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November 30, 2009
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MHMN Nov. 30, 2009; Volume 17, Number 20
3Q09 MCO lives fall 1.8%...United to expand in services…CBO sees little cost-shifting…HSA/HRA lives rise 17%...Chart: HSA/HRA lives…Cigna to expand globally…3Q09 BCBS lives fall 5.6%...Chart: BCBS HMO/POS lives…Chart: Total lives, 10 MCOs…Commercial PPO lives fall 6.6%...Chart: Commercial PPO lives…3Q09 HMO/POS lives fall 2.1%...Chart: HMO/POS lives…Aetna to cut 1250 jobs…Reid unveils Senate bill…McDonald says kill reform…United American posts loss…Mitigating adverse selection…Public plan to enroll 3-4 million…CVS PBM growth prospects…FROM THE CRG BLOG: CBO analysis on premiums a slam Dunk for reform…
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FROM THE CRG BLOG: CBO ANALYSIS ON PREMIUMS A SLAM DUNK FOR REFORM
by Carl Mercurio (originally published Nov. 30, 2009)
I suppose that opponents of healthcare reform will focus on the one negative in the analysis released today by the Congressional Budget Office: i.e., by 2016 individual health plan premiums would be 10% to 13% higher under Senate reform than under current law.
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UNITED TO PUSH SERVICES ACQUISITIONS
UnitedHealth Group (Minnetonka, MN) said it would continue to focus on acquisitions in the services area, moving beyond “payer-centric” services and stressing deals in the consumer-driven and care delivery markets such as revenue cycle management and technology consulting.
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TOP MCOs HAVE 10.7 MILLION HSA, HRA LIVES
Eighteen managed care organizations increased enrollment in HSA and HRA plans 17% to 10.743 million as of Sept. 30, 2009, according to an MHMR tally. United had the most members at 2.861 million, up 4.4%. Independence Blue Cross posted the strongest growth, up 489.1% to 43,595.
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CIGNA TO EXPAND GLOBALLY, TIGHTEN U.S. FOCUS
Cigna Corp. (Philadelphia) outlined a new strategy at the company’s annual investor conference – with an emphasis on tightening its focus on certain U.S. product segments, while pushing for growth in its global operations.
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COMMERCIAL PPO ENROLLMENT DECLINES 6.6% IN 3Q ‘09
Fully funded commercial PPO enrollment among 15 for-profit and not-for-profit managed care organizations fell 6.6% to 37.634 million as of Sept. 30, 2009, compared to a year earlier. Winners included Aetna and HealthPartners. Losers included BCBS-FL and Independence.
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MCDONALD SAYS KILL THE SENATE REFORM BILL
Oppenheimer analyst Carl McDonald came out with a strongly worded commentary on why the healthcare reform bill released by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) bill is bad for the insurance industry and should be killed.
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UNITED AMERICAN POSTS FY1Q LOSS; REVIEWS OPTIONS
United American Healthcare Corp. (Detroit), which is reviewing strategic options including the possible liquidation of the company, reported a net loss of $1.563 million on revenues of $1.76 million in the fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009.
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ANNUAL ENROLLMENT COULD MITIGATE ADVERSE SELECTION
One of the valid concerns the health insurance industry has with healthcare reform is that the penalties in the individual mandate are so small, healthy people will simply wait until they are sick before buying coverage — a formula for adverse selection.
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CVS PBM PROFITS COULD HAMPER GROWTH, ANALYST SAYS
UBS analyst Steven Valiquette has initiated coverage on the pharmacy benefit management sector, with buy ratings on the big three — CVS Caremark, Express-Scripts, Medco – and a neutral rating on SXC Health Solutions.
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