Catherine @ Benefit MIMS
@benefitmims.bsky.social
Personal: @novenella.bsky.social. Here: making your employee benefits make sense. Mostly posting article links. Opinions my own. https://benefitmims.com
Texas Tech University Health Science Center and #Texas Tech Physicians have reached an agreement with UnitedHealthcare, retroactively effective to April 1. buff.ly/I2wTaA2
RESOLVED: UnitedHealthcare vs Texas Tech Physicians – Network Contract Watch
Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Texas Tech Physicians have reached an agreement with UnitedHealthcare, retroactively effective to April 1.
benefitmims.com
Norman Regional Health System is no longer in-network with insurance provider Aetna after months of contract negotiations. #Oklahoma buff.ly/LF8GIpv
Aetna vs Norman Regional Health System – Network Contract Watch
Norman Regional Health System is no longer in-network with insurance provider Aetna after months of contract negotiations.
benefitmims.com
The proposal would also eliminate similar reporting requirements for unions, state and local governments and public schools. It would not end a requirement under federal law that employers keep records. #EEOC #Recordkeeping #Demographics buff.ly/Wm8B8kU
EEOC Moves to End Employer Reporting of Worker Race, Sex Data
The U.S. agency that enforces laws banning workplace discrimination moved to scrap a requirement that employers annually submit data on the race and sex
insurancejournal.com
The contract between Ascension St. Vincent and UnitedHealthcare has been extended through August 7, 2026, to allow for a written finalization. #Indiana
UnitedHealthcare vs Ascension St. Vincent – Network Contract Watch
The contract between Ascension St. Vincent and UnitedHealthcare has been extended through August 7, 2026, to allow for a written finalization.
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The University of Miami Health System (UHealth) and UnitedHealthcare have reached an agreement on their network contracts, except for the Preferred Care Network (PCN). #Florida
RESOLVED: UnitedHealthcare vs UHealth – Network Contract Watch
The University of Miami Health System (UHealth) and UnitedHealthcare have reached an agreement on their network contracts, except for the Preferred Care Network
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The model will roll out to #Cigna fully insured plans in 2027, before a wider launch in 2028 to all of #ExpressScripts. #PBM #RxCoverage #Rebates
Cigna CEO: Express Scripts seeing 'significant early interest' from clients for new rebate-free PBM model
UPDATED: July 30 at 2:20 p.m. ET | Cigna is raising its outlook for the year after beating the Street on both earnings and revenue in the second quarter of 2026.
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The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership is pointing small business owners to its Chamber Advantage Plan, a level-funded insurance option offered through UnitedHealthcare. #Mississippi #MEWA #ChamberPlans
Small businesses in Mississippi find cheaper health insurance option through chamber plan
Twenty-two brokers are currently participating in the program.
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The new trend is more than making the most of their PTO policies — it points to very real and persistent gaps in employee wellness that organizations can prioritize and address. #LeaveBenefits #EmployeeBenefits #PTO
Strict PTO culture is forcing employees to participate in 'vacation-maxxing'
Strict and inflexible leave policies are leaving employees burned out and in search of ways to rest and relax wherever they can.
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The contract between UnitedHealthcare and Phoenix Children’s Hospital is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2026.
UnitedHealthcare vs Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Network Contract Watch
The contract between UnitedHealthcare and Phoenix Children's Hospital is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2026.
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MultiCare Health System and Premera Blue Cross have reached an agreement in their contract negotiations. Patients should experience no disruptions.
RESOLVED: Premera Blue Cross vs Multicare – Network Contract Watch
MultiCare Health System and Premera Blue Cross have reached an agreement in their contract negotiations. Patients should experience no disruptions.
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www.healthcaredive.com/news/cms-end...
CMS to end subsidies for Medicare drug plan premiums
The CMS said the program, which went into effect last year to stabilize Part D premiums and enrollment, isn’t needed anymore. One researcher said some enrollees could see higher premium increases in 2...
healthcaredive.com
NewYork-Presbyterian and UnitedHealthcare have agreed on a further extension of in-network coverage through August 31, 2026. buff.ly/4v0lnRX
NewYork-Presbyterian and UnitedHealthcare have agreed on a further extension of in-network coverage through August 31, 2026. #newyork benefitmims.com?p=3033
5 health system vs. payer lawsuits to watch #Litigation #HealthInsurance
5 health system vs. payer lawsuits to watch
Health systems are suing insurers over what they describe as systematic underpayment and unilateral policy changes that reduce reimbursement, while insurers have been turning to the courts to accuse hospitals of gaming the No Surprises Act’s arbitration process.
