15 Aug Health Data News Roundup: Payers Praise Inflation Reduction Act; Humana Receives Top Ranking; and The Sequoia Project and Information Blocking

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Roundup from IMAT Solutions. As the power of data continues to grow in the healthcare arena, today’s care organizations need to be on the forefront of all news and trends to help ensure that their data analytics efforts deliver accountable and informed care. Each week, we will provide you with the actionable news you need to meet these goals.

Payers Praise Inflation Reduction Act, Warn About Pharmaceutical Loopholes
When the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act on August 4, 2022, payers and payer organizations met the proposed law with largely positive reactions, though some payer groups pointed out areas that will need improvement.

Humana Receives Top Ranking for Health Plan Member Experience
For the second year in a row, Humana has ranked number one for customer experience quality in Forrester’s 2022 US Customer Experience Benchmark survey, highlighting the payer’s commitment to improving member experience.

The Sequoia Project Releases Draft Information Blocking Resources
The Sequoia Project has released a set of draft resources for public feedback that aim to help entities better comply with the 21st Century Cures Rule information blocking requirements.

Key Opportunities, Action Steps for Race, Ethnicity Data Collection
Race and ethnicity data collection is complex, but there are steps that health insurers—and the healthcare industry at large—can take to improve the process, according to a report from Urban Institute funded by Elevance Health (formerly Anthem).

State of New Mexico to Launch Healthcare Price Transparency Tool
The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) is establishing an extensive new health insurance claims database designed to help monitor the growth of costs, improve quality, and make healthcare prices charged by providers and insurers across the state more accessible and transparent.

How Long COVID Could Impact Health Insurance Coverage, Eligibility
The presence of long COVID may spur changes in health insurance coverage, as people with employer-sponsored health plans may have to cut back their hours or stop working, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).