03 Jul Health Data News Roundup: Data on MA Supplemental Benefits Lacking; UnitedHealthcare Boosts Virtual Care; and BCBSA Invests in Youth Mental Health Crisis

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.

Medicare Advantage Plan Payment Cuts Did Not Impact Enrollment Growth
Medicare Advantage plan payment cuts under the ACA did not lead to enrollment reductions, suggesting that further payment reform could minimize spending without hurting access to care, according to a JAMA study.

GAO: Data on Use of Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Lacking
Most Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offer some kind of supplemental benefit, but data on how, and if, members are using them are lacking, according to a new GAO report that analyzed nearly 3,400 MA plans.

UnitedHealthcare Invests $5 Billion in Data and Technology for Virtual Healthcare
Starting July 1, eligible UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in fully insured medical plans, including policies with high deductibles, will begin to pay nothing out-of-pocket for round-the-clock virtual visits, effectively waiving any deductibles or co-pays.

BCBSA Will Invest $10M to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to address the youth mental health crisis by increasing access to trauma-informed care.

Blue Cross MN Commercial Plans Will Cover Peer Support Specialists
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) is improving member access to mental health resources by adding coverage of peer support specialists to commercial plans next year.

HIA Calls ONC to Reconsider Health IT Requirements of Proposed Rule
The Health Innovation Alliance (HIA) has submitted comments on the ONC proposed rule, HTI-1, which aims to implement provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act and make several enhancements to the ONC Health IT Certification Program.

Meals for Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Cut Mortality, Improve Outcomes
MA beneficiaries given home-delivered meals in the four weeks after being discharged from a hospital were not only less likely to be readmitted within 30 days, they were also less likely to die, according to a new study.