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#Washington has been working toward implementing #WACares for a decade. Now, other states will be paying attention. #LongTermCare #LTC
A new option for long-term care costs
Kelly Haggett figures that a mandatory surcharge added to Washington state's payroll tax cost her about $500 last year. The small surcharge on wages provides the funding for Washington Cares, the…
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Aetna has announced it will discontinue issuing paper checks to out-of-network dentists. The American Dental Association has urged Aetna to reconsider this change. #Aetna #Dental #ADA #EFT #PaperChecks
ADA calls out Aetna for limiting payment options for out-of-network dentists
This tactic makes it difficult for out-of-network providers to receive their choice of payment unless they join Aetna's network.
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Most provider-payer contract disputes are about reimbursement levels. But not all. benefitmims.com?p=2976
The growing divide between #nonprofit #hospital CEO pay and direct patient care worker pay was concentrated almost entirely in the largest 10% of hospitals by bed size. #HospitalConsolidation
CEO-to-staff pay disparity widest at largest systems: Study
The widening gap in pay among CEOs and direct patient care workers between 2015 and 2022 was focused among the biggest hospitals and health systems, according to a recent study from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston.
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"Acknowledging the limits of benefits education isn't an argument for investing less in it. But education is a front-end solution applied to a problem that also has a back end." I'm not sure I 100% agree with this #opinion piece, but it's making me think.
The limits of employee benefits education and what happens next
In the midst of life's challenges is when employees struggle to understand their benefits. A resource that provides personalized guidance can help.
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#Erlanger and #Prisma health system leaders have signed a nonbinding letter of intent, beginning a 120-day due diligence period before the proposal can move forward. #Tennessee #HospitalConsolidation
Erlanger seeks to join South Carolina health system in proposed $2 billion deal | Chattanooga Times Free Press
Erlanger Health could become part of one of the Southeast's largest nonprofit health systems under a proposed partnership with South Carolina-based Prisma Health, a move leaders say would bring $2…
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The University of Miami UHealth and UnitedHealthcare have reached an agreement for student health plans, but negotiations continue for most other plan types. #florida benefitmims.com?p=3031
It's already a common industry practice. Now the #DOL Labor Department is proposing a safe harbor allowing employer-sponsored #HealthInsurance plans post documents to a website versus mailing paper copies to participants.
Labor Department pitches electronic disclosure rule for group health plans
The Department of Labor is proposing a new rule that would let employer group health plans deliver required documents to workers electronically by default, a change the department estimates could save plans $3.9 billion over the next decade.
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Other items in the bills broaden eligibility for financial assistance and outline minimum primary care spending levels. #Delaware #HospitalConsolidation #PrivateEquity
Delaware passes laws on hospital price caps, PE purchases, financial assistance
A trio of healthcare bills passed through Delaware Governor Matt Meyer’s desk Monday that, among other actions, brings a temporary ban on private equity’s hospital purchases and sets a multi-year p |…
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The proposal would bring together five #Denver-area hospitals from #AdventHealth and three #Intermountain hospitals. #Colorado #HospitalConsolidation
Major healthcare providers to merge Denver operations
AdventHealth and Intermountain anticipate signing a definitive agreement in the coming weeks.
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A recent lawsuit highlights something many people only learn after the fact: an in-network hospital doesn't always mean in-network physicians. benefitmims.com?p=3014
Not to put too fine a point on it, but there are some excellent children's hospitals a lot closer to Kernersville than Memphis. And yes...in a non-emergency situation it is, in fact, the member's responsibility to verify #network participation BEFORE receiving care.
Kernersville family advocates for transparency after son’s surgery denied by insurance
A Triad family is sharing their story of a health emergency and insurance struggles, hoping to effect change and encourage others in their position to get the help they need.
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"Health outcomes matter. But the leap from that concern to criminal liability for investors represents a dangerous departure from basic principles." Not sure I agree with all of this, but he makes some relevant points. #PrivateEquity #Healthcare #CapitalResources
Private Equity Didn't Kill the Patient
Exploring the impact of private equity on healthcare beyond blame and criminal liability concerns.
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Adding to my previous note: larger employers are more likely to have #SelfFunded or #LevelFunded #HealthInsurance plans. For smaller employers, the market share of these types of plans has been growing quickly over the last several years.
Did you know? If you are on a #SelfFunded (or #LevelFunded) #HealthInsurance plan, state-specific mandates usually don't apply, thanks to #ERISA pre-emption. Curious how many plans this affects? Check out this list from Becker's.
States ranked by share of employer-sponsored plans that are self-funded
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