"CMS actuaries reported that healthcare spending accelerated dramatically during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vastly higher federal spending was the big driver of the rise in spending growth. The growth in spending on hospital services was virtually flat. Significant numbers of Americans continue to report having trouble with healthcare costs[.]"  MORE >>

"Carriers and plan sponsors are taking stock of what federal policies deserve a fresh look as they work though tumultuous events like the pandemic and the telehealth boom. In the next year, major industry trade groups plan to push for policies including drug price reform and comprehensive telehealth regulation."  MORE >>

"CMS revealed that private health plans had to deliver $2 billion in rebates to their customers for the 2020 reporting year, with the bulk of that money going toward individual market enrollees. [ACA] experts say that while the large rebate payout does mean premiums have been overpriced, it's also indicative of just how profitable the ACA exchanges have become for insurers."  MORE >>

"The ERISA plan at issue required that Seven Corners consent to the assignment of rights for it to be valid.... On appeal, the Seventh Circuit agreed with the district court that Dr. Griffin did not have standing to sue for statutory penalties since she was not a participant or beneficiary of the ERISA plan and had not obtained Seven Corners' consent to the assignment of rights." [W.A. Griffin v. Seven Corners, Inc., No. 21-2332 (7th Cir. Dec. 22, 2021) ]  MORE >>