Here is a new feature on the site… a summary of weekly healthcare industry news, in no particular order:
- United Healthcare’s Q3 earnings are expected to show 7% growth:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/10/14/unitedhealth-q3-earnings-preview-optum-poised-to-drive-growth/ - Cigna has the highest return on equity (ROE) showing 19.5%
http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/cigna-has-highest-return-equity-managed-health-care-industry-ci-unh-aet-cnc–0 - Highmark’s actions subvert its assurance of access to UPMC for Medicare customers:
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/10/14/Promises-broken-State-regulators-are-right-to-challenge-Highmark/stories/201410140037The state wants Commonwealth Court to find Highmark in contempt of the consent decree for marketing a Medicare Advantage policy that provides no access to UPMC doctors. Highmark began offering the policy last week for the incredibly low premium of zero dollars, just after it had jacked up the monthly premiums on Medicare Advantage policies that do provide in-network UPMC access. Most of those premiums rose by double-digit percentages, one doubled and another tripled.
This is the first attempt (baseline). More to come.