CMS has finalized changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) that “dramatically redesigns and sets a new direction” for Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs). The final rule, as outlined in the proposed rule announced in August, will force ACOs to take on more risk at a quicker pace.

After a delay, Cigna has closed its $67 billion acquisition of Express Scripts, the company confirmed on Dec. 20.

The shift to value-based care made significant headway in 2017, according to a new survey from the Health Care Transformation Task Force that found nearly half of their business was in value-based payment arrangements by the end of the year.

Roughly 3 in 10 Americans don’t seek medical care because they can’t afford it, according to a recent Gallup poll.

CMS wants to take a closer look at the financial relationships of accrediting organizations (AOs) that survey Medicare-certified healthcare providers.

A federal judge who has been reviewing the $69 billion merger between CVS Health and Aetna has told the two companies to keep some operations separate during the ongoing antitrust process, The New York Times reported.

Cigna received its final approval from regulators for its $67 billion acquisition of Express Scripts. New Jersey approved the transaction, clearing the way for the deal to close, according to a public filing from Cigna.

Drug manufacturing giants Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline will combine their consumer healthcare units in a separate joint venture that will be the world’s largest seller of over-the-counter medicines.