Oz speaks out about shutdown, Medicaid cuts, Medicare Advantage audits and more

Six takeaways from the CMS administrator’s appearance at a D.C. think tank Monday — including who’s set to be the next Medicaid director.

UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna scale back Medicare Advantage plans for 2026

The coverage landscape for the privatized Medicare plans will look significantly different next year, giving smaller players a chance to snap up market share but likely creating confusion for seniors.

The growing use of AI in healthcare

Influential PBM lobby appoints top Express Scripts executive as board chair

Adam Kautzner will oversee the PCMA’s strategy as chair of the board, including its defense of pharmacy benefit managers amid growing scrutiny of their role in rising drug costs.

Humana’s Medicare Advantage star ratings slip for 2026

Humana is giving investors an early look at stars data after a CMS slip-up led some information to be inadvertantly shared online. The results are in line with expectations but still unsatisfactory, Humana said.

Shareholder group calls on UnitedHealth to decouple CEO from board chair

Stephen Hemsley is the chairman of UnitedHealth’s board and its CEO. The Accountability Board says that undercuts corporate governance at a turbulent time for the company.

No Surprises dispute resolution remains operational despite shutdown

However, a prolonged lapse in funding could affect other activities underpinning implementation of the law that holds consumers blameless for unexpected out-of-network bills.

Medicaid enrollees at risk of disenrollment report multiple chronic conditions: study

About 41% of beneficiaries who could lose coverage due to federal work requirements signed into law this summer have three or more chronic conditions, according to new JAMA research.