Cigna’s rebate-free model sounds nice, but experts are skeptical

As lawmakers consider stricter PBM regulation, Cigna launched a "rebate-free" model to give patients upfront drug discounts, but experts question whether it will lead to meaningful change.

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Top Story Cigna's Rebate-Free Model Sounds Nice, But Experts Are Still Skeptical As lawmakers consider stricter PBM regulation, Cigna launched a "rebate-free" model to give patients upfront drug discounts, but experts question whether it will lead to meaningful change. Sponsored Enhanced Direct Enrollment: Georgia Access and the Power of Partnership Presented by GetInsured Across the nation, state-based health insurance exchanges are searching for ways to better serve their communities while making enrollment easier, more personal, and more accessible for everyone. Learn More.

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Braveheart Bio Bags $185M for Drug That Could Rival a Bristol Myers Squibb Cardio Med Braveheart Bio is preparing to advance to Phase 3 testing in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or oHCM. The startup says its small molecule could have safety advantages over Camzyos, a Bristol Myers Squibb capsule projected to become a blockbuster seller in this indication. Heard at HLTH: Healthcare Executives Share New Products, Strategies, Outlook [Sponsored] Executives from health tech companies attending HLTH 2025 shared how they're integrating AI and what they're doing to address rising healthcare costs. Debunked Episode 21: The Drug Price Debate, AI in Healthcare Companies Face Consolidation But How Much? How many companies will be left standing once consolidation hits the AI in healthcare sector? Which pharma companies are working with the Trump administration to lower costs? Leveraging AI and LLMs To Close Critical Gaps in Patient Data and Transform Patient Risk Assessment in the ICU It is our obligation to do our part to find ways to improve patient outcomes and lower health care costs. This often means continuously finding better, more efficient ways to solve problems, utilizing the most optimal tools and data we have at our disposal. And as of right now, and for the foreseeable future, that means finding appropriate use cases to leverage the power of AI and LLMs where it most makes sense.  Exploring How Ear-Based Stimulation May Support Stress Recovery and Post-Viral Health Ear-based stimulation has the potential to provide health systems with a scalable, low-risk tool to address some of today's most pressing challenges: rising rates of anxiety and depression, persistent post-viral syndromes and the long-term burden of stress-related chronic conditions.

Video   Video: How AI Is Tackling Administrative Burdens There is no question that EHRs have created major administrative burdens, noted Nikhil Buduma, CEO of Ambience Healthcare.  These systems are causing clinicians to spend most of their time on documentation and billing work instead of connecting with patients. Buduma said Ambience aims to solve this by integrating AI directly into EHR workflows to automate tasks before, during and after the visit. The goal is to remove non-clinical work so clinicians can focus on the patient in front of them and restore joy in practicing medicine.

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MedCity Pivot Podcast: A Chat With AWS Chief Medical Officer Rowland Illing Dr. Rowland Illing explained how life science companies and health systems are leveraing AWS HealthLake to transform healthcare. View Now

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