News

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  IRS official to take the 5th at House hearing

  By Alan Fram and Stephen Ohlemacher  |  May 21, 2013

  A key figure in the IRS's targeting of conservative groups plans to invoke her constitutional right against self-incrimination and decline to testify at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.

• New WellPoint CEO streamlines insurer's business

  By Associated Press  |  May 21, 2013

  WellPoint Inc.'s new CEO is slimming the health insurer's business units to two from four as the company prepares for coverage expansions that will hit the market next year as part of the health care overhaul.

• NM changing its plans for health exchange

  By Barry Massey  |  May 21, 2013

  New Mexico is switching gears on its plan for a health insurance exchange and initially will partner with the federal government for computer services needed for an online insurance marketplace.

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  Specialty drug prices to surge

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  May 21, 2013

  U.S. spending on specialty prescription drugs is likely to increase 67 percent by the end of 2015, according to data out Tuesday from Express Scripts.

• Employee engagement on the rise, Aon Hewitt says

  By Allen Greenberg  |  May 21, 2013

  Aon Hewitt says employee engagement is improving and that employees’ perceptions of their work experience also is up.

• Carrier group fights for Medigap

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  May 21, 2013

  AHIP touted a report this week showing an increase in Medigap enrollment as a way to push back against proposed taxes against the program.

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  Fringe Benefit takes aim at part-timers

  By Allen Greenberg  |  May 21, 2013

  Fringe Benefit Group, anticipating growth in the number of part-time workers in the United States as a result of PPACA, is making a big push into the voluntary benefits business.

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  JPMorgan’s Dimon survives referendum

  By Christina Rexrode  |  May 21, 2013

  Shareholders at JPMorgan Chase will let Jamie Dimon, the chairman and CEO, keep both his jobs.

• Is Medicare Advantage in danger?

  By Pam Black  |  May 21, 2013

  At the end of February, the federal government was set to cut payments to Medicare by 2.2 percent. Suddenly, on April 1, the whole situation was reversed: Not only were funds for Medicare not cut, they were increased by 3.3 percent. To Washington outsiders, it sounds like an April Fool’s...

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  Senators agree to high-tech visa expansion

  By David Espo, Erica Werner  |  May 21, 2013

  Officials say leading senators trying to resolve a key issue on immigration legislation have agreed to a compromise covering expansion of a high-tech visa program.