Revenue Cycle and Payer News – February 7, 2024

L.A. Care Health Plan, Inland Empire Health Plan, and the Hospital Association of Southern California Collaborate to Ensure Southern California Never Faces Another PPE Shortage
The U.S. suffered a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – there weren’t nearly enough gloves, medical masks, gowns, or N95 respirators. Healthcare workers compared themselves to firefighters putting out fires without water – a crisis that certainly resulted in more deaths than necessary. In August 2020, L.A. Care Health Plan, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), and the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC), in partnership with leaders from the business and economic development communities, formed the Southern California PPE Consortium to develop a plan that would ensure the region is not caught unprepared in the next health care emergency.

Get 24/7 Virtual Care with Teladoc Health
Amerihealth plans include virtual care benefits from Teladoc Health (Teladoc). AmeriHealth members have access to talk to a board-certified doctor or behavioral health professional for non-emergencies.

Keystone First Launches Initiative to Help Medicaid Members with Hypertension and Diabetes
Keystone First, a Blue Cross Medical Assistance (Medicaid) plan and the largest Medicaid plan in southeastern Pennsylvania, has launched a new initiative to help Medicaid members diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes better manage these chronic conditions.

Pennsylvania’s Insurance Marketplace, Pennie, Sets New Health Coverage Enrollment Record, Helping Nearly 435,000 Pennsylvanians Secure Health Insurance In 2024
Pennie – PA’s official health insurance marketplace – announced that a record nearly 435,000 Pennsylvanians are now covered with affordable, high-quality health coverage through Pennie.

The Cigna Group to Sell Medicare Businesses and CareAllies to Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC)
Global health company The Cigna Group announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement whereby Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) will acquire The Cigna Group’s Medicare Advantage, Cigna Supplemental Benefits, Medicare Part D and CareAllies businesses, for a total transaction value of approximately $3.7 billion.

Independence Blue Cross selects Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine, and Temple Health as recipients of the 2024 Clinical Care Innovation Grants
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) announced that it has selected three health system recipients for its 2024 Clinical Care Innovation Grants (CCI Grants). The grants are awarded to local health systems to support projects aimed at improving the quality and delivery of health care. The health systems receiving the four 2024 grants include Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine, and Temple Health.

Blue Distinction® Centers Promote Health Equity to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Improve Patient Outcomes
Starting this year, designated Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care across the country met enhanced health equity criteria in an effort to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal care in alignment with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) Maternal Health Equity Actions. Designations were effective January 1.

UnitedHealth Group Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results
UnitedHealth Group reported full year and fourth quarter 2023 results reflecting broad-based growth at Optum and UnitedHealthcare.

Humana Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results; Provides Initial Full Year 2024 Financial Guidance
Humana Inc. reported consolidated pretax results and net earnings (loss) per share (EPS) for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 (4Q23) versus the quarter ended December 31, 2022 (4Q22) and for the year ended December 31, 2023 (FY 2023) versus the year ended December 31, 2022 (FY 2022) as noted in the tables below.

Celebrating 10 Years of Care and Coverage
Sutter Health Plus is pleased to announce their latest milestone. As of Jan. 1, 2024, they are celebrating a decade of serving Northern California — 10 years of offering our community affordable access to Sutter’s highly respected network of physicians, clinicians, hospitals and care centers.

The Cigna Group Named No. 6 Among Best Corporate Citizens by JUST Capital and CNBC
The Cigna Group ranks #6 in America for its leadership as a corporate citizen—jumping 10 spots from last year—on the newly released list of Most JUST Companies by JUST Capital and CNBC. This year marks the fifth consecutive year that The Cigna Group has been recognized for its commitment to serving its customers, colleagues, communities, and the environment, and the second consecutive year it has led the health care industry in corporate citizenship.

UnitedHealthcare Launches Program to Address Type 2 Diabetes in Owensboro Community
UnitedHealthcare Catalyst™, a community-based program that uses data to tackle the highest-priority health challenges in local communities, has just launched in Owensboro, Kentucky, with a focus on type 2 diabetes.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and CVS Accountable Care collaborate to improve Medicare beneficiary care coordination in Ohio
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and CVS Accountable Care, part of CVS Health® announced the creation of an accountable care organization (ACO) to improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries by Ohio State providers in central Ohio.

Best health insurance companies in February 2024 by CNN – Finding the best health insurance companies has a major impact on how much you’ll pay and the type of coverage you’ll receive for medical issues you face.

No Surprises Act Continues to Prevent More than 1 Million Surprise Bills Per Month, While Provider Networks Grow by AHIP – A new survey from AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association highlights how the No Surprises Act continues to protect millions each year.

Historic 21.3 Million People Choose ACA Marketplace Coverage
The Biden-Harris Administration announced 21.3 million people selected an Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace plan during the 2024 Open Enrollment Period. Total plan selections include more than five million people — about a fourth — who are new to the Marketplaces and 16 million people who renewed their coverage.

Aetna Webcast Speaker Series

What: Preventive Mental Health Care and the Cost Savings to Employers Webinar
When: February 22, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Register Now

Join Aetna to learn how an employee assistance program (EAP) can complement an employer’s existing medical plan. The webinar will touch on the range of services EAPs include to affordably support employees’ unique needs. You’ll also learn how the Aetna Resource for Living® program is there for employees at every step of their care journey.

AHIP 2024 (@AHIPCoverage)

What: AHIP 2024
When: June 11-13, 2024
Where: Las Vegas, NV
Register Now

Experience what’s next in health care at AHIP 2024 (Formerly Institute & Expo), building on AHIP’s decades-long heritage of bringing together the people, ideas, and solutions guiding greater health for years to come.

2024 Consumer Experience & Digital Health Forum (@AHIPCoverage)

What: Consumer Experience & Digital Health Forum
When: September 24-26, 2024
Where: Nashville, TN
Register Now

Discover cutting-edge technologies and data-driven solutions that are shaping the future of the industry and gain valuable insights into the latest breakthroughs and best practices.