Plus, Centene to lay off 2K workers

This Week

Sep 30, 2023

Virgin Pulse, HealthComp to merge in $3B deal aimed at improving employer health


Costco expands healthcare footprint, teams up with Sesame to offer members $29 virtual care visits


Centene to lay off 2,000 employees


CMS: Most Medicare Advantage beneficiaries won't see premiums rise in 2024


CMS urged to change GLP-1 drug coverage determination - Paige Minemyer

 

Featured

Virgin Pulse, HealthComp to merge in $3B deal aimed at improving employer health

Virgin Pulse and benefits administrator HealthComp are set to merge in a $3 billion deal that aims to drive lower costs and improve outcomes for employers.
 

Top Stories

Costco expands healthcare footprint, teams up with Sesame to offer members $29 virtual care visits

The big-box retailer teamed up with startup Sesame to offer special discount pricing to Costco members on a broad range of outpatient medical care services, including telehealth visits.

Centene to lay off 2,000 employees

Health insurer Centene is laying off 3% of its workforce, but gave sparse details on the decision.

CMS: Most Medicare Advantage beneficiaries won't see premiums rise in 2024

CMS announced that nearly three-quarters of MA plan beneficiaries will not see their premiums rise.

CMS urged to change GLP-1 drug coverage determination

Critics say that the view CMS has of certain anti-obesity medications is outdated and could be covered under Medicare Part D.

Newer primary care disrupters constrain already limited supply of clinical providers, new analysis finds

As new primary care models, including retail health clinics, continue to scale, the national supply of clinical providers will become even more constrained. For health systems, hospitals and medical groups, competition for the shrinking pool of nurses and doctors will intensify, according to a new analysis.

Transcarent launches direct-to-employer solution in partnership with Advocate, Mount Sinai, other major health systems

Transcarent unveiled Tuesday new partnerships with a network of major health systems to help its employer customers offer their workers access to high-quality medical services at lower cost, according to CEO Glen Tullman.

What happens to health programs if the federal government shuts down?

The White House Office of Management and Budget's plan for the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 42% of its staff would be furloughed in a shutdown and 58% retained.

How Amazon's $4B investment in AI company Anthropic impacts healthcare

Amazon announced this week that it would invest up to $4 billion in artificial intelligence company Anthropic as the AI arms race heats up. The collaboration introduces more competition and more options for healthcare teams looking to innovate using different approaches or to get more tactical with their AI strategy, one health IT expert said.

Biden signs bill introducing more competition to US' organ transplant network

The bipartisan bill ends nearly four decades of an effective monopoly held by a third-party contractor and opens the door for more funding and network reforms floated by HRSA earlier this year.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

'Podnosis': Breaking down barriers to cancer screenings

In this week's episode of "Podnosis," Heather Landi from Fierce Healthcare engages in a conversation with Othman Laraki, co-founder and CEO of Color Health. They delve into strategies for boosting screenings and explore the partnership between Color Health and the American Cancer Society, aimed at making convenient cancer screenings more accessible.
 

Resources

Whitepaper

2023 Benchmark Report: The State of Healthcare Customer Experience

Benchmark report uncovers the increasing importance of communications for member loyalty and retention, with an emphasis on clarity and ease.
eBook

The 5 stages of building a modern healthcare contact center ebook

Patient expectations for great experiences are higher than ever, but fragmented patient journeys across channels and data silos are impacting patient experience, acquisition, and loyalty. Here is what your organization can do to match patient expectations.
 
 

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