The News
Daily coverage of the developments shaping health and human services. From policy shifts to program innovations, reports on trends-shaping mental health, addiction treatment, child and family services, autism and I/DD, disability support and long-term care, social services, corrections, juvenile justice, chronic disease management, health care systems, and more-helping leaders make timely, informed decisions.
Filter Options
-
Kidney Transplant Rates Lower For Medicare Advantage Than Traditional Medicare
October 18, 2026Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) had a kidney transplant rate approximately 45% lower than beneficiaries with traditional Medicare during the first three years after ESKD beneficiaries became eligible to enroll in Medicare Advantage. From 2021 through 2023,… -
Rhode Island Seeks Up To Three Health Plans For Integrated Medicare & Medicaid Program
October 18, 2026Rhode Island plans to expand its fully integrated dual-eligible special needs plan (FIDE-SNP) program from one health plan to as many as three, creating additional contracting opportunities to serve people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. The Rhode Island Executive… -
Michigan Sues Blue Cross Blue Shield Over Alleged Anticompetitive Practices & Low Provider Reimbursement
October 18, 2026Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on October 8, 2026, alleging that the insurer engaged in anticompetitive practices that increased insurance costs and suppressed payments to health care provider organizations. The… -
Nebraska Denies Medicaid Coverage To 1,090 Applicants & Beneficiaries Under New Work RequirementsÂ
October 18, 2026Nebraska reported 1,090 Medicaid application and renewal denials following the May 1, 2026, implementation of new work requirements for adults in its Medicaid expansion program. Between May and August 2026, 557 new applications were denied, while another 533 beneficiaries were… -
71% Of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Enrollees In Four- Or Five-Star Plans For 2027
October 18, 2026About 71% of Medicare Advantage members with prescription drug coverage are enrolled in plans that received four- or five-star quality ratings for 2027, up from approximately 67% for 2026. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the new… -
Suicide Attempts Among U.S. High School Students Decline Between 2023 & 2025
October 18, 2026The percentage of U.S. high school students reporting poor mental health and suicide risk declined between 2023 and 2025. Students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness decreased from 40% to 33%, while those reporting poor mental health declined from… -
Illinois Implements New Child Welfare Safety Assessment Model To Guide Investigations & Family Support
October 18, 2026Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is changing how it responds to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, allowing child protection specialists to assess family safety before determining whether a formal investigation is necessary. The new approach,… -
AI Could Handle Tasks Associated With Up To 22% Of U.S. Outpatient Claims
October 18, 2026Clinical artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially handle tasks associated with 16% to 22% of U.S. outpatient billing claims, representing approximately 2 billion to 3 billion claims annually, according to an analysis of 2024 insurance claims data. These opportunities are concentrated… -
California Approves Financial Penalties Of Up To 125% For Exceeding Health Care Spending Targets
October 18, 2026California’s Health Care Affordability Board approved a financial penalty framework in late August 2026 for health plans, hospitals, and physician groups that exceed state health care spending growth targets. Under the framework, the California Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA)… -
Major Depressive Episodes Declined Among Youth & Adults From 2021 To 2025
October 18, 2026The percentage of adolescents and adults experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) declined between 2021 and 2025, according to new federal survey findings. In 2025, approximately 3.7 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 (15.1%) and 19.7 million adults ages 18…
2988 Results | Page 1 of 299