Work requirements have been added to Indiana’s Medicaid program, making it the second state to mandate participation in “community engagement” activities since CMS issued guidelines to states on including those provisions in Section 1115 Medicaid waivers.

The priorities for Republicans in Congress this year don’t appear to include another attempt at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), though some are publicly urging the party to take another shot after several failed attempts in 2017.

The $69 billion proposed acquisition of Aetna by CVS Health remains under review by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which requested the companies provide more information on their merger agreement.

The Idaho Department of Insurance has announced it will allow insurers to sell plans which don’t comply with regulations established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which could mean the return of plans that deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, charge higher premiums based on health status and place lifetime or annual caps on benefits.

CMS has released its proposed rule covering rates in Medicare Advantage (MA) and changes to Medicare Part D for 2019, expanding the definition of health-related supplemental benefits and putting limits on opioid prescriptions for beneficiaries.

Between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, health systems should expect pharmaceutical prices to jump up by 7.35 percent, a slightly lower increase than in recent years as fewer products see “exorbitant” price hikes and costs moderate for high-priced hepatitis C drugs.

The merger of Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA) cleared its last hurdle on Jan. 31, as the Tennessee Department of Health issued the Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) allowing the deal to be completed.

Assessing value-based care will require streamlining Medicare regulations across its different programs, defining value and measuring for it, according to the American Medical Group Association (AMGA).