Here are seven updates:
Cigna settles shareholder class-action lawsuits over Anthem deal
Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna settled several shareholder class-action lawsuits that were filed over its proposed merger with Indianapolis-based Anthem. In July, Anthem entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cigna in a transaction valued at $54.2 billion.
Surgical Care Affiliates Q3 revenue up 19%; adds 3 facilities
For the third quarter, SCA reported 19 percent revenue increase year-over-year in the third quarter. The company's operating income was up 22 percent to $58.7 million and net income attributable to SCA was $118.6 million.
Patient safety efforts save healthcare system $20B — 5 highlights
On Dec. 1, federal officials said nationwide patient safety efforts have prevented more then 2 million hospital-acquired conditions such as infections and pressure ulcers. This figure amounts to a 17 percent decline in adverse events, or 87,000 fewer lives lost.
UnitedHealth CEO: Participating in ACA exchanges was a 'bad idea'
UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley said the payer made a poor decision by jumping into the ACA's public insurance exchanges an investor meeting in New York on Tuesday. UnitedHealth expects to lose as much as $500 million on ACA plans in 2016.
Former AmSurg exec Christopher Kelly launches emergency physician practice management company
Christopher Kelly, a former AmSurg executive, founded Emergency Physician Partners, a company to provide administrative services to emergency medicine practices nationwide. The company is projected to start acquiring practices during the first quarter of 2016.
New ACP guideline advises physicians to prescribe generic medications
The American College of Physicians published a new guideline advising physicians to prescribe generic medications when possible, as opposed to their brand name counterparts. The ACP states the potential cost savings of prescribing eight common medication classes as generic equivalents could reach more than $20 billion each year.
Healthcare consumers receive $2.4B+ in premiums rebates, CMS reports
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported healthcare consumers received more than $2.4 billion in premium rebates since 2011. In 2014, more than 5.5 million consumers received nearly $470 million in rebates.
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