News Briefs
✦ UnitedHealth Group’s fourth-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell 35% from the prior year to $2.52, as “care patterns normalized, while COVID-19 costs rose, and further rebates were recognized...
Centene Boosts Behavioral Health Offerings With Magellan Buy
Following the recent acquisition of PANTHERx Rare, LLC and the first- quarter 2020 addition of WellCare Health Plans, Inc., Centene Corp. kicked off the new year with an agreement to purchase Magellan Health, Inc. f...
2021 Outlook: COVID Will Have Lasting Impact on MAO Investment Targets
With a new administration that will be focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and improving health care coverage, industry experts do not anticipate major changes to the Medicare Advantage program, although many agree the...
MCOs Mull Managing Care for Duals in FFS Medicare Demo
With the aim of improving care for dual eligible individuals while promoting value-based care in fee-for-service Medicare, CMS last month introduced a new option for certain Medicaid managed care organizations to be...
2021 Outlook: COVID Vax, State Budget Issues Add to Medicaid MCOs’ Urgency to Address Disparities
As the novel coronavirus erupted across the U.S. and created a widespread economic downturn, it led to increased enrollment in state Medicaid programs and created devastating budget shortfalls for states. Yet Congre...
News Briefs
✦ Humana Inc. in a new lawsuit alleges that Kentucky violated its five Medicaid contracts by allowing Molina Healthcare, Inc. to acquire the Medicaid membership of Passport Health Plan, reports Louisville Busines...
COVID Vax Rollout May Hinge On MCO Messaging, Tracking
With a recent emergency use authorization (EUA) granted to the first COVID-19 vaccine and another one expected at press time, states and the federal government this week began rolling out the vaccine to health care ...
Marketers Report Slow Start to AEP, Rise in Digital Channels
Preliminary observations from several Medicare Advantage marketing experts indicate that during the 2021 Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), consumers were slow to make enrollment decisions early on, and switchin...
Advocates, MCOs Urge Longer Postpartum Medicaid Coverage
As states face intense budget pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic and beneficiary advocates urge the federal government to provide additional financial support to state Medicaid programs, extending postpartum car...
BMA, Avalere Research Illustrates MA Outperformance on Multiple Care Measures
A new study comparing quality outcomes for Medicare Advantage enrollees vs. traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries found that high-need, high-cost populations enrolled in MA had better care experie...