Uncategorized


October 18, 2026

[HUM, ALHC, UNH, CVS, ELV, AGL, ASTH] Medicare Advantage: Friday’s Proposal Leaves Bigger Questions Unanswered

By Beth Steindecker

Questions remain about potential CY28 policy pressures on Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers [HUM, ALHC, CLOV, UNH, CVS, ELV, CNC, MOH] and value-based care providers [AGL, ASTH, PRVA, EVH, private Aledade], particularly Star Ratings, risk adjustment,…

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October 16, 2026

[NUTX, TeamHealth, Radiology Partners, SCP Health, UNH, CI, ELV] NSA Reform: Arbitration Under Fire, but Benchmark Shift Unlikely

By Beth Steindecker

Recent developments are raising the risk of future changes to the No Surprises Act, with implications for specialty physicians and hospitals [NUTX, private TeamHealth, Radiology Partners, SCP Health] and commercial insurers [UNH, CI, ELV, CVS]….

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October 15, 2026

DXCM: CONNECT Published, Now We Wait

By John Leppard

Yesterday’s publication of DXCM’s full non-insulin treated (NIT) Type 2 diabetes CONNECT study in NEJM is likely the last puzzle piece needed for the DME MACs to move forward with an expanded Medicare coverage proposal,…

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October 15, 2026

ASML: Revisiting the MATCH Act After Yesterday’s Earnings

By Joe Lieber

After yesterday’s earnings report for ASML (ASML), we wanted to update investors on the MATCH Act, which is being debated in Congress and would likely have a material impact on the company if passed. We…

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October 14, 2026

What a Democratic Congress Would Mean for Wall Street

By Joe Lieber

We continue to believe there is an 85% chance Democrats win control of the House and a 60% chance they also take the Senate in November. Given Democratic control of the House is very likely…

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October 9, 2026

(MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL, META, ORCL, CRWV, EQIX, DLR, NVDA, AMD) Blue Wave: AI & Data Center Taxes / Regs

By Joe Lieber

A proposal by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) this week likely gives investors an idea of what’s in store for the AI / data center complex if Democrats take control of Congress next month (our base…

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October 9, 2026

[HUM, CLOV, ALHC, UNH, CVS, ELV, CNC]: MA Star Ratings Raises Stake for Litigation Anew and Policy Debate

By Beth Steindecker

While last night’s widely telegraphed Star Ratings delivered clear winners [HUM, CLOV, Devoted Health (pvt)] and losers [ALHC] (and a mixed bag for UNH, CVS, ELV, CNC, and MOH), potentially underappreciated methodological choices by CMS…

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October 8, 2026

[RDNT, LMRI, Radiology Partners] CMS’s OPPS Imaging Site-Neutral Proposal Likely to Stick, Freestanding Imaging Still Poised to Benefit

By Beth Steindecker

Despite lopsided stakeholder opposition, we continue to expect CMS to finalize largely as initially sought its CY27 proposal cutting Medicare reimbursement for 337 common non-contrast imaging procedures at grandfathered off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) while…

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October 7, 2026

The Investigation Risk: What a Democratic Congress Would Target in 2027

By Joe Lieber

It is no surprise that a Democratic takeover of even one House of Congress will lead to ambitious, aggressive and continuous investigations into the Trump administration, President Trump’s family and associates, and companies that have…

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October 6, 2026

[HUM, ALHC, UNH, CVS, ELV, CNC, CLOV] Appeals Court Seems Skeptical of CMS But RADV Overhang Not Going Away Completely

By Beth Steindecker

Following yesterday’s oral appellate arguments over HUM’s challenge to Medicare Advantage (MA) risk adjustment-related audit rules, we believe a majority of the three-judge panel is likely to side with the company and the lower court…

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