Cost-Containment

Republican House members last week introduced a package of bills that would create a state hospital pricing board, limit hospital price increases, restrict health care consolidation and prohibit certain physician non-compete agreements.

Plan sponsors could spend $905 billion, or $9,627 per enrollee.

The team told the doctors in the UnitedHealthcare commercial plan networks that it will put tight limits on allergy testing coverage services for adults seen during routine office visits starting Sept. 1.

The state's attorney general seeks documents on reimbursement rates, patient steering and pharmacy contracts as scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers continues to intensify.

The legal wrangling began in 2019, when the hospital alleged that Kaiser Permanente underpaid for emergency medical services provided to its members after the two organizations terminated their formal provider contract four years earlier.

Republicans and Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee joined Thursday to approve a total of 15 health care bills by voice votes.