Healthcare reform in the United States

Eleven Health Care Organizations Form Primary Care for America

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Health, Primary care, Healthcare reform in the United States, Fee-for-service, Health care, Preventive healthcare, Primary Care Behavioral health, Bureau of Primary Health Care

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Today, 11 organizations announced the formation of Primary Care for America , a collaboration focused on demonstrating the value of primary care, the need for increased primary care investment, and the importance of innovation in primary care delivery and payment models.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Today, 11 organizations announced the formation of Primary Care for America , a collaboration focused on demonstrating the value of primary care, the need for increased primary care investment, and the importance of innovation in primary care delivery and payment models.
  • Building on NASEM's report recommendations, Primary Care for America has outlined the following guiding principles to transform primary care in America:
    Our health system must prioritize the role of primary care physicians in promoting patient health and wellness instead of the current fee-for-service framework that narrowly incentivizes "sick" care.
  • "Operating on the front lines of health care, primary care clinicians are uniquely positioned to serve as the keystone of a modernized, high-functioning health care system that can enhance patient care and reduce health care costs," said Kyna Fong, PhD, CEO and co-founder, Elation Health, "Primary care clinicians provide valuable preventive care and are often the first line of defense in managing chronic diseases, identifying and diagnosing mental health illness, and reinforcing public health activities.
  • Primary Care for America (PCfA)is a collaboration focused on demonstrating the value of primary care, the need for increased primary care investment and the importance of innovation in primary care delivery and payment models.

Emtiro Health Partners With Innovaccer to Build a Population Health Analytics Platform for North Carolina Managed Medicaid Care Launch

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Innovaccer, Federal assistance in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, Medicaid, United States

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Emtiro Health, LLC, a North Carolina-based population health company, announced its partnership with leading healthcare technology company, Innovaccer Inc. to prepare for the North Carolina Managed Medicaid Care launch and deliver the best care to the Medicaid population.

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Emtiro Health, LLC, a North Carolina-based population health company, announced its partnership with leading healthcare technology company, Innovaccer Inc. to prepare for the North Carolina Managed Medicaid Care launch and deliver the best care to the Medicaid population.
  • Powered by the Innovaccer Health Cloud, Emtiro's Population Health Analytics Platform will meet the AMH Tier 3 requirements for providers across North Carolina.
  • In addition to the population health platform and care management services, Emtiro Health supports providers through its Practice Optimization team.
  • "Emtiro's Population Health Analytics Platform will help providers and care teams improve clinical outcomes for their Medicaid beneficiaries.

Icario and ConnectureDRX Partner to Deliver a Seamless Enrollment Experience for Medicare Advantage Members

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Healthcare in the United States, Managed care, Healthcare reform in the United States, Medicare Advantage, Medicare, Health in the United States, Health

MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Icario , the healthcare industrys largest health action company, today announced a new partnership with ConnectureDRX , the leading Medicare Advantage shopping and enrollment solution that provides consumers and agents with a superior experience for identifying which Medicare Advantage plan best fits their needs.

Key Points: 
  • MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Icario , the healthcare industrys largest health action company, today announced a new partnership with ConnectureDRX , the leading Medicare Advantage shopping and enrollment solution that provides consumers and agents with a superior experience for identifying which Medicare Advantage plan best fits their needs.
  • Under the partnership, ConnectureDRX will integrate the Icario Connect platform to create a seamless experience for both agents and new members.
  • "ConnectureDRX and Icarios combined capabilities create a win-win situation for Medicare Advantage plans because it helps them collect critical information to enable them to improve the member experience, which impacts satisfaction ratings," said Steve Wigginton, CEO of Icario.
  • "We help millions of consumers each year shop for and enroll in Medicare Advantage plans, and this partnership with Icario will make the experience for those consumers even stronger," said Grant Hoffman, executive vice president at ConnectureDRX.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans’ Administrative Cost Growth Decelerated in 2020

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Managed care, Accounting, Congressional News, Views, General Health, Professional services, Public policy, Government, Healthcare reform, Consumer, Health, Public policy, Other Health, Other Professional Services, Other Consumer, Insurance, Human resources, Finance, Consulting, Health maintenance organizations, Healthcare reform in the United States, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Insurance in the United States, Medicare, Blue Shield, Health

In 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans costs increased by 5.2% per member, down from 6.6% and 6.7% in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Key Points: 
  • In 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans costs increased by 5.2% per member, down from 6.6% and 6.7% in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
  • Navigator excerpts from the 2021 Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan edition of the Sherlock Benchmarks.
  • Surveyed Plans comprise 61% of the members of Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans not served by publicly-traded companies.
  • Besides the Blue Cross Blue Shield universe, other universes include Independent/Provider-Sponsored plans, Medicare plans and Medicaid plans.

BioCardia Announces Fourth Positive DSMB Review and Recommendation to Continue Phase III Pivotal CardiAMP Cell Therapy Heart Failure Study as Designed

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Branches of biology, Life sciences, Biology, Biotechnology, Cell biology, Federal assistance in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Cell therapy, Medicaid, Therapy, Stem cell

The DSMB performed a risk-benefit assessment, indicated no safety concerns, and recommended that the study continue as designed.

