CVS Health Corp will buy Oak Street Health Inc for about $9.5 billion in cash, joining rivals in adding primary care to its portfolio as pressure mounts on its health insurance unit.
The influx of new providers is attributable to loosened requirements born of pandemic-era necessity. But whether those changes will endure is uncertain.
The use of telehealth soared during the pandemic and demonstrated its value in improving the delivery of and access to health care. But that increase in usage was made possible by the relaxation of federal and state waivers. To capitalize on what was learned during the pandemic, federal and state legislators should revamp regulations. Five priorities should guide their actions.