Health officials worldwide are working to contain cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that originated in China. In January, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.” As the virus continues to …
CVS Health’s Path to Better Health
CVS Health has designed a new program called RxZERO, which aims to provide affordable medications to individuals living with diabetes without the astronomical out-of-pocket expenses. “Eliminating out-of-pocket costs for diabetes medications ensures long-term affordability, improves adherence and, most importantly, puts patients on the path to better health.” Dr. Troyen A. …
What You Need to Know About the New Coronavirus
An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus continues to spread with health officials reporting thousands of infections detected to date. Infections of the virus, scientifically known as 2019-nCoV, are being reported internationally, as well as in the United States. On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations …
U.S. Supreme Court Denies Motion to Expedite ACA Case
On January 21, 2020, the United States Supreme Court denied motions to expedite consideration of Texas v. Azar, the lawsuit which challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate. The decision to deny expediting the case follows a United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit …
Public Health Officials Warn of Another Bad Flu Season
With months to go in this year’s flu season, it is essential for people to take the initiative and get their flu shot. Health professionals everywhere are urging people to get flu vaccinations after flu-like activity hit its peak in late December. Reports across the nation have indicated that flu …
CVS Health to Launch New Insurance Product for Gene Therapy this March
CVS Health plans to launch a new insurance product by the end of March 2020. It will absorb the astronomical expenses health plan members experience when undergoing gene therapy. “With prices for a single treatment as high as $2 million, many employers are struggling to find ways to offer coverage …
Cigna’s Group Life & Disability Insurance Business to be Acquired by New York Life
On December 18, 2019, it was released that New York Life Insurance Co. agreed to pay $6.3 billion for a Cigna Corp. unit that sells non-medical insurance products to employers. New York Life Insurance Co. is one of the nation’s oldest and financially strongest life insurers. As low interest rates …
Hospital Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Pricing Transparency Rule
Four major hospital groups have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging the rule on healthcare transparency released in November. The rule would require hospitals to disclose their pricing information, including negotiated rates. The Federation of American Hospitals, the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the …
Understanding Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
An EOB is a form that insurance companies send to their members to explain what part of a claim was paid by insurance, what part was not paid and why. Frequently, the terminology and language used on an EOB requires advanced understanding of medical procedure naming conventions and insurance contract …