Key Points: 
  • The DSMB performed a risk-benefit assessment, indicated no safety concerns, and recommended that the study continue as designed.
  • CardiAMP Cell Therapy HF Trial enrollment remains a top priority as we begin to have the first control patients eligible for cross over to receive therapy.
  • The ongoing multi-center, double-blinded, randomized (3:2), controlled pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial is expected to enroll 260 patients at up to 40 centers nationwide.
  • The CardiAMP Cell Therapy Heart Failure Trial has been supported financially by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Alignment Healthcare Expands Its Health Plan Choices With Medicare Advantage Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans in Markets Nationwide

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 21, 2021
Health, Federal assistance in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, Liberalism in the United States, Medicare, Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Health care in the United States, United States

ORANGE, Calif., June 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicare Advantage company Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC) today announced the expansion of its plan portfolio to include new Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans in 28 markets nationwide beginning Jan. 1, 2022, pending regulatory approval.

Key Points: 
  • ORANGE, Calif., June 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicare Advantage company Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC) today announced the expansion of its plan portfolio to include new Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans in 28 markets nationwide beginning Jan. 1, 2022, pending regulatory approval.
  • New and existing Alignment Health Plan members in California, Arizona and North Carolina will be able to select from these plans during Medicares annual enrollment period, which begins Oct. 15.
  • Alignment Healthcare is a consumer-centric platform delivering customized health care in the United States to seniors and those who need it most, the chronically ill and frail, through its Medicare Advantage plans.
  • Alignment Healthcare offers health plan options through Alignment Health Plan and also partners with select health plans to help deliver better benefits at lower costs.

Alignment Healthcare Receives Conditional Approval to Expand Product Lines That Serve Individuals With Lower Incomes and Chronic Illnesses in 2022

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 21, 2021
Federal assistance in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Child poverty, Medicaid, Medicare, Health, United States

Individuals enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid can select one of these D-SNP or C-SNP options during Medicares annual enrollment period, which begins Oct. 15.

Key Points: 
  • Individuals enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid can select one of these D-SNP or C-SNP options during Medicares annual enrollment period, which begins Oct. 15.
  • These options ensure that the most vulnerable and underserved seniors can access plans that are rich in benefits and high in value, said Dawn Maroney, president, markets, Alignment Healthcare.
  • At Alignment Healthcare, we believe that health care is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, especially for our nations seniors, said John Kao, founder and CEO, Alignment Healthcare.
  • Alignment Healthcare offers health plan options through Alignment Health Plan and also partners with select health plans to help deliver better benefits at lower costs.

Mark Farrah Associates Assessed Year-End 2020 Health Insurance Profitability

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Professional services, Health, Insurance, Other Health, Finance, General Health, Banking, Insurance, Federal assistance in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Liberalism in the United States, Medicare, Health insurance, National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Mark Farrah Associates (MFA), www.markfarrah.com , released an analysis brief providing insights into year-end 2020 profitability for commercial and government lines of health insurance business.

Key Points: 
  • Mark Farrah Associates (MFA), www.markfarrah.com , released an analysis brief providing insights into year-end 2020 profitability for commercial and government lines of health insurance business.
  • Financial insights were gleaned from aggregated 2019 and 2020 National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) statutory financial data from MFAs Health Coverage Portal.
  • Mark Farrah Associates maintains financial data as well as enrollment and market share for the health insurance industry in its subscription-based Health Coverage Portal .
  • Our product portfolio includes Health Coverage Portal, County Health Coverage, 5500 Employer Health Plus, Medicare Business Online, Medicare Benefits Analyzer, and Health Plans USA.

Zotec Partners Offers Patients More Choices for a Convenient and Secure Financial Experience with Contactless Payment Options

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Health care quality, Healthcare reform in the United States, Healthcare in the United States, Payment systems, Articles

These touchless transactions enable patients with more choices to pay for services rendered while capturing up-front payment for healthcare providers.

Key Points: 
  • These touchless transactions enable patients with more choices to pay for services rendered while capturing up-front payment for healthcare providers.
  • Zotec patients using time-of-service payment options have increased by more than 55% in the past year.
  • By offering patients more payment choices and greater flexibility, healthcare providers support patients with a more streamlined experience."
  • Zotec has seen a significant increase in the percentage of patients paying their bills via electronic payment options versus the traditional paper or phone payment options.

The "Medicare Tax" That Never Made It To The Medicare Trust Fund - Transfer Those Taxes! Says The Senior Citizens League

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Income statement, Liberalism in the United States, Withholding taxes, Federal assistance in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, Medicare, Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Payroll, Expenditures in the United States federal budget, Medicare Advantage

When Medicare solvency is under discussion, the focus is often placed on the Medicare Part A Trust Fund (hospital insurance), which is primarily financed by payroll taxes.

Key Points: 
  • When Medicare solvency is under discussion, the focus is often placed on the Medicare Part A Trust Fund (hospital insurance), which is primarily financed by payroll taxes.
  • The last time Medicare Part A Trust Fund was forecast to become insolvent was in 2009.
  • That year, the Medicare Trust Fund was forecast to become insolvent by 2017.
  • According to the Federal Register "Amounts collected under section 1411 are not designated for the Medicare Trust Fund.