Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma is requiring that its covered patients who have severe asthma to inject themselves with their medicine rather than asking a clinic or doctor for assistance. Patients who take injections like Xolair, Tezspire, Fasenra and Nucala, no matter their age, are at risk. Brad Traverse with Infusion Providers Alliance says the policy change "is purely a money reason."
President Donald Trump's pick to lead CMS will likely face questions during his confirmation hearing today about his past support of expanding the Medicare Advantage program as well as his financial ties to the industry he will be tasked with overseeing.
The Trump administration is readying to slash the HHS workforce again, according to seven people familiar with the plans who were granted anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the changes. The announcement could come soon.
UnitedHealthcare is paying local police officers to patrol its corporate headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, nearly every day, following the killing of its CEO Brian Thompson in December. UnitedHealthcare, the country's largest health insurer, has faced public criticism and customer frustration over issues ranging from insurance denials to cybersecurity threats, while Mangione has become a cult hero to some of the industry's critics. The company has previously said about the claims against it: "Highly inaccurate and grossly misleading information has been circulated about our company's treatment of insurance claims."
California will need to borrow $3.44 billion to close a budget gap in the state's Medicaid program, Newsom administration officials told lawmakers Wednesday in a letter obtained by POLITICO. That's the maximum amount California can borrow, and will only be enough to cover bills for Medi-Cal — the state's Medicaid program — through the end of the month.