17 Feb Health Data News Roundup: Medicare Advantage Plans Lobby Trump; Payers and SDOH Data Integration; and Payers Ranked By 2024 Profits

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 Plans Lobby Trump for Relief
Several Medicare Advantage plans are lobbying the Trump administration to rollback of the 2026 Medicare Advantage Proposed Final Rule, released late in 2024, as well as reinstating the Value Based Insurance Design Model (VBID) and rolling back the Health Equity Index, according to Modern Healthcare.

Early Lessons on SDOH Data Integration Across Health Plans
A new NCQA study found that while SDOH data collection is feasible, health plans face various challenges ranging from siloed data systems to inconsistent coding, according to a recent EHR Intelligence article.

How Health Data Interoperability Benefits Patient Care
Health data interoperability benefits patient care in several ways, including improved care coordination, faster emergency response and enhanced patient engagement, according to a recent EHR Intelligence article.

Unpacking Claim Denials in Light of Public Backlash Against Payers
Claim denials fuel public frustration with U.S. healthcare; high denial rates, AI use and payer policies spark calls for change, including more transparency in medical billing, according to a recent Health Payer Intelligence podcast.

Top Cybersecurity Strategies for Healthcare Payers
Healthcare payers can conduct internal risk assessments, train employees and stay informed about upcoming regulations to bolster cybersecurity efforts, according to a recent Health Payer Intelligence article.

Physician Enthusiasm for Healthcare AI Rises, Concerns Linger
A growing number of physicians are enthusiastic about using healthcare AI, but concerns regarding data privacy and regulatory oversight persist, according to a new AMA survey.

Payers Ranked By 2024 Profits
The nation’s largest payers have filed their fourth-quarter earnings reports, revealing which recorded the largest profits in 2024, and Becker’s Payer Issues has ranked these payers based on their 2024 profits.