21 Oct Health Data News Roundup: Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Fall in 2025; HIEs Use HL7 V2 And CDA Health Data Standards; and Concerns Over HTI-2 Timelines

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 Star Ratings Fall Again in 2025
About 40 percent of Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage will earn four or more stars in 2025, a decline from this year, according to data released CMS. The latest release marks another year of declining star ratings.

Most HIEs Routinely Use HL7 V2 And CDA Health Data Standards
Health information exchange organizations are adopting health data standards at varying rates, with a recent data brief from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and ONC (ASTP/ONC) revealing widespread use of HL7 v2 and CDA standards but slower adoption of FHIR APIs.

Tripathi: Behavior is Biggest Health Data Exchange Barrier
Behavior remains a significant challenge in ensuring seamless health data exchange, according to Micky Tripathi, assistant secretary for technology policy, national coordinator for health information technology and acting chief artificial intelligence officer at HHS.

AHA Concerned Over HTI-2 Timelines, ‘Burdensome’ Requirements
The American Hospital Association expressed concerns over the proposed rule for healthcare IT interoperability, HTI-2, from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), arguing against “burdensome” encryption requirements, according to Healthcare IT News.

Employers’ Health Insurance Premiums Up 7 Percent
The average annual premiums for employer-sponsored insurance for families increased by 7 percent in 2024, according to KFF’s annual Employer Health Benefits Survey. The report is compiled from interviews with business owners and human resource and benefits managers at more than 2,000 firms.

UnitedHealth Sees Rising Costs from Inflation Reduction Act
Changes from the Inflation Reduction Act are one factor driving up medical costs for UnitedHealth Group, which predicted its 2024 earnings per share would be toward the lower end of the guidance it issued at the beginning of the year.