Bloomberg Law (10/2, Belloni, Subscription Publication) reports that rural hospitals “facing financial headwinds and frustrated with prior authorization demands are withdrawing from contracts with Medicare Advantage plans, prompting concerns from insurers that the cancellations could have consequences for patients.” According to Bloomberg Law, “over 25 hospitals across the country have decided to pull out of some or all of their Medicare Advantage contracts since Jan. 1. Industry groups such as the American Hospital Association cite MA’s lower reimbursement, more aggressive prior authorization, and increased administrative demands when compared with traditional Medicare as reasons behind the contract closures.” Most of the cancellations “have come from Medicare Advantage plans from large national insurance firms such as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare.”
Related Links:
— “Insurers Warn of Risks as Rural Hospitals Drop Medicare Plans,”Ganny Belloni, Bloomberg Law, October 2, 2025