Health Care Reform

Although it helps provide preventive services, manage chronic conditions and coordinate patient care, the United States trails other high-income nations in total health care spending for primary care.

While hospital mergers often result in closures of obstetric units and reductions in local health care resources, there is mixed evidence of the effects on patients.

Insurers and plan administrators have already sued providers over their efforts to increase reimbursement levels.

The bill would extend the extra individual health insurance premium subsidies that Congress provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until the end of 2026.

Aetna and Optum have finalized a nearly $8.4 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit that has been litigated for almost a decade.

The dental plan renewal market is probably "about six to 12 months away from seeing some increases that drive brokers and advisors to look for other partners to do business with," Amy Friedrich, president of Principal Financial's benefits business, predicted.