Employee-Paid

Higher medical costs for employer-sponsored plans are due to advances in treatments and health care consolidation trends, as well as specialty drug use and the new GLP-1 class of weight loss drugs, says a new report.

Aside from the impact on U.S. pharmacies, the cyberattack was widespread and expected to grow, since Change Healthcare maintains health care's pipelines, including payments and requests for insurers to authorize care.

In recent weeks, the Justice Department has been interviewing health care industry representatives in sectors where UnitedHealth competes to determine if the health care giant favored its Optum-owned doctor groups.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, within the Department of Health and Human Services, will begin accepting "requests for solutions" to a list of women's health care related topics, such as endometriosis and MS.

The state AGs sent a letter to Senate and House leaders, highlighting the urgent need for federal action to mandate that pharmacy benefit managers increase transparency into their practices by sharing pricing with health plans.

The hospital operations giant has lost a bid to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit in North Carolina federal court, accusing it of scheming to restrict competition and artificially drive up costs for health plans.

Less than half of employers are confident in the integrity of health care services and fees charged by hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers, third-party administrators and even broker and consultants, says a new report.

Brokers can benefit from a new lead generation tool developed by Judy Diamond Associates for small employers, while wellbeing provider Grokker is offering a new "live session" mental health solution for employees.