Healthcare Payers / Providers


October 14, 2024

Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Rule – Full Reprieve Near Term Unlikely, Potential for Smaller Relief

By Beth Steindecker

Key Takeaways: Nursing homes and their post-acute care REIT landlords have legal and legislative reasons to be hopeful about efforts to kill CMS’ minimum staffing rule, but we are skeptical they will secure a full…

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October 11, 2024

Negative Tone Confirmed for CY25 Medicare Advantage Stars and Beyond as Goalposts Continue to Move

By Beth Steindecker

Key Takeaways: As we expected, CMS’s release of the CY25 Medicare Advantage (MA)/Part D star ratings continues to limit program “largesse,” making bonus awards more selective and ratings harder to maintain YoY. For CY25, fewer…

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October 9, 2024

Harris’ In-Home Care, Vision, Hearing Aid Medicare Coverage Proposal – Likely an Undelivered Promise

By Beth Steindecker

We are skeptical of enactment for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign proposal to add a Medicare in-home care benefit, along with vision and hearing aid coverage, even if she were to win (our base case)…

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October 8, 2024

Negative Tone Ahead for Medicare Advantage Stars While Awaiting CY25 Awards

By Beth Steindecker

Key Takeaways: Developments involving Humana (HUM) and UnitedHealth (UNH) last week show CMS remains intent on limiting the financial “largesse” insurers receive in its Medicare Advantage (MA)/Part D (PDP) star rating quality bonus program by…

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