Healthcare Payers / Providers


June 8, 2025

[HCA, THC, CYH, hospitals] White House Memo Adds Another Wrinkle to State-Directed Payment Programs in Medicaid

By Beth Steindecker

A new complication has arisen for hospitals [HCA, THC, CYH, ARDT, UHS, non-profit / municipally-backed facilities] – and to a lesser extent nursing homes, behavioral providers, and certain physicians – in the debate over payment…

Read More >>

June 6, 2025

Thoughts on Medicare Savings Ideas in Reconciliation

By Beth Steindecker

Yesterday’s news reports that Senate Republicans are considering and discussing Medicare savings policies to add to the reconciliation bill for lowering the overall deficit and/or filling any potential hole from softening some of the House’s…

Read More >>

June 3, 2025

Potential Targets for Change Among Healthcare Reconciliation Policies [THC, ARDT, CNC, MOH, ELV]

By Beth Steindecker

As we await the Senate’s likely release of its reconciliation measure over the next week or so, we continue to expect the upper chamber to smooth the edges around some of the House-passed reconciliation bill’s…

Read More >>

May 21, 2025

Medicare Advantage: Ramping Up RADV Audits Clearly a Threat, But Does It Head Off Other Risks? [HUM, UNH, CVS, ELV, ALHC]

By Beth Steindecker

CMS’s announcement late Wednesday to turn the dial up on its risk-adjustment data verification (RADV) audits of Medicare Advantage (MA) contracts with an eye toward the entire landscape raises legitimate fears of recouping sizable past…

Read More >>

May 19, 2025

Expected Federal Report on Fertility Benefits: Regulatory Recommendations Likely Incremental [PGNY]

By Beth Steindecker

Since we are at the 90-day mark after February 18 release of the White House’s Executive Order (EO) supportive of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), there is a hope that the Trump administration’s anticipated report of potential…

Read More >>

May 16, 2025

[CNC, MOH, ELV, OSCR, ARDT, THC, ACHC]: What’s Next for Healthcare in House’s Reconciliation Proposal

By Beth Steindecker

As we head into this weekend, below are our latest thoughts on the healthcare components of the reconciliation bill and where things stand and what changes may be in store. This afternoon’s sidelining of the…

Read More >>

May 13, 2025

[ELV, CNC, MOH, UNH, CVS] CMS Managed Care Provider Tax Proposal

By Beth Steindecker

Yesterday’s CMS proposal confirms our suspicion that the agency would seek to tighten state provider taxes – primarily those on managed care [ELV, UNH, CNC, MOH, CVS, CI, OSCR]– used to secure sizable federal Medicaid…

Read More >>

May 12, 2025

Healthcare & Reconciliation: Worst Case Avoided

By Beth Steindecker

The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s (E&C) reconciliation draft (text and summary) seems to largely align with our expectations regarding cuts / risks in Medicaid, Obamacare, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM).  While there were still…

Read More >>

May 7, 2025

PBMs: Death by a Thousand Cuts? [CI, CVS, UNH, ELV, GDRX]

By Beth Steindecker

The list of potential state and federal legislative threats to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) [CI, CVS, UNH, ELV, GDRX] seems to be growing, even though there has not been widespread enactment of these bills. Putting…

Read More >>

May 6, 2025

Optimism for Longer Term Resolution on Obamacare eAPTCs Remains but CMS Suggests Expiration [OSCR, CNC, MOH, ELV, HCA, THC]

By Beth Steindecker

Notwithstanding a recent CMS memo advising insurers to design their Obamacare plan bids assuming expiration of the enhanced premium subsidies at year-end, we remain optimistic that Congress ultimately settles on a middle ground (revision and…

Read More >>