Exclusive: US postpones third consecutive meeting of preventive health panel

By Deena Beasley – The March ​meeting of the U.S. advisory panel that determines what cancer screenings and other preventive health measures insurers must cover ‌has been postponed, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The 16-member U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which usually holds three annual meetings, last met in March of 2025. Its November 2025 meeting did not take place due to a government shutdown. The previous meeting, set for July 2025, ​was abruptly canceled by HHS. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. USPSTF Meeting Postponed Without Explanation: The first meeting of the year for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has been postponed and will be rescheduled in the coming months. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the delay but did not provide a reason for the decision. The postponement has drawn attention because of ongoing discussions about potential changes to federal health advisory panels.

2. Recent Changes to Federal Health Advisory Committees: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously replaced or restructured several federal advisory committees related to vaccines, autism policy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the newly appointed members have been associated with vaccine skepticism or groups promoting disputed claims linking vaccines to autism. These actions have prompted debate among observers about the direction and composition of federal health policy advisory bodies.

3. USPSTF’s Role in Preventive Care Coverage: The USPSTF is an independent panel that evaluates medical evidence and recommends preventive services such as screenings and medications. Its recommendations determine which preventive services must be covered without cost-sharing under most health insurance plans, affecting access for millions of Americans. Health policy experts note that the task force’s guidance has played a key role in expanding access to routine preventive care, including cancer screenings.

New Deductible Rules Allow for $31,000 Out-of-Pocket Maximum

By Wendell Potter – On Friday, Erica Bersin – who has two chronic illnesses, including multiple sclerosis – wrote about the challenges of finding a decent and affordable health plan in the ACA marketplace. As a sole proprietor, the only plan with a manageable premium ($330 a month) came with a $10,000 deductible. MS drugs are expensive and many people with the disease have to pay hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars out of their own pockets before their coverage kicks in. Sadly, the way the ACA plans are structured, Americans with chronic conditions – and others who are diagnosed with cancer or have a heart attack or other acute medical event and have no option for coverage other than the ACA marketplace – are penalized financially far more than the rest of us. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Reintroduction of High-Deductible “Catastrophic” Plans: The article states that the Trump administration has proposed allowing insurers to sell catastrophic health plans with deductibles as high as $31,000 for families. Before the Affordable Care Act, similar policies sometimes had family deductibles exceeding $50,000 and included features such as annual or lifetime coverage caps. These plans were restricted under the ACA due to concerns that extremely high deductibles limited the practical value of insurance coverage.

2. Limited Coverage and High Out-of-Pocket Costs for Patients: Catastrophic plans require patients to pay thousands of dollars before insurance begins covering care, meaning families could pay up to $31,000 or more out of pocket each year before receiving benefits. The article notes that insurers previously collected billions in monthly premiums from these plans while paying relatively few claims in many cases. Consumer advocates have argued that without clearer warnings and disclosures, patients may not fully understand how much care they must pay for themselves.

3. Potential Effects on Healthcare Prices and Insurance Subsidies: The article explains that when patients cannot pay large medical bills, hospitals and physician practices may raise prices to compensate for unpaid care. It also notes that lower-premium catastrophic plans could become the benchmark used to calculate insurance subsidies, potentially reducing subsidy amounts for people who want traditional plans with provider networks. Because many patients already struggle to pay large out-of-pocket medical costs, some experts warn that expanding these plans could worsen the broader healthcare affordability crisis.

Brian Evanko to succeed David Cordani as CEO of Cigna

By Sydney Halleman – Brian Evanko, Cigna’s chief operating officer, will become the chief executive at the company following CEO David Cordani’s retirement in July. Cordani will become executive chair of Cigna’s board of directors after he steps down from the chief position on July 1, the company announced Tuesday. As CEO, Evanko will receive a base salary of $1.3 million and an annual target bonus of $2.6 million, according to a securities filing. He’ll also serve on the board of directors effective April 1. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Leadership Transition at Cigna: David Cordani is retiring after nearly 17 years as CEO and more than three decades with the company, having joined in 1991 and becoming CEO in 2009. Andrew Evanko, a nearly 30-year Cigna veteran, will take over the role following several senior leadership positions. His appointment continues a pattern of internal leadership succession within the company.

2. Evanko’s Expanded Leadership Background: Evanko was appointed chief operating officer last year as part of a broader C-suite restructuring. In that role, he gained oversight of both Cigna’s insurance division and Evernorth, the health services segment that includes Express Scripts. He previously served as Cigna’s chief financial officer and also led the company’s insurance division.

3. Context of Regulatory Settlement and Business Changes: The leadership transition occurs shortly after Cigna reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission related to its pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts. The agreement requires changes to the company’s drug benefit design, including removing compensation tied to negotiated drugmaker savings. Cigna executives state the settlement includes no financial penalties and expect the new model to maintain similar profitability while shifting how revenue is generated.

Enrollment in HSA, HRA plans drop to 15%

By Allison Bell – Marketers are having a tougher time selling high-deductible health plans together with health accounts, and they're having a tougher time getting workers to focus on the health account offers. The percentage of U.S. adults with a combination of HDHP coverage and a health savings account or health reimbursement arrangement fell to 15% in 2025, according to new survey data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Declining Familiarity With Consumer-Directed Health Plans: The share of survey participants who said they were extremely, very, or somewhat familiar with consumer-directed health care plans fell to 67%, down from 76% previously. Earlier findings from EBRI and Greenwald had shown awareness levels remaining steady around 18% to 19% from 2020 through 2023 and 18% in 2024. The decline suggests a potential drop in understanding or engagement with these types of health plans.

