The law allows #pharmacists to provide medication management and test and treat common conditions such as strep throat, urinary tract infections and the flu. #Alaska #ScopeOfPractice

The bill also allows patients to establish relationships with physicians through telehealth interactions and by reducing barriers for ambulance services. Remember, though, #ERISA pre-emption applies here too, so many employer-based plans are exempt from the mandate. #Missouri

The bill also requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study of mandated health insurance coverage for certain medical treatments or services. Just remember, folks, that #ERISA pre-emption applies to a lot of plans. #Connecticut

The push to name and shame companies reflects dueling narratives about the biggest abusers of the joint state-federal #Medicaid program.

The OSU Wexner Medical Center, The James Cancer Center and OSU-affiliated physicians will be out of Humana’s insurance network October 1. #ohio benefitmims.com?p=2986

The #insurance industry also features a steep structural pyramid, with roughly 1.4 million insurance professionals aged 55 or older, compared to just a fraction of that between the ages of 20 and 24.

YIKES. Any registered agent or broker, not only the agent of record, can pull a consumer’s full enrollment record by entering a first name, last name and date of birth. #ACAEnrollments #ExchangePlans

Some of you coming to this page may be looking for the 2027 ACA rate filings. They're not here anymore, and here's the reason why.

In his July 10 decision, Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. wrote that the court lacked jurisdiction over most of the counts and ruled the claims were “collateral attacks” on the arbitration decisions. #NSA #NoSurprisesAct #IDR #Litigation

The new #legislation is intended to prevent #Germans from having to pay even more for #HealthInsurance. Currently, 17.5 per cent of gross salaries is contributed to the statutory health insurance system. #Germany

These #reforms — which Green signed during two separate ceremonies — help ensure people receive screenings, treatment and support they need without risking financial stability. #Hawaii #Legislation

UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna are fiercely fighting back against laws targeting large health coverage conglomerates. #Legislation #AntiTrust #BreakUpBigMedicineAct

#ECUHealth and Martin County officials are now shifting to the logistical work of resurrecting #MartinGeneral. #RuralHospitals #EmergencyHospitals #NorthCarolina #EasternNC #ENC

A state law with little impact on a health plan's administration might survive #ERISA preemption, but the #Arkansas requirements would cause too much interference. #litigation

The #StateHealthPlan isn't going back to the way it was. It's now going to have a #TieredNetwork. #NorthCarolina

Nearly half of #retirees (46%) left the workforce earlier than planned. The average actual retirement age was 62, while the average age workers expect to retire remains 65. buff.ly/hFNez5L

"This administration has different priorities and would prefer a contract that is more in line with those priorities." #Sigh #PlusCaChange #BCBSNC #Aetna #NorthCarolina #NCStateHealthPlan

" #MedicareAdvantage has never saved a penny. It actually costs taxpayers more each year while offering consumers less." Tell us how you really feel? #ButHesNotWrong #Medicare #upcoding

Employers can expect a growing number of #IDR claims from out-of-network clinicians. The problem of excess payments under IDR arbitration likely needs to be resolved eventually through new legislation. #NoSurprisesAct

The #Virginia state budget that took effect last week includes $150 million to help Virginians afford monthly premiums, partly offsetting the loss of federal enhanced #subsidies at the beginning of this year. #ACASubsidies #ACA

#MemorialHermann has made the decision to wind down and close the Memorial Hermann Commercial Health Plans. The last renewals will be offered for November 1, 2026. #Texas #shutdown #payvider

The policy shift comes as #MissionHealth has worked to stabilize its #nursing workforce in recent years. #Asheville #NorthCarolina

Good solid analysis of some of the most problematic #ProviderNetwork contract terms. Aimed at benefit specialists, though, so I'll want to go through later to prepare a "translation" for lay readers.

