May 17, 2012

Today’s issue is brought to you by AIS's Medicare Advantage News, biweekly news and analysis on the Medicare (and Medicaid) managed care programs.

Whatever It’s Called, UCare’s $30 Million Is Spelled ‘Trouble’
Reprinted from Medicare Advantage News

What reportedly began as a Minnesota health plan’s heartfelt attempt to help the state with a record budget deficit has mushroomed into a federal investigation (or two) and prompted a congressional hearing in which its motives were attacked .... Read Full Story

“Health plans need to be on the offensive on rebates, and promote the investments they’re making to improve cost and quality. [The Obama administration’s touting of MLR rebates as evidence that reform is working] is just proof from the administration not to trust insurance companies. But that isn’t actually the case.”

— Michael Main, a partner in the health and Life Sciences division of Oliver Wyman, told AIS’s Health Plan Week.

Click here to read the HEALTH PLAN WEEK article in which this quote appeared. (Free for HPW subscribers; $17 for non-subscribers).

Today's Datapoint

Roughly
6 million ... additional prescriptions were picked up by CVS Caremark Corp. as a result of the contract dispute between Walgreen Co. and Express Scripts Holding Co., according to CVS.

From DRUG BENEFIT NEWS

Coventry violates state contract by not covering drug

Coventry Care, a Medicaid managed care insurer in Kentucky, said it will stop covering an expensive medication that helps treat drug addictions. The state, however, condemned the decision as a contract violation ... Read more

• Congressional Record
• Federal Register

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. promoted Aron Knickerbocker to senior vice president and chief business officer. Knickerbocker was vice president of business development....Castlight Health named John Driscoll president. Driscoll was group president for new markets at Medco.

Content questions or suggestions should be directed to BJ Taylor, editor of AIS's HEALTH BUSINESS DAILY, at bjtaylor@aishealth.com. If you are interested in sponsoring AIS's HEALTH BUSINESS DAILY, please contact Bailey Sterrett at bsterrett@aishealth.com.

AIS's HEALTH BUSINESS DAILY is copyrighted and protected by federal law. The re-use of its content is restricted (see below). However, you are permitted to forward this e-mail to as many of your friends and colleagues as you wish, or better yet have them sign up for their own copy at http://www.magnetmail.net/actions/ atlantic_subscription.cfm, where you can also sign up for AIS's Government News of the Week. Copyright © 2012 Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS). All rights reserved. It is not permissible to include all or any portion of this content on any Web site, intranet or electronic network or in any print publication, without AIS's written permission in advance. Permission requests should be directed to rbiehl@aishealth.com.

Visit www.AISHealth.com
With archives of AIS's Health Business Daily, features like the News Archives, AIS Blogs and more! (Free registration required)