Rebecca Pifer

Washington, D.C., United States

reporter on health insurance + a cornucopia of other interests @healthcaredive. tips welcome; dm's open. @ rpifer.95 on Signal

Articles

HHS staffers sue over 'hopelessly error-ridden' layoffs

3 days ago | healthcaredive.com | Rebecca Pifer |Susanna Vogel

Listen to the article 4 min Fired HHS employees are suing the Trump administration for illegally terminating thousands of employees in the federal health department's spring restructuring based on incorrect records. Seven affected staffers filed the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, Tuesday in a D.C. district court against the HHS, the Department of Government Efficiency and other agencies and top leaders in the Trump administration.
Centene sued over alleged ghost network following member's death

4 days ago | healthcaredive.com | Rebecca Pifer |Susanna Vogel

Listen to the article 7 min Centene is being sued for wrongful death after one of its members died after failing to get the mental healthcare he needed because of the insurer's inadequate provider networks, according to the lawsuit filed by the member's mother.
Athenahealth names CVS alum as CFO

1 week ago | healthcaredive.com | Emily Olsen |Rebecca Pifer

Listen to the article 2 minName: Tom CowheyPrevious title: Executive vice president and CFO, CVS HealthNew title: CFO, Athenahealth Cowhey will take on the finance chief position on June 9, the health IT firm and electronic health record vendor said Tuesday. He replaces John Hofmann, Athenahealth's previous CFO who joined in 2022.
Trump administration threatens states over Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants

1 week ago | healthcaredive.com | Rebecca Pifer |Susanna Vogel |Sydney Halleman

Listen to the article 6 minThe Trump administration is threatening to halt federal Medicaid funding to states it says are illegally using the safety-net insurance program to cover healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Under federal law, states are only allowed to use federal Medicaid funds for emergency medical services for people in the country illegally.
GLP-1 prescriptions for weight loss are shooting up, despite obstacles

1 week ago | healthcaredive.com | Rebecca Pifer |Susanna Vogel

Listen to the article 7 min More adults are taking GLP-1 drugs to control their weight, despite recent shortages and high list prices, according to new research. The percentage of overweight or obese adults prescribed a GLP-1 jumped from 0.3% in 2019 to 2.05% in 2024 - an almost 587% increase, according to an analysis of commercial claims by nonprofit Fair Health.
Medicaid cuts could threaten healthcare access for young adults: report

1 week ago | healthcaredive.com | Emily Olsen |Rebecca Pifer

Listen to the article 4 min Cuts to Medicaid under consideration in Congress could threaten healthcare access for young adults, according to a new analysis by the Urban Institute. Currently, roughly 3 in 10 Americans aged 18 to 24 are covered by Medicaid. Many could lose insurance under Republicans' proposals, limiting their ability to receive healthcare services and potentially worsening already unstable finances, the progressive policy think tank said in a blog post.
House passes reconciliation bill with massive Medicaid cuts

2 weeks ago | biopharmadive.com | Rebecca Pifer

The House passed Republicans’ “big, beautiful bill” on Thursday in a razor-thin 215-214 vote, sending the legislation — which includes the most drastic overhaul to Medicaid since the program was founded — to the Senate for review. It’s a major victory for Republicans. The multi-trillion dollar package was at risk of collapse heading into the vote, given tension in the party between hardliners calling for steeper cuts and moderates concerned about shrinking healthcare and social welfare programs.
Judge approves Rite Aid pharmacy sales to CVS, Walgreens others

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rebecca Pifer

This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved Rite Aid’s pharmacy asset sales to a variety of buyers, including some of the bankrupt drugstore chain’s rivals.
CMS expands audits to crack down on Medicare Advantage overpayments

2 weeks ago | healthcaredive.com | Emily Olsen |Rebecca Pifer

Listen to the article 5 min The CMS will crack down on overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, moving to significantly expand its capacity to audit whether insurers are inflating their enrollees' illnesses, the agency said Wednesday. Beginning immediately, the CMS will review all eligible MA contracts each payment year in newly initiated audits.
CVS names new president of Oak Street Health

2 weeks ago | healthcaredive.com | Rebecca Pifer

Listen to the article 3 minName: Creagh MilfordPrevious title: President of Retail Health, CVSNew title: President of Oak Street Health, a CVS subsidiaryMilford is taking the reins at Oak Street Health effective immediately, according to a LinkedIn post from the executive. He's replacing Brian Clem, who has served as Oak Street president since 2019 and remained in the role through the company's acquisition by CVS.