Read today’s Kaiser Health News
In other news:
About health insurance/insurers
MedPAC estimates $84B in Medicare Advantage overpayments in 2025: The federal government will spend $84 billion more on Medicare Advantage enrollees this year than if they were enrolled in fee-for-service plans, according to new estimates from the Medicare Payment and Advisory Commission.
MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare policy, published its annual report March 13.
The group estimated that CMS will spend 20% more on Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA plans than if those beneficiaries were enrolled in fee-for-service in 2025.
Highmark Health Plans reports $166M loss, cites GLP-1s as headwind: Highmark Health Plans reported a $166 million operating loss in 2024, driven by rising medical costs.
Highmark, which operates health plans, health system Allegheny Health Network and several other businesses, reported its 2024 financial results March 13.
In addition, Highmark reported $29.4 billion in 2024 operating revenue and a $209 million operating loss.
10 payers recently fined by states FYI
Will the Trump Administration Fast Track the Privatization of Medicare? A great analysis fro the KFF.
About hospitals and healthcare systems
Hospitals are making gains in safety, leading to better patient and staff experiences Data in this report show that:
—Hospitals are performing at or better than pre-pandemic levels on multiple measures of quality and patient safety, including patient falls and pressure injuries (i.e., bed sores) that reflect work led by nurses to care for patients.
—Millions of patients report that their overall care experience is improving. Press Ganey data from more than 1 million members of the health care workforce show a rebound from pandemic lows in engagement, resilience and safety culture.
—Patient safety, patient experience, workforce experience, and well-being are all tied together by a hospital or health system’s culture of safety. Across clinical settings — the single largest driver of a patient’s reported experience of care is how well their care team members work together. Better teamwork has long been shown to drive better outcomes.
About pharma
10 drugs poised to be best-sellers in 2026 FYI
About the public’s health
Cases of whooping cough across N.C. more than double compared to this time last year Measles is not the only childhood disease that is spreading.
About healthcare personnel
Arkansas bans noncompete agreements for physicians: Arkansas has enacted a law prohibiting health care employers from enforcing noncompete agreements that restrict physicians from joining competing organizations. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders “signed a bill earlier this month that augments existing state law by voiding noncompete provisions in physician contracts that would prevent them from joining a rival organization. The law will take effect in mid-July.” Arkansas will now join “several other states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois, which have outlawed noncompete agreements tied to clinicians. California, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma have blanket noncompete bans for all employers.”