Friday Five: Top 5 healthcare business news items from the MCOL Weekend edition

Every business day, MCOL posts feature stories making news on the business of health care. Here are five we think are particularly important for this week: CMS extension of transitional health plans could ding ACA market The CMS has once again allowed insurers and states to renew so-called transitional health plans that pre-dated Affordable Care Act coverage requirements and that don't have to comply with those rules. Modern Healthcare Thursday, April 26, 2018 Anthem sees profits rise after scaling back participation in ObamaCare Anthem experienced a profit boost in the first quarter of 2018 after scaling back its participation in the ObamaCare markets, the health insurer announced Wednesday. The Hill Wednesday, April 25, 2018 HHS proposes Medicare payment rules to encourage hospitals to be clearer about prices The Trump administration is proposing to rewrite rules on federal payments to hospitals treating older Americans on Medicare, making it easier for patients to see the prices of procedures and care. The Washington Post Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Senate Health panel approves opioid bill The Senate Health Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to send the panel’s bipartisan opioid bill to the chamber’s floor. The Hill Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Insurer group issues warning on Trump administration's short-term health plan proposal The nation's largest trade group for health insurance companies is sounding the alarm on a proposal from the Trump administration that would expand the sale of plans that cover fewer services. The Hill Monday, April 23, 2018 These and more weekly news items on the business of healthcare are featured in the MCOL Weekend edition, along with the MCOL Tidbits, and more, for MCOL Premium level members.