17 Oct Health Data News Roundup: Humana and UnitedHealthcare Score High in CMS Star Ratings; The Sequoia Project and TEFCA; and Interop Challenges

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.

How the Biggest Payers’ Medicare Advantage Plans Fared in CMS Star Ratings
Humana and UnitedHealthcare scored the highest median ratings of the nation’s six largest payers in CMS’ 2023 Medicare Advantage star ratings. The average star rating among plans, weighted by enrollment, was 4.15 stars, down from 4.37 stars in 2022, according to CMS.

SDOH, Nonmedical Supplemental Benefits Lacking for MA Dual Eligibles
Medicare Advantage plans that exclusively serve dual eligible beneficiaries offered more social determinants of health (SDOH) and nonmedical supplemental benefits than general Medicare Advantage plans, according to a new study.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Expands Benefits for Federal Employees
Members of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will have lower premiums for dental and vision benefits in 2023.

The Sequoia Project Seeks Feedback on Draft TEFCA FHIR Implementation Guide
The Sequoia Project has released the “Draft TEFCA Facilitated FHIR Implementation Guide” for stakeholder feedback.

Training, Interoperability Key for Electronic Health Information Sharing
In a recent ONC provider-focused workshop, participants noted training, technical capacity, and interoperability as the biggest challenges with electronic health information (EHI) sharing.

Treasury Department Finalizes Rule to Get Rid of ACA’s ‘Family Glitch’
The Treasury Department released a final rule that targets a lingering issue that has led some low-income families to not receive premium assistance. The new rule will go into effect next month.

Administrative Waste Comprises 15 to 30% of Healthcare Spending
Between 15 and 30% of all medical spending in the U.S. is attributable to administrative spending, which totaled between $285 billion and $570 billion in 2019, according to new research published by Health Affairs.