Midweek update

The House of Representatives passed the current fiscal year defense authorization act today by a wide margin. The Federal News Network reports on provisions beyond the paid parental leave program that affect federal employees, federal annuitants, and federal benefit programs. Specifically the bill addresses FEHBP and FEDVIP problems that arose in the lengthy government shutdown earlier this year. It would be better if Congress banned those shutdowns.

The bipartisan leadership of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee announced a legislative plan to end surprise billing. It is starting to look that we will be stuck with some form of arbitration to resolve surprise billing disputes. The following provision from the new plan plows new ground as far as the FEHBlog can recall:

The party that loses the decision will pay a reconciliation process fee. In addition, a surcharge will be applied to providers and plans that use the process in excess of certain pre-determined thresholds. Annual reporting of the decisions rendered through the process will also be required.

These aspects of the new plan's dispute resolution process strike the FEHBlog as good ideas.

Kaiser Permanente announced that Gregory Adams has been named as its new CEO following the untimely passing of Bernard Tyson. "Since 2016, he has served as Executive Vice President and Group President, with direct responsibility for health plan and hospital operations in all 8 Kaiser Permanente regions."

Healthcare Dive reports that

Amazon's at-home prescription drug delivery company PillPack unveiled its first direct integration with a payer's app Tuesday. PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy is now directly available on not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' member app, MyBlue, and the Boston-based insurers' beneficiaries can order, pay for and receive medications to their home for no extra fee. All BCBSM members are eligible for PillPack, but the payer is starting with its fully-insured commercial members and is targeting the product toward those taking multiple medications.

The FEHBlog is a fan of PillPack as it simplifies peoples's lives and encourages adherence.

Health Payer Intelligence reports on a PriceWaterhouseCoopers study's findings:

“In 2020, organizations will make strategic deals not to just grow larger but instead to expand into new identities with platforms anchored in value, innovation, customer experience and population health,” the report stated. “As they weigh their options, health companies will need to ensure that the deals they pursue pass the sniff test of employers and consumers seeking more affordable care.”