Bob Herman
STAT
Northwest Indiana, IN, United States
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Recent articles by Bob:
Biden administration floats major 2024 pay cut for Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare Advantage insurers could face an average 2.3% cut to payments in 2024, or a net cut of more than $3 billion, if the government proposal stands. → Read More
Medicare Advantage insurers will score $2 billion gift thanks to limited audits
A new rule will give a free pass to Medicare Advantage plans for any erroneous codes they submitted between 2011 and 2017. → Read More
Medicare Advantage insurers to repay billions under final federal audit rule
The rule, part of a decade-long feud between the health insurance industry and regulators, will likely invite lawsuits from industry groups. → Read More
‘Everybody has blood on their hands’: A decade-long battle over Medicare Advantage audits is coming to a head
A decade-long battle over Medicare Advantage audits is coming to a head as Medicare makes a final determination about industry oversight. → Read More
A different kind of ‘RAC’ subsidized hospitals’ labor during the pandemic
Usually, the RAC acronym elicits rage in hospital circles. But another kind — regional advisory councils — helped subsidize some hospitals during Covid. → Read More
Hospitals gear up to expand market power, raise prices in 2023
Hospitals’ message at #JPM23: This year will be about increasing revenue by expanding footprints and hiking prices. → Read More
Oscar Health’s CEO on post-hype health insurance and finally turning a profit
“Profitability is the number one goal” for this year, Oscar CEO Mario Schlosser told STAT in an interview at #JPM23. → Read More
Drastic changes should bring profitability, startup health insurers say
Startup insurers Oscar Health, Bright Health, and Clover Health have hemorrhaged money since going public. All three said at #JPM23 that the drastic changes they’ve made should bring profitability. → Read More
Hospitals say peak labor costs are behind them
Rising labor costs have been the main financial concern for hospitals over the past year, but those costs have peaked and are now a lot lower, according to hospital system executives at #JPM23. → Read More
The health care providers and insurers we’re watching at JPM23 — and why
STAT's @bobjherman and @TaraBannow lay out which health care providers and insurance companies they'll be watching at #JPM23. → Read More
3 trends to watch in hospitals and health insurance in 2023
STAT’s business reporters will be paying attention to three hospital and insurance trends next year. Read about them here. → Read More
The Covid-19 test maker that pivoted to being a health insurance company
Curative's Covid-19 test business is now firmly in the past. The company has switched to an even more regulated industry: health insurance. → Read More
Medicare chief: ‘Door is really open’ on coverage for new Alzheimer’s drug
Medicare is willing to reevaluate its coverage of Alzheimer’s drugs in light of a new therapy, called lecanemab, that has shown potentially more promising patient data, the CMS director said Thursday. → Read More
Cancer patients endure an overlooked financial burden: hospital parking fees
For cancer patients who must make frequent trips for treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, the cost of daily parking fees adds up. → Read More
The health insurer will see you now: How UnitedHealth is keeping more profits, as your doctor
The health insurer will see you now: How UnitedHealth is keeping more profits, as your doctor. → Read More
Patient groups push federal government to enforce health care price estimates
Consumer groups are demanding the government enforce a new law that requires providers and insurers to give patients price and cost estimates before they get care, when possible. → Read More
Unexpected troubles hit large medical billing firm R1 RCM, part-owned by Ascension
The stock price of R1 RCM tanked by roughly 50% this week after the large medical billing and collections company reported an unexpected $30 million loss in the third quarter. → Read More
Medicare’s midterm punts, MA marketing schemes, and a closer look at the Abiomed deal
Medicare unleashed an avalanche of regulations this past week, and there was a subtle theme: Don’t rock the boat too much for seniors, a crucial voting bloc in this week’s midterm elections. → Read More
Physicians rally to avert Medicare payment cuts
The federal government is officially reducing Medicare payments to physicians next year by 4.5%, but doctors and their lobbyists are ready to blitz Congress to avert the cuts. → Read More
Private equity's Welsh Carson, casting itself as a noble force, relentlessly pursues profits in health care
Welsh Carson paints itself as nobler than other private equity firms. STAT’s special report on its investment strategy reveals a relentless pursuit of profits — one that can come at the expense of patients and taxpayers. → Read More