June 23, 2025
Nona Tepper
Bridget Early
UnitedHealth Group, Elevance Health, Aetna, Cigna and more than 40 other health insurance companies on Monday jointly announced an initiative to streamline prior authorizations.
Under the auspices of leading industry groups AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the coalition of for-profit and nonprofit insurers pledged to reduce what providers characterize as the ever-increasing burden of obtaining precertifications for care.
June 10, 2025
Nona Tepper
Bridget Early
Having a Republican in the White House historically has been good for Medicare Advantage insurers, and President Donald Trump’s victory in November had the sector anticipating relief after a challenging four years under President Joe Biden.
So far, it’s not working out that way. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave Medicare Advantage plans a rate increase for 2026 after it cut payments for two consecutive years during the Biden administration, CMS has maintained most of the more stringent oversight Trump’s predecessor put in place.
