Oregon to Increase Payments to Medicaid MCOs 

November 13, 2025

medicaid

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that it will be increasing payments made to Medicaid Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) by an average of 10.2% in 2026. The increase is meant to help stabilize the Oregon Health Plan and support CCOs as they face increased financial strain due to higher utilization. OHA will also take targeted actions in policy to contain Medicaid costs and ensure program sustainability. Some cost containment measures already taken by OHA include requiring CCOs to refund OHA if behavioral health costs are low in 2026, reducing funding for the CCO Quality Incentive Program, and narrowing eligibility for enhanced directed behavioral health care to providers that offer team-based care, pending federal approval.

perspectives

Americans continue to be satisfied with employer-sponsored coverage

A new national survey commissioned by AHIP finds American workers hold consistently positive views of employer-sponsored health coverage, with nearly 9 in 10 expressing satisfaction with their plans and a decisive 96% valuing the financial security their coverage provides. Workers view employer-provided coverage as integral to their employment decisions, with 68% ranking health insurance as […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

Solutions

AHIP and BCBSA provide progress update on prior authorization commitments

On April 7, The Cigna Group joined other health plans in announcing an update on the industry’s progress implementing the voluntary prior authorization commitments made in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS last year. Since June 2025, participating health plans have eliminated 11% of prior authorizations across a range of […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

legislation

Washington lawmakers pass tax increase impacting insurers

Since returning in January, Washington lawmakers have been busy advancing a variety of tax increases to help manage significant budget shortfalls and introduce new revenue streams. One new source of revenue approved by both the Senate and House and included in the state’s budget is HB 2487, which removes a tax exemption for health plan-affiliated […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

You may also like

legislation

Washington lawmakers pass tax increase impacting insurers

Since returning in January, Washington lawmakers have been busy advancing a variety of tax increases to help manage significant budget shortfalls and introduce new revenue streams. One new source of revenue approved by both the Senate and House and included in the state’s budget is HB 2487, which removes a tax exemption for health plan-affiliated […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

legislation

Kentucky legislature moves to veto session

Following a flurry of legislative activity, the Kentucky General Assembly has now moved into its Veto Recess, during which Gov. Andy Beshear (D) must either sign into law or veto each of the bills the legislature sent to him. Lawmakers will return on April 14 and 15 for the final two days of the 2026 […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

medicaid

legislation

Minnesota AI and Utilization Review Bill advances in Senate Policy Committee

Legislation introduced to address the use of AI when conducting utilization reviews was passed by the Senate Judiciary and referred to Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. Overall, the bill would ban the use of AI tools in all utilization and prior authorization reviews performed by health plans or their vendors. To date, the bill’s […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

legislation

White House issues new federal AI framework

On March 20, the White House released a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Framework intended to guide Congressional action on AI legislation. The framework reflects the Administration’s deregulatory approach to AI and seeks to establish a single, minimally burdensome national standard that would preempt state AI laws viewed as restrictive or inconsistent with federal policy. […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

legislation

FTC creates health care task force

On March 20, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the formation of a new Healthcare Task Force aimed at strengthening oversight, enforcement, and policy coordination across the health care industry to help protect American patients, health care workers, and taxpayers. In a directive issued by Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the agency is bringing together its Bureaus […]
read more >

April 15, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare