Health Care Reform

If employers want to improve outcomes and control costs, benefit strategies must go deeper and address the realities shaping people’s everyday lives.

Democratic-led states and select blue-leaning cities fought back in court and saw money for public health efforts restored — while GOP-led states sustained big losses.

A research team found hints that employers could see the impact creeping into benefits expenses for years to come.

The state imposed a $250,000 penalty on MVP Health and asked it to provide restitution for enrollees hurt by inaccurate directory entries.

The US Justice Department’s criminal division is digging into UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s prescription management services as well as how it reimburses its own doctors under an ongoing probe into the firm’s operations, according to people familiar with the matter.

An arbiter selects either the provider’s or the insurer’s amount with no other option, and the losing side pays the fees.