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What rapid policy transformation means for health plans

Federal healthcare policy is shifting fast. Expiring pandemic-era tax credits, research funding cuts and increasing prior authorization pressures are already reshaping how care is delivered and reimbursed. During this virtual learning session, hear from two Cigna senior leaders on how…

Sep 10, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM America/Chicago

Presented by:

Presenters

Mitch Relfe

Sr. Principal, Federal Government Affairs, The Cigna Group

Allison Hofmann

Vice President, Health System Division, Cigna Healthcare

What CMS' new rules mean for cardiology: 5 notes

On July 15, CMS issued its proposed rule for its 2026 physician fee schedule, that included a 3.6% bump to physician payments. The overall reimbursement for cardiovascular services is projected to increase by roughly 1% compared to 2025, according to…

'Transparency is critical': Do's and don'ts of ASC joint ventures

As hospitals, health systems, private equity and other investment platforms shift their interest towards outpatient development, ASC leaders are developing their own carefully crafted criteria for potential joint venture partners. Two ASC leaders recently joined Becker’s to share what they…

Care more, code less — How to navigate CMS updates

Recent CMS changes removed over 2,000 diagnostic codes and introduced 200-plus that don’t map to reimbursement under previous rules. For health systems and ACOs, missing these changes can translate into massive revenue losses and poor risk scoring. Health systems like…

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Robotic surgery shows promise in emergency colorectal care

Robotic-assisted surgery is emerging as a viable and increasingly adopted option for emergency colorectal procedures, according to a July 23 study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Researchers analyzed data from over 83,000 patients in the…

Optum's quiet physician empire in 24 numbers

Here are 24 numbers that illustrate the scope of Optum, UnitedHealth Group’s healthcare services arm that includes ASC chain SCA Health: 1. As of July 17, UnitedHealth directly employs or contracts with more than 90,000 physicians, according to a new…

'Resistance is futile': Why hospitals need to get on board with ASCs

As the migration of procedures from hospitals to ASCs accelerates, some health systems are struggling to accept what many leaders already see as the inevitable shift outpatient. With lower costs, leaner operations and high patient satisfaction, ASCs are increasingly performing…

Kentucky physician sentenced for unlawful distribution of controlled substances

Michael Gainey, MD, a physician in Cynthia, Ky., was sentenced to 80 months in prison for unlawfully distributing controlled substances. Practicing as a family medicine specialist, Dr. Gainey treated and prescribed controlled substances to a number of patients who were…

AMA unveils tool to calculate 'heart age'

A new heart age calculator developed by researchers at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., shows many Americans have hearts significantly older than their actual age, according to a study published July 30 in JAMA Cardiology. The tool, based on risk…

Physician leader, CEO charged in $500M fraud scheme

The CEO and medical director of Fast Lab Technologies have been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a $500 million scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare and other insurers by billing for COVID-19 testing services that were never provided, the Justice Department…