The contract between UT Health East Texas and UnitedHealthcare expires on August 31, 2026. #texas benefitmims.com?p=2932

While less than 10% of Americans get their health coverage through the #individual market, many of the factors driving premiums are similar across all #commercial plans, and thus #ACARateFilings provide insight into these cost drivers. #analysis

It might be a surprise to consumers that #PrivateEquity may have as much as a 49% or even a 97% ownership of a big-name #nonprofit #hospital.

Little Colorado Medical Center and Arizona Blue reached a new contract agreement on June 30. Patients should experience no disruptions.

NewYork-Presbyterian and UnitedHealthcare have agreed on a further extension of in-network coverage through July 31, 2026. #newyork benefitmims.com?p=2926

When patients choose an insurer — or even a new plan with the same insurer — they may lose access to medications or doctors that they have had for years. #ProviderNetworks

The safety-net entitlement is viewed as a test case for the country at a time when many states are coping with rising costs of care for aging populations. #LongTermCare #Washington

There is a post on LinkedIn indicating a contract dispute between #Aetna and #FloridaWomensCare, with the contract ending 7/31. However, I cannot find any announcements or press. Unless/until I can do so, I have to treat it as a #rumor. (If you have anything, please send my way.)

Check it out: #DataVisualization tool for #hospital concentrations. Shows several markets with #monopolies and also ranks the states by hospital concentration. I'm hardly surprised to see my area in the "monopoly" rating group...

FYI: I am aware of multiple reports about an agreement between Little Colorado Medical Center and #Arizona Blue. However, I've seen no reliable, publicly quotable sources to confirm it yet. I am monitoring and will post if/when I see a notice that I can cite.

The contract between Ascension St. Vincent and UnitedHealthcare expires on July 31, 2026. #indiana benefitmims.com?p=2923

Medical costs rose faster than premiums, creating losses and prompting employers to reconsider how they offer health benefits. #EmployeeBenefits #HealthInsurance #MedicalCosts #SmallGroup #IFP

CarolinaEast Medical Center and UnitedHealthcare have agreed to extend their Medicare Advantage contract through December 31. #northcarolina benefitmims.com?p=2921

Several states enacted #Hospital #PriceCaps in 2025, and the 2026 legislative sessions have brought a fresh wave of proposals. #MedicalCosts

Health First and UnitedHealthcare are announcing they signed a new contract on June 30th. There should be no coverage disruptions.

#BCBSMA said it will map all merged market PPO and EPO groups to the closest corresponding HMO Blue New England plan. Groups 10+ needing #PPO plans will either have to use #LevelFunded plans or a #PEO. Everyone else? No options. #Massachusetts

The Basic plans would have come with lower premiums because they included markedly higher deductibles and a narrower, largely in-state network of providers. #Vermont #BCBSVT

The contract between Community Health System and Cigna is scheduled to expire on July 15. Negotiations are continuing. #california benefitmims.com?p=2915

Eight things to know about the #lawsuit brought against the #TrumpAdmin by half the states over #Medicaid work requirements.

Only about 20% of Europeans have #AirConditioning in their homes. In the U.S., it's about 90%. #mortality cc: @meepbobeep

Current participants do not need to take immediate action with their healthcare plans, but they will need to sign up for a new plan during open enrollment. #NewHampshire #Ambetter

University of California Health and Cigna have extended their contract through July 31, 2026, while they finalize details of their new contract. #california benefitmims.com?p=2912

In Maryland, the average requested rate increase is 13.1% for small group plans and 13.7% for individual plans. #maryland benefitmims.com?p=2894

Corewell Health and UnitedHealthcare have reached a multi-year agreement, retroactive to May 1, 2026. #michigan benefitmims.com?p=2892

Main Line Health and UnitedHealthcare have reached an "agreement in principle" about their contract. Patients should experience no disruptions. #pennsylvania benefitmims.com?p=2884

Community Health System and Blue Shield have reached an agreement for a new multi-year contract. #california benefitmims.com?p=2880

In Indiana, the average requested rate increase is 14.1% for small group plans and 18.9% for individual plans. #indiana benefitmims.com?p=2868