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Strategist | Strategy CatalystFeds touts $6B in potential savings from Medicare drug price negotiations

In mid-August, CMS announced that it has negotiated lower Medicare prices for ten widely used drugs, taking advantage of new authorities legislated by Congress in 2022.

Academy 360 | All-AccessWashington Update: House Committees Ramp Up Hearings on Healthcare Consolidation and Rural Access

Congress continues to host a flurry of healthcare focused hearings, including hearings on consolidation in healthcare markets and rural healthcare access.

Academy 360 | Academy 360Washington Update: RFK Confirmed HHS Secretary

On February 13, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. became the 18th Trump nominee to be confirmed by the Senate.

Academy 360 | All-AccessWashington Update: A New Site-Neutral Framework

Academy 360 | Academy 360In the News | MA Rate Increase

CMS announced that MA plans will receive a 5.06% increase in their benchmark payment rate for 2026, a significant increase over the Biden-era proposal. Separately, the agency proposed a 2.4% rate increase for inpatient hospitals.

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystHumana and UHG will lose $1B+ with MA star ratings declines, as both sue

On Oct. 10, CMS released next year’s star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans. Overall, the share of beneficiaries enrolled in plans earning 4+ stars (eligible for bonus payments) fell from 74% in 2024 to 62% in 2025, a 12-percentage-point drop.

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Video | Executive Insight HubSpring 2025 Revenue Cycle Officer Debrief

Get an inside look at the top priorities shaping Health System RCO strategy in Spring 2025—pulled directly from our closed-door forums and tailored for industry leaders looking to align with financial decision-makers.

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystBreaking news: NIH cuts indirect research costs

Major research institutions, including top academic medical centers and children’s hospitals, say the reduction could leave them with $100M+ shortfalls.

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Newsletter | AI CatalystQuick Hits, Use Cases, Expert Insights: January 11, 2024

Explore how leading health systems are scaling AI in clinical, operational, and strategic ways—from custom partnerships and predictive tools to new use cases, policy changes, and growing investment in generative AI.

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Strategist  | Strategy CatalystFTC to sue major PBMs over drug rebate tactics

The FTC is preparing a lawsuit against the three largest PBMs—OptumRx, Express Scripts, and CVS Caremark—over allegations that they steered patients to more expensive drugs in exchange for manufacturer rebates.

Expert Insight | All-AccessResponse Letter for 2023 IPPS Rule

In June, 11 health system members provided feedback to CMS regarding quality program modifications and health equity-related initiatives

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystDEA proposes making telehealth prescribing flexibilities permanent, with strings attached

The DEA announced three new proposed rules to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities established during the pandemic, including a process for prescribing controlled substances without an in-person evaluation.

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystPayvider roundup: UHG’s new gold card program, CVS cuts 2024 forecast

Headwinds from MA utilization and Medicaid disenrollment are continuing to put a drag on payer profits, and policymakers are increasingly focused on prior authorization.

Academy 360 | Academy 360Insights from the 2025 Strategy Catalyst Summit

The 2025 Strategy Catalyst Summit’s sessions and peer discussions provided an opportunity to explore big picture issues like the shifting political environment, and more personal issues like career development and team organization.

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystThe Strategist in Brief: October 24, 2024

A brief summary of the top stories in this edition of The Strategist, now including an audio version.

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Video | Executive Insight HubWhy Sustainability Matters to Health Care and How CEOs are Responding

How health systems are tackling environmental sustainability and combatting climate change based on a discussion with CEOs and a leading expert

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystHHS OIG says Health Risk Assessments are driving MA overpayments

The HHS Office of the Inspector General released a 38-page report finding that major MA insures including UHG and Humana have used health risk assessments and chart reviews to inflate Medicare payments via upcoding.

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Strategist | Strategy CatalystThe Strategist in Brief: December 12, 2024

A brief summary of the top stories in this edition of The Strategist, including an audio version.

Academy 360 | Academy 360Washington Update: Chevron Overturn is Already Impacting Healthcare Legal Battles

A federal appeals court has approved a volume adjustment payment appeal for a Minnesota hospital, reversing a lower court decision by citing the overturned Chevron doctrine.

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Newsletter | Academy IQThe Conversation Starter: Elevance Health's $2.7B Acquisition of CareBridge

Elevance Health acquires home health company CareBridge for $2.7B, focusing on Medicaid and dual-eligible patients. This strategic move aims to enhance home-based care services but raises questions about integration and competition in the space.