News and updates
Updates from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and across the industry on the rising cost of healthcare.
BlueCross updates
To learn more about our approach to affordability and our efforts to help manage healthcare costs, see the links below.
How we stopped $64 million in durable medical equipment fraud
Durable medical equipment (DME) includes important equipment and supplies, from braces, crutches and casts to glucose monitors, respirators and hospital beds. The vast majority of providers handle claims for these products appropriately. But this area of the health care industry has been targeted by fraudulent providers, criminals backed by organized crime to steal member data, impersonate legitimate providers, forge documentation, and bill bogus claims to insurers.
What Tennesseans need to know about 2026 marketplace plans
BlueCross explains 2026 Marketplace rates, along with factors driving costs to help members prepare for open enrollment and make informed decisions about their coverage.
Why AI in medical billing matters for health care costs
BlueCross VP of enterprise risk adjustment, quality and affordability Dr. J.B. Sobel, writes about the ways that AI tools can lead to inflated medical care costs and what BCBST is doing to help.
From patient protections to rising health care costs
BlueCross Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Pierce explains how the No Surprises Act increases health care costs as providers use dispute processes to secure higher payments, driving up premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for consumers.
BlueCross, Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance and Ascension Launch Total Joint Replacement Bundle
BlueCross is partnering with providers to deliver bundled joint replacement care that simplifies the experience with one coordinated plan and bill, helping lower costs and improve transparency.
Industry news
For more on rising health care costs, see the articles below:
CRFB Analysis Finds Anticompetitive Hospital & Provider Contracts Driving Healthcare Costs Higher
A new analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget finds that anticompetitive hospital and provider contracting practices are contributing to higher health care costs. The analysis estimates that banning restrictive contracts could reduce national health care spending by $25 billion over the next decade while lowering premiums for Americans with employer-sponsored coverage.
More Americans Are Losing Health Insurance—And Everyone Will Pay
The Time article examines the broader consequences of rising numbers of uninsured Americans, including increased financial pressure on hospitals, reduced access to preventive services and potentially higher costs for people with private insurance. It highlights concerns that coverage losses could create ripple effects across the health care system, contributing to hospital financial strain, service reductions and greater reliance on emergency care.
A $480,000-a-Year Pill Reflects a New Normal for Cancer Drugs
A new pancreatic cancer treatment priced at about $480,000 a year illustrates a broader trend of escalating cancer drug costs. The article explores the difficult balance between paying for meaningful medical innovation and managing the growing financial impact of high-priced treatments on patients, employers and the health care system.
Costs tied to No Surprises Act’s IDR process hit $22B in 2025, study finds
Fierce Healthcare reports that the total costs associated with the No Surprises Act’s controversial process for arbitrating medical billing disputes actually reached 22.4 billion in 2025, and that three organizations accounted for nearly three-quarters of resolved disputes.
How hospital monopolies are driving up the cost of your health care
The Washington Post examines how hospital consolidation can limit competition and increase prices, contributing to higher healthcare costs across the system.
Legislative resources
View the below resources to learn more about proposed legislation, affordability topics and what BlueCross is doing to help our members.
- •How proposed legislation could increase health care costs for members
- •Addressing inaccurate coding for health care claims
- •The impact of proposed changes to Medicare Advantage in Tennessee
- •Protecting affordability for our members
- •Protecting the role of PBMs in pharmacy management
- •Step therapy - How proposed legislation creates risks for members