Humana expects another year of Medicare Advantage membership growth in 2027

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  Cigna boosts 2026 outlook as insurance, specialty pharmacy profits climb

  Executives touted the quarter as evidence that Cigna is well positioned for another year of profitable growth in 2027. Though, its pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts is a drag.

  Payer

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  Sponsored by Brand Finance

  America’s hospital brand deserts: Why clinicians keep pointing to the same few regions

  Doctors keep recommending hospitals in the same few US regions. The rest of the map pays a price.

  Hospitals

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  Medicare finalizes physician pay cut for 2027

  Regulators trimmed doctors’ Medicare payments and hammered out other policies to reduce duplicative reimbursement. Providers slammed the cuts, saying they would further destabilize the sector.

  Hospitals

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  Medicare will cut billions from 340B, expand site-neutral payments in 2027

  Regulators finalized a rule Wednesday that would slash payments for drugs in the controversial 340B program and equalize some payments between care sites. Hospitals railed against the rule.

  Hospitals

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  CVS to split into two companies in stunning strategic about-face

  The breakup, which will separate Aetna and Caremark from CVS’ retail pharmacies, is an indictment of the dogma that bigger is always better in the healthcare industry.

  Payer

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  Patients want a human in the loop for AI healthcare tools

  Patients are open to doctors using AI for more administrative tasks, but they’re less enthusiastic about using it for diagnosing or claims adjudication, according to a new survey.

  Health IT

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  Medicare spends more on hospices owned by private equity firms, study finds

  Medicare is footing a bigger bill for hospices bought by private equity firms, spending nearly $1,000 more per stay. Researchers said PE firms may be boosting inappropriate admissions to maximize reimbursement.

  Payer

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  MultiCare, Samaritan complete merger

  The nonprofit health systems officially combined on Sunday following approval from state regulators. Tacoma, Washington-based MultiCare will invest $700 million over the next decade in Samaritan’s facilities and technology.

  Hospitals

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  Top healthcare conferences to attend in 2027

  These are the best industry events for digital health, provider and payer leaders to attend next year.

  Hospitals

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  How should the FDA regulate generative AI in medtech? Here are 5 takes

  Patients, providers and medtech firms submitted hundreds of comments to the Food and Drug Administration on how the agency should approach generative AI in medical devices.

  Health IT

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  Medicare Part D premiums are spiking 50% on average next year, KFF finds

  The health policy think tank urged seniors to shop carefully for prescription drug coverage during Medicare open enrollment, given skyrocketing premiums and wide variance in costs between plans.

  Payer

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  AI vendors, health systems join physicians in liability for clinical AI: AMA

  The AMA's new issue brief assigns distinct responsibilities to physicians, developers and healthcare organizations, arguing that protecting patients requires accountability from all stakeholders.

  Health IT

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  Judge strikes down CMS ‘medical frailty’ policy for Medicaid work requirements

  It’s a victory for more than two dozen states that had sued to block the definition, along with providers, consumer advocates and other critics that had opposed it. The CMS could still appeal the decision.

  Payer

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  CHS lowers 2026 earnings forecast on uninsured volumes, surgery snags

  The hospital chain slid into red during the third quarter as more uninsured patients previously on Affordable Care Act plans sought out care and others deferred elective surgeries.

  Hospitals

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  US launches program to deliver free cybersecurity help to rural hospitals

  Small and rural healthcare organizations are among the most vulnerable critical infrastructure organizations in the nation.

  Hospitals

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  Yale New Haven Hospital can’t ditch lawsuit over age-biased physician test

  The discrimination lawsuit, which alleged YNH physicians over 70 years old were subjected to competency tests, was cleared for trial on Friday.

  Hospitals

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  Labor Department finalizes sweeping PBM disclosure rule

  Starting in 2027, the controversial drug middlemen will have to share a broad swath of fee and compensation data with self-funded employer clients. Employers cheered the rule, while PBMs slammed it as government overreach.

  Payer

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  High-acuity strategy helped Tenet weather surgery, uninsured headwinds in Q3

  The health system's push into high-acuity procedures like joint replacements and spinal fusions helped offset declining surgical volumes and payer mix pressures tied to the ACA exchanges.

  Hospitals

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  Softer surgery volumes, hospital woes dampened UHS’ Q3 earnings

  An increasing shift toward outpatient surgeries and slower-than-expected ramps to profitability at some of its hospitals dinged Universal Health Services’ earnings in the third quarter.

  Hospitals

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  Popular AI models get medication doses wrong, some dangerously: Doximity

  Research released by the clinical AI company shows that its dose verification tool outperformed general use AI models, which it says are rife with errors. It’s Doximity’s latest play to stand out as major AI companies forge into healthcare.

  Health IT

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  CVS sues to prevent $2B Medicare Advantage star ratings hit

  It’s at least the fifth insurer to turn to the courts in a bid to hike its ratings for next year. The lawsuits make near-identical legal arguments. But CVS’ is more dramatic in its scope and alleged financial harm.

  Payer

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  Tracker

  Tracking healthcare data breaches

  The data of more than 8 million people was potentially exposed after a cybercriminal used social engineering to gain access to iRhythm’s third-party business applications.

  Updated Oct. 29, 2026

  Hospitals

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  Insurers, employers urge CMS to pause No Surprises arbiter recertifications

  The Coalition Against Surprise Medical Billing and the ERISA Industry Committee are asking the CMS to stop approving arbiters until it implements more rigorous standards.

  Payer

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  HCA’s bottom line suffers as ACA coverage losses mount

  The hospital operator has lost about $950 million in pretax earnings this year as more patients leaving the exchanges jacks up uncompensated care costs and delays elective surgeries.

  Hospitals

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  Zocdoc invites AI agents to book appointments on behalf of patients

  It’s a “contrarian move” for the company as much of the industry remains wary of agentic AI, according to CEO Dr. Oliver Kharraz.

  Health IT

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  Centene progresses on profit recovery, drops 6,000 employees

  After a buoyant third quarter, Centene now thinks its Medicare business will break even one year ahead of schedule. Staffing cuts saddled the insurer with severance spending, but should help margins in 2027.

  Payer

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