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Whew! Supreme Court Upholds Healthcare Reform
Here’s the link to the decision–a 5-4 ruling with Chief Justice Roberts the tiebreaker–that upholds ObamaCare, including the individual mandate. The ruling does put a limit on the government’s ability...
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The Mandate: “It’s a Tax!”
The Daily Show on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold ObamaCare. Filed under: Healthcare Reform
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WellPoint Shells Out Big to Acquire Amerigroup
WellPoint is on a buying spree. The company has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Medicaid plan Amerigroup for $4.9 billion or $92 per share–a whopping 43% premium over Amerigroup’s Friday...
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Medicare ACOs Serve 2.4 Million
Medicare says there are now 154 ACOs serving 2.4 million members through its shared savings program. A list of 89 ACOs that most recently joined the program appears here. Notes CMS: Studies have...
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Make Medicaid a Federal Program
Merrill Goozner in The Health Care Blog: Many states – often the same ones that oppose the Medicaid expansion – insure a relatively low proportion of their Medicaid-eligible residents by doing a poor...
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Jim Carlson: The Fox in WellPoint’s Henhouse?
Citi analyst Carl McDonald comments on the highly regarded management team that comes with WellPoint’s acquisition of Amerigroup, including chief executive (and former president of United Healthcare)...
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ObamaCare Saved Her Life
From the Los Angeles Times: Not to be overly dramatic, but for me the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act was a matter of life and death…. When I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of...
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Forget Opting Out. Most States Will Opt Into the Medicaid Expansion
We keep hearing about states that may opt out of the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion. But there’s a strong argument that states headed up by even the most dogmatic opponents of reform–like Gov. Rick...
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Keep Repeating: There Is No Health Plan Underwriting Cycle…
It’s just that medical cost trends are showing signs of accelerating after a period of historically low growth, which is impacting industry earnings prospects after a run a solid profitability. But I...
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WellPoint Needs Stability Following Braly’s Departure
Just a quick comment on Angela Braly’s resignation as chairman and chief executive of WellPoint Inc. (Indianapolis), which happened at the end of August when I was out on vacation. First, the...
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Commercial Risk Plans Post 84.2% MCR in 2011, Citi Analysis Shows
Solid analysis from Citi showing commercial risk health plans posted a combined medical cost ratio of 84.2% in 2011. MCR in the small group market was better than average at 79.9%, while individual...
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UnitedHealth’s Medical Cost Trends Ease
UnitedHealth Group (Minnetonka, MN) has posted blow-out third-quarter financial results. But the big news is the company lowered its full-year 2012 medical cost trend projection to between 5% and 6%–a...
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DC Chartered in Receivership Pending Sale
In the market for a Medicaid plan? D.C. Chartered Health Plan, which is the largest Medicaid plan in Washington, DC, with 110,000 members, has been placed in receivership by District insurance...
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Quote of the Day: Scott Fidel, Deutsche Bank
Commenting on Medicaid plan Centene Corp. (St. Louis), which reported an 87% decline in third-quarter profits largely because of poor financial results in Kentucky: Centene’s third quarter results...
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Humana Announces CEO, Acquisitions, Profits
Lots of news today out of Humana Inc. (Louisville, KY). The company announced that president Bruce Broussard will add the title of chief executive effective Jan. 1, 2013. He replaces retiring CEO...
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WellPoint to Report 3Q12 Financials–Tomorrow After the Election
WellPoint Inc. is usually among the first of the publicly traded health plans to report quarterly earnings. When it reports third-quarter results tomorrow, it will be among the last. In the category...
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With Obama Win Comes Certainty for Healthcare Reform
As expected, President Obama won reelection to a second term. The margin of victory wasn’t a big as in 2008, but it was still a convincing win. What does this mean for healthcare reform? Basically,...
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Health Plan Stocks Mixed Following Obama Victory
Not surprisingly, health plans stocks are mixed as of 2:45 p.m. the day after President Obama’s reelection. The winners include Medicaid plans like Centene (up 10%), Molina (up 3%) and WellCare (up...
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Lake Likes Williams for WellPoint CEO Job
J.P. Morgan analyst Justin Lake on WellPoint’s search for a chief executive: We would not be surprised to see former Aetna Chairman and CEO Ron Williams end up with the role. We think this would be a...
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Health Plan Profits Bounce Back in 3Q12
Twelve publicly traded health plans posted a combined 12% increase in second-quarter net income to $3.8 billion, according to a CRG tally. Counting only the health insurance operations of Aetna, Cigna...
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