Reimbursement

Driven by a $720 million loss on its individual exchange product, UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday reported a $6.8 billion profit in 2015, down $238 million over its 2014 profit.

Driven by a $720 million loss on its individual exchange product, UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday reported a $6.8 billion profit in 2015, down $238 million over its 2014 profit.

As the third open enrollment period winds down on the health insurance marketplaces, one thing hasn't changed much since the online exchanges opened: It's still often hard to find out whether a plan covers abortion services.

As the third open enrollment period winds down on the health insurance marketplaces, one thing hasn't changed much since the online exchanges opened: It's still often hard to find out whether a plan covers abortion services.

Even with subsidies to make coverage more affordable, many people who buy health insurance on the marketplaces spend more than 10 percent of their income on premiums, deductibles and other out-of-pocket payments, a recent study found. Among those hit hardest, the researchers said, are people who spend nearly a quarter of their income on health care expenses.

A survey from the Florida Hospital Association has found that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is behind on its bills to Florida hospitals -- about $134 million behind. The VA is looking at almost 30,000 unpaid claims in Florida, according to the survey, more than 10,000 of which are over a year old. Almost 6,000 are over two years old.

About 15 state attorneys general have joined the U.S. Department of Justice probe into two large insurance mergers that would reduce the number of big players from five to three, according to Reuters.

Acting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Andy Slavitt on Tuesday shocked many in healthcare when he laid out an aggressive timeline to replace the meaningful use program, a electronic health records mandate and incentive program that healthcare providers put millions into.

Louisiana has adopted Medicaid expansion, making it the 32nd state, including the District of Columbia, to take on the Affordable Care Act initiative.

The momentum of open enrollment continued to wind down, with growth of less than 75,000 consumers in week 10, from January 3 to January 9, 2016.