The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is calling on Congress in a drafted recommendation to update its 2024 Medicare-based physician payment rates for 2025 by the existing amount under law plus 50% of the Medicare Economic Index’s projected increase. “CMS currently forecast a 2.6 percent increase in the MEI for 2025. If this forecast stays the
MedPAC Pushes Inflation-Based Medicare Rates Read More »
Rite Aid on Tuesday received a bankruptcy judge’s approval to sell its Elixir Solutions pharmacy-benefit manager business for $575 million to MedImpact Healthcare Systems. MedImpact, also a pharmacy-benefit management company, had been the stalking horse bidder for Elixir when Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in October. Rite Aid conducted an auction process in bankruptcy, but
Rite Aid Approved to Sell Elixir Business for $575M Read More »
Congress is once again being urged to reverse a cut to physicians’ Medicare payments, prompting calls for a broader overhaul of how the program reimburses doctors. Congress is still stuck in an annual dance of being pressured to increase physician payments, even after Washington nearly a decade ago put an end to the despised “doc
Congress Faces Pressure to Reverse Doctors’ Payment Cuts — Again Read More »
The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing UPMC’s latest proposed health system acquisition, a development that has derailed similar deals. The FTC has reached out to Allegheny Health Network, Penn Highlands Healthcare and other medical centers for comment on UPMC’s proposed acquisition of Washington Health System as part of a regulatory review that includes the state
FTC Steps into UPMC-Washington Health System Merger Talks Read More »
The attempted merger between leading biopharma data provider IQVIA and pharma ad specialist DeepIntent has been put on ice after continued scrutiny from the U.S. government. In 2022, IQVIA attempted to acquire Propel, the owner of DeepIntent, though the financial details of the proposed deal remain unknown. However, last summer, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
IQVIA, DeepIntent in ‘Incredibly Difficult Moment’ Abandon Merger amid FTC Scrutiny Read More »
Healthcare private equity firms are in the crosshairs of the US antitrust agencies, the White House, state legislators, and some prominent members of Congress. The risk factors are intensifying as Congress contemplates legislation specifically targeting healthcare private equity, and as the FTC focuses more attention on this industry. The current regulatory uncertainty looms large, and
US Government Targets Healthcare Private Equity: Top Points for Risk Management Read More »
This year will see a continued proliferation of enforcement against health-care fraud, with old and new theories. Some hot spots for enforcement will involve cases about new technologies; data outliers; entities perceived as exploiting ambiguous requirements; patient data safeguards; allegations of kickbacks, lack of medical necessity, and services not provided; and Covid-19-related cases. Some types
Health-Care Fraud Scrutiny Heats up for Companies, Providers Read More »
Entering agreements with management service organizations (MSOs) may be an alternate route to joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions for hospices seeking to build scale and sustainability in today’s regulatory and financial climates. A slew of regulatory moves have taken place in 2023 that can have an impact on future deal-making in the hospice space, mainly
Hospices Exploring MSOs amid Evolving Consolidation Rules Read More »
Health providers and insurers will have to navigate a bevy of state laws that took effect with the new year, covering key issues such as reproductive care, patient documentation, wages and reimbursement. Here are some of the laws affecting healthcare. Read the full article: Here Are the New State Healthcare Laws Taking Effect in 2024
Here Are the New State Healthcare Laws Taking Effect in 2024 Read More »
A U.S. court on Friday upheld a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order to block IQVIA’s (IQV.N) acquisition of DeepIntent, a healthcare advertising firm, as it may harm competition. DeepIntent, owned by Propel Media, a digital advertising company, entered into an agreement with U.S. headquartered healthcare data and analytics firm IQVIA in 2022 with the intent
US Judge Allows FTC to Temporarily Block IQVIA Acquisition of DeepIntent Read More »