2. Increased Uncertainty About HRAs and HSAs: The percentage of respondents who could not remember whether they had been offered health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) rose to 14%, up from 11%. This indicates that more individuals are unsure about the health account options available through their employers. The increase may reflect communication or awareness gaps related to these benefit offerings.

3. Survey Context Highlights Engagement Challenges: The findings are based on a late-2025 online survey conducted by EBRI and Greenwald that included 2,001 adults ages 21 to 64. About 81% of respondents reported having employer-sponsored health coverage, and the survey focused on measuring consumer engagement in health care and coverage decisions. The results suggest that employer and advisor efforts to promote employee engagement programs may not be achieving the intended level of awareness or understanding.

GLP-1 Drugs May Work Differently in Women

By Kristen Monaco – Women lost more weight than men while using GLP-1 receptor agonists, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials showed. Among six trials that analyzed outcomes for nearly 20,000 participants by sex, women lost an average of 10.88% (95% CI -14.76 to -7) of their baseline body weight on a GLP-1 agent, while men lost 6.8% (95% CI -4.6 to -9), found G. Caleb Alexander, MD, MS, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and co-authors. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. GLP-1 Weight Loss Effects Consistent Across Most Patient Groups: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that GLP-1 receptor agonists produced similar weight-loss outcomes across many patient subgroups, including those defined by race, ethnicity, age, baseline BMI, and HbA1c levels. The findings suggest the medications may be broadly effective for a wide range of eligible patients. Researchers noted that this consistency is significant given the high demand, cost, and growing use of these drugs in clinical practice.

2. Sex Differences Observed in Weight-Loss Outcomes: The analysis found that women generally experienced greater weight loss from GLP-1 receptor agonists compared with men. Researchers suggested several possible explanations, including hormonal interactions with estrogen, differences in drug metabolism, and variations in body composition or baseline body weight. The study was not designed to measure differences in treatment duration, but randomized trial designs indicate that men and women likely used the medications for similar lengths of time.

3. Large Meta-Analysis Highlights Need for Further Research: The study reviewed 41 articles representing 64 randomized clinical trials published through July 2024, most of which evaluated semaglutide along with other GLP-1 medications. Nearly all trials were industry-funded and followed participants for 12 to 144 weeks. Researchers emphasized that more studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind sex-related differences and to evaluate outcomes among populations that may be underrepresented in clinical trials.

Long-term care rates stabilized in 2025, but costs remain high

By Michael Popke – Long-term care cost growth slowed in 2025 following multiple years of elevated increases, according to the latest CareScout Cost of Care Survey. While most care settings saw year-over-year growth between 1% and 5%, adult day health care services proved an outlier with a 5% decline. Despite ongoing inflation, workforce pressures, and rising demand, this year's findings suggest a period of relative stabilization across many care types. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Cost of In-Home Care Continues to Rise: The survey found that the national median hourly rate for non-medical in-home caregivers increased 3% to $35 per hour. At this rate, the estimated annual cost reaches about $80,080 for 44 hours of care per week. The increase generally aligns with broader economic trends, including inflation and wage growth in 2025.

2. Private Duty Nursing Added as New Cost Category: The survey introduced private duty nursing as a new category, with a median hourly rate of $90 and a per-visit rate of $160. Per-visit services typically cover brief clinical tasks, while hourly rates apply to extended or ongoing skilled care in the home. Higher costs reflect the advanced training and medical expertise required for these services.

3. Long-Term Care Costs Vary by Setting but Remain Significant: Assisted living communities have a national median cost of $6,200 per month, while adult day health care averages $95 per day and nursing home care ranges from $315 to $355 per day depending on room type. Some services saw modest increases while adult day care costs declined slightly, but overall expenses remain substantial. The report highlights the importance of early financial planning as families weigh care quality, access, and payment options over time.

The quiet billing shift driving up health costs

By Maya Goldman – Hospitals are increasingly billing health plans for more complex care than they actually provide, according to a new analysis of Blue Cross Blue Shield claims from 2022 to 2025. Why it matters: The so-called coding intensity balloons health care spending, and it corresponds with an increase in hospital use of AI to help document patient visits. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Coding Increases Concentrated Among a Small Group of Hospitals: An analysis by Blue Health Intelligence found that the top 10% of hospitals accounted for most of the increase in inpatient admissions coded as complex. By March 2025, nearly 60% of admissions at those facilities were coded as complex, up from about 47% in April 2022. The remaining 90% of hospitals saw a smaller rise of about four percentage points over the same period.

2. Higher Coding Intensity Linked to Additional Maternity Care Spending: The report estimates that coding intensity contributed to about $22 million in additional maternity care spending during the study period. Diagnoses of postpartum anemia following sudden blood loss increased by more than eight percentage points at hospitals with the largest increases in coding intensity. However, rates of related treatments such as blood transfusions remained largely unchanged at those hospitals.

3. Industry Perspectives on Rising Inpatient Complexity: The analysis emphasizes that diagnoses generated through automated coding tools should accurately reflect a patient’s clinical condition. The American Hospital Association noted that increases in inpatient complexity may also reflect broader shifts in care delivery. Specifically, less intensive services are increasingly being performed in outpatient clinics and office-based settings rather than in hospitals.