WEBINAR
Elevate Your Expertise with Providence Health California Network: Exclusive Broker Update
Virtual Zoom:
November 18, 2025
12-12:45 PM PCT
Are you ready to transform the way you serve your clients? Join the Providence Producer Services Team for an exclusive network update designed to redefine your approach to healthcare solutions.
Discover how Providence’s integrated care footprint, clinical institutes, and carrier partnerships are shaping the future of health coverage in California. Learn about market trends, producer resources, and our unique value proposition that supports brokers across Covered California, commercial group, and Medicare lines of business.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights and elevate your client offerings with one of the nation’s most trusted health systems.
About Providence
Providence is a national, not-for-profit Catholic health system comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by a belief that health is a human right. With 51 hospitals, more than 1,100 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing, and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 125,000 caregivers serving communities across seven states – Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, with system offices in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif. Learn about our vision of health for a better world at Providence.org.
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Medical inflation is top priority for employers as they wrestle with health costs
Executives at Aon and Arthur J. Gallagher say that the U.S. labor market still looks strong, but that big increases in U.S. health coverage costs are definitely getting employers’ attention.
At Aon, the health solutions unit increased revenue 6%.
“This is a 20%-plus segment of the U.S. economy, and costs are growing at 9% to 10% a year,” Aon Chief Executive Officer Greg Case told securities analysts Friday during a conference call. “It’s a tremendous burden on companies.”
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How insurers are leveraging AI agents
In June, Becker’s predicted that 2025 would shape up to be the year of AI agents in healthcare. While AI agents are nothing new, more insurers are getting on the bandwagon.
AI agents complete tasks autonomously to achieve specific goals. More broadly, though, AI use in health insurance has been contentious. CMS released AI guidance for Medicare Advantage plans in an effort to prevent bias with coverage decisions, and state regulators have even joined the conversation.
Traditional Medicare will also be subject to AI-driven prior authorization processes by means of a CMS pilot launching next year in some states. However, the American Hospital Association has pushed the agency to delay the initiative.
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Anthem Blue Cross, Cedars-Sinai extend contract
Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai and Anthem Blue Cross of California are extending their contract until Jan. 1, 2030, the health system said in a news release shared with Becker’s.
More than 230,000 Anthem members will stay in network under the multiyear agreement. The contract was initially set to expire at the end of 2025.
“We are grateful for Cedars-Sinai’s continued partnership and shared commitment to long-term stability and improved health outcomes for our members,” said Beth Andersen, president of Anthem Blue Cross commercial health plans in California.
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MEDICARE
CMS grants temporary flexibility for telehealth coverage in Medicare Advantage during the government shutdown
What You Need to Know: CMS has announced that Medicare Advantage plans may continue offering certain telehealth benefits despite the expiration of federal telehealth flexibilities on October 1. The agency is exercising temporary enforcement discretion through December 31, 2025—or until Congress acts—to ensure continuity of care and minimize enrollee confusion.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance allowing Medicare Advantage plans to maintain coverage of certain telehealth services that technically expired when federal telehealth authorities lapsed on October 1, 2025.
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Medicare to cover obesity drugs for certain groups next year
Medicare will cover GLP-1 weight loss drugs for specific patient groups, beginning in mid-2026, under a deal the Trump administration struck with drug makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
The deal also includes lower prices for GLP-1 drugs for Americans who use cash to buy them through a new government website. That website is expected to launch next year and will allow people to buy drugs directly from companies.
Politico reported that about 10% of Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible for expanded access to GLP-1 medications.
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SCAN expands Costco partnership
SCAN Health Plan and Costco Wholesale Corp., a preferred pharmacy for the insurer, are collaborating to offer older adults a rewards program, provide them with greater flexibility with spending benefits and educate them about Medicare.
Senthu Arumugam, SCAN’s chief commercial officer, and Trish Cox, chief experience officer, explained the details of the alliance to Becker’s.
“What was important to us was that we work with retail partners where there’s a shared alignment of values,” Mr. Arumugam said. “That could not be more the case with Costco.”
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
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LISTEN & LEARN
Industry News to Grow Your Business
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California Brokers Gain New Edge
By Jason Dutra
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Leading Through Mentorship and Adaptation
By Jeff Levin – One America
WATCH
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Retirement Strategies for California Brokers
By Peter J. Buechler
WATCH
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Magnificare: Redefining In‑Home Care with Heart, Data, and Purpose
By Ryan Mendoza- Magnificare
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Navigating the New LTC Frontier with CareScout Services
By Samir B. Shah – Carescout
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By Gilbert Mares
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