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Weekly Digest

This Week

Feb 11, 2023

With Oak Street Health deal, CVS pushes healthcare ambitions as investment in value-based care heats up

VA dodges ivermectin prescriptions that cost payers millions: study

UnitedHealthcare rolls out new member reward program with focus on wellness - Robert King

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With Oak Street Health deal, CVS pushes healthcare ambitions as investment in value-based care heats up

By Heather Landi

At the end of 2021, CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch laid out a strategic vision for the drugstore retail chain to expand beyond pharmacy services by focusing on health services and primary care. With its proposed $10.6 billion acquisition of Medicare-focused player Oak Street Health, CVS is moving forward aggressively on that strategy.

VA dodges ivermectin prescriptions that cost payers millions: study

By Frank Diamond

Health insurers lost millions allowing ivermectin to be prescribed to fight COVID-19—a fate that the VA avoided.

UnitedHealthcare rolls out new member reward program with focus on wellness

By Paige Minemyer

UnitedHealthcare is rolling out a new wearables-based rewards program for members and their spouses.

CVS finally makes primary care play, scooping up Oak Street Health in $10.6B deal

By Paige Minemyer

Rumors swirled last month at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference that CVS Health had finally found its primary care play: acquiring Oak Street Health. The healthcare giant confirmed those rumors Wednesday morning.

A new COVID-19 subvariant is a growing concern for experts. Here's why

By Frank Diamond

It’s way too early to predict just whether the new COVID-19 sub-subvariant CH.1.1 will counter strides made in reducing the pandemic’s hold. Nonetheless, the CDC expects that recent progress in reducing cases and hospitalizations might hit a snag.

Judge hands providers another win by striking down surprise billing arbitration process

By Robert King

A federal judge struck down the arbitration process for deciding out-of-network charge disputes between payers and providers, delivering another key win to providers.

Centene CEO says final Medicare Advantage risk adjustment rule leaves 'open questions'

By Paige Minemyer

Centene posted a $213 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the insurer's earnings report issued Tuesday morning.

Tallahassee hospital continues to operate offline, working with FBI to address 'IT security event'

By Heather Landi

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is diverting some emergency patients to other hospitals and canceling non-emergency surgical and outpatient procedures after an IT security issue late Thursday.

FTC reportedly hiring outside economists to probe Amazon's One Medical deal

By Heather Landi

Amazon's One Medical deal could be facing some major roadblocks as the Federal Trade Commission is reportedly stepping up scrutiny into the proposed $3.9 billion acquisition.

More physicians died from COVID-19 in pandemic's early days than expected: study

By Frank Diamond

Healthcare workers on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19 risked their lives, and that’s especially true in the early days of the pandemic before there were vaccines. A study in JAMA Internal Medicine says that 622 more doctors died during that period than expected.

Fierce podcasts

Don't miss an episode

'Podnosis': What it takes for providers to care for the Latino population and how payers can stay competitive with ACA's growth

In this week's episode of "Podnosis," we discuss how providers can and should recognize and respond to the culturally diverse needs of the Latino community. We also talk about what private healthcare plans can do given the explosion of enrollment in ACA exchanges.

'Podnosis': What hospitals will need to do to overcome financial woes, and building equity measures into value-based care

'The Top Line': 2022's top acquisitions and what Amgen's $28B Horizon buy means for M&A in 2023

Resources

Whitepaper

Upcoming Fierce Events

27-28

Feb

Fierce Drug Safety Summit

Arlington, VA

14-15

Mar

BD&L Summit for Life Sciences

San Francisco, CA

20-22

Mar

Trial Master File Summit

West Palm Beach, FL

3-4

Apr

Pharma PR & Communications Summit West

San Diego, CA

1-3

May

Medical Affairs Strategic Summit East

May 1-3, 2023 | Jersey City, NJ

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Weekly Digest

This Week

Featured

With Oak Street Health deal, CVS pushes healthcare ambitions as investment in value-based care heats up

Top Stories

VA dodges ivermectin prescriptions that cost payers millions: study

UnitedHealthcare rolls out new member reward program with focus on wellness

CVS finally makes primary care play, scooping up Oak Street Health in $10.6B deal

A new COVID-19 subvariant is a growing concern for experts. Here's why

Judge hands providers another win by striking down surprise billing arbitration process

Centene CEO says final Medicare Advantage risk adjustment rule leaves 'open questions'

Tallahassee hospital continues to operate offline, working with FBI to address 'IT security event'

FTC reportedly hiring outside economists to probe Amazon's One Medical deal

More physicians died from COVID-19 in pandemic's early days than expected: study

Don't miss an episode

'Podnosis': What it takes for providers to care for the Latino population and how payers can stay competitive with ACA's growth

'Podnosis': What hospitals will need to do to overcome financial woes, and building equity measures into value-based care

'The Top Line': 2022's top acquisitions and what Amgen's $28B Horizon buy means for M&A in 2023

Resources

Improve the Mental Health Patient Experience with Revenue Cycle Management Technology

The Change Healthcare 2022 Revenue Cycle Denials Index

Humanizing Revenue Cycle Management

The Business Case for Digital Health: Chronic care solutions to cut costs and improve member outcomes

Interoperability: Why It’s Critical to Health Plans

Upcoming Fierce Events