More than half of hospitals still not fully compliant with price transparency rules: report

A record number of hospitals are fully sharing data on the cost of their services, thanks to the CMS stepping up enforcement. But there’s still a ways to go, according to PatientRightsAdvocate.org.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 11, 2026

Half of Medicare Advantage stars thresholds harder to reach in 2027

The CMS released draft star ratings, including the thresholds for reaching those ratings, to plans earlier this week. The grading sheet got stricter, which doesn’t bode well for insurers, one MA expert said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 10, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Veterans Affairs taps Amwell for telehealth revamp

It's another prong in the agency's digital health modernization project, which has faced setbacks and delays.

By Anuja Vaidya • Sept. 10, 2026

Top Democrat investigates No Surprises arbiters

Rep. Frank Pallone sent oversight letters to six arbiters requesting information on how they decide awards, how they’re paid and more. His office is also in talks with other arbiters, but they’ve been more responsive, a staffer said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 9, 2026

Cambia, Arkansas Blue Cross affiliation moves ahead

No assets are changing hands as a result of the deal, which is expected to close this October with Cambia assuming control of the Arkansas Blue plan’s operations.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 8, 2026

Adena Health acquires Fairfield Medical Center after antitrust scrutiny

Pressured by federal antitrust concerns, Fairfield Medical Center has completed a merger with Adena Health after pivoting from a planned sale to state giant OhioHealth.

By Eric Wicklund • Sept. 4, 2026

HaloMD says No Surprises is lowering spending on emergency care. Researchers aren’t convinced.

The NSA has saved at least $1 billion on out-of-network emergency medical spending, according to the billings firm’s new study. But HaloMD’s methodology leaves something to be desired, independent experts said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 2, 2026

Medicare spent hundreds of millions of dollars on ineligible drugs, audit finds

Shoddy CMS oversight is to blame, and the agency needs to do better, the HHS Office of the Inspector General said. The CMS concurred.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Sept. 2, 2026

Mid-cap biotechs join Trump’s latest round of drug pricing deals

Focused on Medicaid, the new pacts now involve more than just large pharmaceutical companies.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 1, 2026

Florida attorney general sues PBMs Express Scripts, Prime over alleged price fixing

A deal between rival drug middlemen Prime Therapeutics and Express Scripts depressed reimbursement rates for pharmacies, according to the new complaint. It’s the latest legal challenge against the partnership.

By Jill Hughes • Aug. 31, 2026

Humana-owned Villages Health agrees to $542M settlement for overbilling Medicare

The Central Florida provider manufactured fake diagnosis codes for its Medicare Advantage patients from 2020 to 2024, the DOJ said. Humana bought The Villages Health last year.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 27, 2026

No Surprises dispute resolution has generated $22B in extra costs, research finds

Accelerating dispute volumes and sky-high award amounts are inflating how much independent dispute resolution is costing the U.S., according to new Georgetown research. Patients could pay the price with higher premiums.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 26, 2026

Monogram Health to pay $2.4M to settle Medicare Advantage upcoding allegations

Monogram, a home health company, overcharged Medicare through contracts with Cigna and Humana by inflating diagnostic codes, according to the Justice Department.

By Sy Mukherjee • Aug. 26, 2026

FDA seeks feedback on generative AI regulations

The agency published a discussion paper this week as it considers the “unique risks” and potential promise of generative AI for patient care.

By Elise Reuter • Aug. 19, 2026

Federal judge vacates Trump admin restrictions on ACA gender-affirming care

The ruling keeps some protections for gender-affirming care in place, but also upholds several other controversial policies paring back the ACA.

By Sy Mukherjee • Aug. 19, 2026

Trump nominates policy aide Overton to lead FDA

Heidi Overton, a medical doctor and veteran of the America First think tank, currently serves as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

By Kristin Jensen • Updated Aug. 19, 2026

America digitized healthcare. Now it’s time to connect it.

Former CMS administrator Seema Verma makes the case for better connecting healthcare data as the agency marks the first anniversary of its “Kill the Clipboard” initiative.

By Seema Verma • Aug. 18, 2026

Premiums, out-of-pocket costs dominate Americans’ healthcare concerns: survey

Respondents were split on who should solve the issues, with Democrats more likely to say the federal government and Republicans more likely to name insurers, according to the Commonwealth Fund.

By Sy Mukherjee • Aug. 14, 2026

5th Circuit strikes down No Surprises billing benchmark in win for providers

The court ruled last week that insurers can’t include ghost rates or exclude bonus payments in calculating a metric used to determine reimbursement for out-of-network bills. That’s set to further inflate payouts to providers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 13, 2026

‘Way off the reservation’: Brookings researchers slam assumptions in CMS work requirements rule

The rule made it harder for sick Medicaid enrollees to prove they’re exempt from work requirements than many expected. The CMS got sued. And now, the agency is being accused of fudging the data at the center of the rule.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 12, 2026

Trump administration cuts Medicaid funding for youth gender-affirming care

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz argues the rule will protect children from “irreversible harm.” LGBTQ+ advocates say it’s an attack on transgender youth.

By Jill Hughes • Aug. 12, 2026

New Cato report excoriates certificate of need laws

The libertarian think tank analyzed almost 130 studies digging into the controversial laws, which require providers to get state approval before building facilities or adding new services. What it found wasn’t good.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 12, 2026

Cassidy, Sanders press DOJ on former Steward CEO’s contempt referral

The Senate referred Ralph de la Torre for possible prosecution nearly two years ago after the former Steward Health Care CEO defied a congressional subpoena. Now, two senators are asking for an update.

By Sy Mukherjee • Aug. 11, 2026

Is Congress finally ready to stop subsidizing hospital consolidation?

As lawmakers consider whether to enact site-neutral payments into law, one physician argues that reforming the Medicare payments would lower healthcare spending without hurting patient care.

By Dr. Josh Umbehr • Aug. 11, 2026

Trump signs order seeking to upend childhood vaccine schedule

The executive order — which wasn’t accompanied by any new scientific evidence — aims to split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots and revives the administration’s attempt to slim down the immunization schedule.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 11, 2026