help improve medication adherence and patient outcomes. athenahealth’s large user base will now be able to send patient medication notifications powered by DrFirst’s RxInform to reduce prescription abandonment and help patients adhere to their recommended medication therapies.
Company News:
Humana Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results; Raises Full Year 2022 Adjusted EPS Financial Guidance
Humana Inc. (@Humana) reported consolidated pretax results and diluted earnings per common share for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 (2Q22) versus the quarter ended June 30, 2021 (2Q21).
UnitedHealthcare To Eliminate Out-of-Pocket Costs on Several Prescription Drugs, Including Insulin, for Eligible Members
UnitedHealthcare (@uhc) will eliminate out-of-pocket costs in standard fully insured group plans for certain preferred prescription drugs, including insulin and several drugs used to treat emergencies such as severe allergic reactions, hypoglycemia, opioid overdoses, and acute asthma attacks.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Analysis Shows Premium Costs Could Rise More Than 20% or Even Double If Congress Does Not Extend Affordable Care Act Tax Credits
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (@BCBSAssociation) released an analysis of inflation data that shows how prices at the pump and the grocery store pale in comparison to the steep rise in health care costs if Congress does not extend critical insurance tax credits before they expire. Unless Congress extends health care tax credits expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the average American family would see their health insurance bill increase by 21%, while low-income consumers in some areas of the United States could see their bill double.
Cigna Declares Quarterly Dividend
The Board of Directors of Cigna Corporation (@cigna) declared a cash dividend of $1.12 per share of Cigna common stock, payable on September 22, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 7, 2022.
Making the Cut, Milestones, Accolades, Awards and More
Aetna Better Health of California awarded NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction
Aetna Better Health of California, a CVS Health company (@cvshealth), announced it has earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Multicultural Health Care Distinction.
Humana ranked No. 1 among health insurers for Customer Experience
For two years in a row, Humana ranked No. 1 among health insurers for customer experience (CX) quality in Forrester’s proprietary 2022 U.S. Customer Experience Benchmark survey.
CareSource Earns Great Place to Work Certification™
CareSource, a national nonprofit health plan, is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at CareSource. This year, 82% of employees said it’s a great place to work – 25 points higher than the average U.S. company.
Product News:
Aetna CVS Health to enter the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual insurance exchange marketplace in select counties in California for January 1, 2023
Aetna, a CVS Health company, is entering the individual insurance exchange marketplace in California (in select counties) with its Aetna CVS Health co-branded insurance product, providing affordable access to health care for more Californians.
Policy News:
New HHS Report Shows National Uninsured Rate Reached All-Time Low in 2022
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (@hhsgov) released a new report showing that the national uninsured rate reached an all-time low of 8 percent in early 2022, with 5.2 million people having gained coverage since 2020, coinciding with the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration in January 2021. The report, which analyzes data from the National Health Interview Survey and American Community Survey, shows the dramatic impact of Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase health care access and lower costs for America’s families through the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced Marketplace subsidies, the continuous enrollment provision in Medicaid, several recent state Medicaid expansions, and substantial enrollment outreach by the Administration in 2021 and 2022.
For 57 years, #Medicaid and #Medicare have provided millions of Americans at every stage of life with access to comprehensive & affordable health care. Here’s to many more years as we continue to advance wellness & #HealthEquity! pic.twitter.com/qSQ9Zx9NGb
— CMSGov (@CMSGov) August 1, 2022
HCNR Episode Featuring UnitedHealth Group:
Healthcare Rap: UnitedHealth Group’s Disruptive DNA
UnitedHealth Group is a Fortune 5 company — 5x the size of the largest health system — and competes with everyone, including themselves. Does that make them frenemies, and what does their market presence signal about their disruptive DNA? Jared and Zain dig in with James Gardner. All that, plus the Flava of the Week about crossing the chasm. How do we set the foundation for the widespread adoption of Consumer Transformation?
To Read:
The Uninsured Rate Is Down, Just In Time For Congress To Debate Health Care Again By Jonathan Cohn, Huffington Post – The percentage of Americans without health insurance has fallen again, according to a government study released early Thursday. But whether that progress continues will depends greatly on what happens in Congress in the next few weeks.
Consumers Want Better Digital Tools for Finding Health Care: Survey by United HealthGroup – Optum survey shows consumer expectations for accessing care have transformed, calling for improvements in the ‘digital front door’ for providers and health plans.
New Survey: Consumers Say Employer-Provided Coverage Vital to Maintaining Health and Financial Well Being During Pandemic by AHIP (@AHIPCoverage) – As the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt around the world, the vast majority of respondents (75%) in a recent AHIP Coverage@Work survey report that their employer-provided coverage was important to maintaining the health and financial security of them and their families during the pandemic. A large majority (71%) also reported that employer-provided coverage was helpful in accessing services like free testing, COVID-19 vaccinations, and telehealth appointments.
Upcoming Events:
AHIP’s Consumer Experience & Digital Health Forum (@ahipcoverage)
What: Consumer Experience & Digital Health Forum
When: September 12 – 14, 2022
Where: Nashville, TN
Twitter: #AHIPDigital
Register here.
AHIP’s Consumer Experience & Digital Health Forum – Be part of this powerful event that convenes progressive leaders to explore the evolution of consumer expectations, digital health best practices, and the shifting landscape of care delivery. You’ll connect and share insights with C-Suite colleagues from health insurance providers, health systems and providers, integrated delivery networks, retail care, new entrants, government officials, and emerging digital health technology companies