Leslie Small
FierceHealth
Washington, DC, United States
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Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Leslie:
New 'Medicare Extra' plan would carve out role for private health insurers
A left-leaning think tank is proposing a plan for universal health coverage that sounds similar to “Medicare-for-all” but is actually friendlier to private insurers. The Center for American Progress' new plan would widen access to a Medicare-based public insurance program but also give consumers the option of keeping their employer-sponsored insurance plan or opting for a privatized Medicare… → Read More
From behind the times to cutting edge: Where health insurers are investing in tech upgrades
Health insurers are well aware that they’re behind the technology curve—and they’re making significant investments to fix that. These companies are focusing on four main areas that are most in need of technological improvement: customer service, administrative and claims systems, data aggregation and mining, and underwriting/new business systems. → Read More
Kentucky officials file lawsuit to defend Medicaid work requirements
Kentucky officials are going to court to defend the concept of Medicaid work requirements. In a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court, they seek a judicial declaration that the state’s demonstration program complies with all applicable federal laws. → Read More
JAMA piece urges release of Medicare Advantage encounter data
Despite concerns about the quality of Medicare Advantage encounter data, a new JAMA viewpoint piece argues that it's long past time to make that information available to researchers who want to study the ever-growing privatized Medicare program. After all, the authors argue, those same data are being used to calculate payments to insurers. → Read More
Surveys suggest a slowdown in HSA-eligible health plan enrollment growth
Enrollment growth in health savings account-eligible health plans, once robust, appears to be slowing down, according to a new issue brief from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. As for why that might be, the brief suggests recent minimal increases in health insurance premiums may be a factor. → Read More
Under Trump, HHS rolls back policies aimed at protecting LGBT rights
Though President Donald Trump promised to support LGBT causes during the 2016 campaign, under his watch the Department of Health and Human Services had rolled back several initiatives aimed at protecting the rights of that population. New HHS Secretary Alex Azar could take the department in a different direction. → Read More
Anthem alters controversial ER coverage policies
Seeking to address mounting concerns from providers and other stakeholders, Anthem has made changes to policies it previously rolled out that restrict coverage for emergency room visits. The insurer has implemented a series of “always pay” exceptions for certain circumstances, like when a patient is admitted to the hospital after visiting the ER or when the individual lives more than 15 miles… → Read More
Anthem alters controversial ER coverage policies
Seeking to address mounting concerns from providers and other stakeholders, Anthem has made changes to policies it previously rolled out that restrict coverage for emergency room visits. The insurer has implemented a series of “always pay” exceptions for certain circumstances, like when a patient is admitted to the hospital after visiting the ER or when the individual lives more than 15 miles… → Read More
Why the courts may overturn Medicaid work requirements
With one lawsuit already challenging Medicaid work requirements in Kentucky and more possible in other states, health policy watchers have one burning question: What will the courts decide? According to Eliot Fishman—who was the director of the State Demonstrations Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from 2013 until early 2017—there’s a good chance that judges will overturn… → Read More
As Idaho insurer offers plans that skirt the ACA, some in GOP warm to healthcare law fixes
Blue Cross of Idaho has become the first insurer to respond to the state’s controversial executive order that encourages the sale of health plans that don’t comply with the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, some Republicans are increasingly embracing measures to shore up the individual marketplaces, such as reinsurance. → Read More
Twitter users poke fun at the industry's biggest headlines with #HealthPolicyValentines
To many people, Valentine’s Day is a day for romantic gestures—or at the very least, a hearty helping of chocolate. But to healthcare influencers, academics and reporters on Twitter, it’s also a time to break out their best witticisms for #HealthPolicyValentines. → Read More
Twitter users poke fun at the industry's biggest headlines with #HealthPolicyValentines
To many people, Valentine’s Day is a day for romantic gestures—or at the very least, a hearty helping of chocolate. But to healthcare influencers, academics and reporters on Twitter, it’s also a time to break out their best witticisms for #HealthPolicyValentines. → Read More
Conservatives decry Trump budget's call to fund risk corridor, CSR programs
Though President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal calls on Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, it also seeks mandatory funding for two ACA programs: risk corridors and cost-sharing reduction payments. Conservatives, who have characterized both programs as bailouts for insurance companies, aren’t pleased. → Read More
Business groups, GOP lawmaker push for repeal of employer mandate
Now that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate has been repealed, the spotlight has swiveled to its less-discussed cousin: the employer mandate. The IRS has signaled that it will start fining employers for failing to provide coverage to their workers, sparking renewed calls for Congress to get rid of the mandate—or at least delay it. → Read More
Nevada plans to ditch Healthcare.gov; Kentucky building website to track Medicaid work requirements
Two states are betting big on new websites to help with the complicated processes of administering healthcare for their residents. In Kentucky, state officials have contracted with Deloitte to help them build a website that will track whether certain Medicaid beneficiaries are meeting the state’s new work requirements. And in Nevada, the state is seeking a vendor to help it build its own ACA… → Read More
Nevada plans to ditch Healthcare.gov; Kentucky building website to track Medicaid work requirements
Two states are betting big on new websites to help with the complicated processes of administering healthcare for their residents. In Kentucky, state officials have contracted with Deloitte to help them build a website that will track whether certain Medicaid beneficiaries are meeting the state’s new work requirements. And in Nevada, the state is seeking a vendor to help it build its own ACA… → Read More
Molina reports $512M loss for 2017 as turnaround effort continues
Molina Healthcare, which is struggling to regain its footing after a management shakeup and amid an ongoing restructuring effort, said Tuesday that it lost $512 million in 2017. However, CEO Joseph Zubretsky stressed that the overall performance of the company’s Medicaid and Medicare business lines was “respectable.” → Read More
Trump budget calls for ACA repeal, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid
Though Congress doesn’t look likely to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act anytime soon, President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2019 budget proposal is counting on billions of dollars’ worth of savings from doing just that. The administration calls on lawmakers to pass a version of the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill, which Congress tabled in September. → Read More
Aetna faces probe over former medical director's testimony
Aetna is facing backlash—and an investigation in California—after a former medical director testified that he never looked at patients’ medical records when making coverage decisions. During a deposition tied to a lawsuit against Aetna, Jay Ken Iinuma, M.D., said he based his coverage decisions on information provided to him by nurses. → Read More
Anthem gets flak for anesthesia coverage policy
Doctors in California are raising the alarm over a recent policy change from Anthem that they say could harm patients undergoing cataract surgery. → Read More