And since what we're proposing is only a simple extension of current law, the Senate could do this within a few hours. This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with healthc care affordability, and begins a process of negotiating reforms to the ACA tax credits for the future. >> What the Democrats are offering is a clean, continuing resolution to reopen the government along the lines of what Republicans want.In addition to that, a bipartisan minibus of appropriations bills. In other word ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Cigna Group reported revenues of $69.7 billion and adjusted earnings of $7.83 per share for the third quarter of 2025, reflecting sustained growth despite a dynamic market environment [6][33]. - The company recorded a net after-tax special item benefit of $61 million, equating to $0.23 per share [3]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Evernorth Health Services achieved revenues of $60.4 billion, with pre-tax adjusted earnings of $1.9 billion, while specialty and care services revenues increased by 10% to $26.3 billion, and pre-tax adjusted earnings rose by 11% to $928 million [33][34]. - Cigna Healthcare reported third quarter revenues of $10.9 billion and pre-tax adjusted earnings of $1 billion, with a medical care ratio of 84.8% driven by an updated view of risk adjustment [35][36]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that generic drugs account for 90% of all prescriptions in the U.S., with prices being one-third cheaper than in other countries, while brand name medications continue to rise significantly in cost [8][9]. - The median price for new FDA-approved drugs is projected to be approximately $390,000 for a treatment course in 2025, highlighting the affordability challenges in the market [9]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - The Cigna Group is focusing on a new rebate-free model for pharmacy benefits, aiming to improve healthcare affordability and streamline the patient experience [7][12]. - The company is strategically investing in expanding its addressable markets, including a recent investment in Shields Health Solutions to enhance specialty capabilities [6][19]. Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth despite challenges, reaffirming an adjusted EPS outlook of at least $29.60 for 2025 [16][33]. - The company anticipates margin pressure in the pharmacy benefit services segment due to strategic client renewals and investments in the new model, but expects long-term growth to remain strong [15][30]. Other Important Information - The company is committed to supporting independent pharmacists and ensuring fair pricing reimbursements, particularly in rural communities [14]. - Cigna Healthcare's growth is expected to be at the higher end of its long-term targets, with a focus on enhancing affordability and access to care [38]. Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on rebate guarantees and renewal pricing - Management clarified that the new rebate-free model is designed to be transparent and fee-based, aligning with regulatory priorities, and that the long-term growth algorithm for Evernorth remains intact despite short-term pressures [45][46]. Question: Magnitude of the 2026 decline in pharmacy benefit services - Management indicated that the decline in pharmacy benefit services income is expected to be driven by large client renewals and transitional investment spending, with specific figures not provided but a directional outline given [58][62]. Question: Adoption likelihood of the new model by employers - Management expressed confidence that the new model will be well-received by employers, emphasizing its benefits in terms of budget certainty and employee satisfaction [68][69]. Question: Profitability of large contracts - Management stated that while large contracts may have lower margin profiles, they do not operate at a loss and are strategically important for the company [73][76].

Government Shutdown Impact - The government shutdown is now the second longest in American history, impacting SNAP recipients and Head Start programs [1] - Millions of Americans relying on SNAP are at risk of losing food assistance, potentially disrupting or skipping November payments in states like Texas, New York, Missouri, and New Jersey [1] - Head Start locations are warning that their programs could be in danger if the shutdown continues into November [1] - Federal workers are turning to food banks for assistance [1] Healthcare & Obamacare Subsidies - The shutdown is centered around Obamacare subsidies, with many people seeing higher premiums [1] - The public, including a majority of Republicans and even Trump voters, supports extending ACA subsidies [1] - Lack of affordability and transparency in healthcare is moving beyond a crisis into a full-blown catastrophe [3] - A Kaiser survey indicates companies are paying an average of $24,000 per year for premiums, with $1,000 to $6,000 flowing back to employees [4] - Families making $140,000 a year may have to pay $6,000 to $12,000 in income for premiums [5] - Premiums are doubling, and there's a cliff coming, making it difficult to avoid renewing subsidies [11][12] Political Strategy & Messaging - The White House seems comfortable watching the situation unfold, with no immediate plans to offer a solution [8][9] - The Republican party has lost the capacity to articulate policy arguments at the national level [17][18] - The President is seeking $230 million in compensation for federal investigations [19] - The White House operates with a short-term focus, lacking concern for long-term implications [21][22][23]

Renewable Energy Sector - The U.S. government is canceling the approval for the Esmeralda 7 project, a significant 6.2 GW solar and battery storage initiative in Nevada, which would have been one of North America's largest renewable energy installations, indicating a potential shift in energy policy [2][9] Artificial Intelligence Industry - OpenAI's models have been "jailbroken," allowing them to generate instructions for creating chemical and biological weapons, raising serious concerns about AI safety and the need for regulatory oversight in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector [3][9] Healthcare Sector - A KFF analysis warns that the average out-of-pocket healthcare premiums could double for millions of Americans if Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies are removed, potentially creating significant financial strain on households and affecting health insurance providers [4][9] Employment and Economic Impact - At least 4,000 federal workers have received layoff notices, with the Treasury and Health Departments being the hardest hit, suggesting potential government restructuring or budget constraints that could have localized economic impacts [5][9] Technology and Privacy Regulations - California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law requiring social media companies to erase user data when accounts are deleted, which will impose new compliance burdens on major tech platforms such as Meta Platforms and Alphabet [6][9]

Well, many Americans have felt the frustration of getting a healthc care insurance denial leading to hours and hours on the phone, trading emails with the carrier, and oftentimes never getting a solution. But there's a new company that's looking to change all of that. Our next guest runs a platform that uses AI to appeal denials for care to treat 70 autoimmune conditions like Crohn's disease and others.Patients fill out a form and AI handles the leg work scanning health care plans and relevant state and fed ...

Welcome to a new episode of Yahoo Finance's opening bid podcast. I'm Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sazy. Like I always say, this the podcast that will make you a smarter investor, period.And I want to change it up for this episode. I've spent so much time uh over the past few months talking about AI in the enterprise. Or in other words, AI spreading throughout corporate America, mostly through agents unlocking all sorts of productivity and costing jobs.I want to focus on AI for good and a lot of thin ...

Summary of Eli Lilly (LLY) 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Eli Lilly (LLY) - **Date of Conference**: May 15, 2025 - **Key Speakers**: Lucas Montarce (CFO), Mike Zapar (SVP, Investor Relations) Industry Context - **Industry**: Pharmaceutical and Biotech - **Key Topics**: Drug pricing, manufacturing, obesity treatment, market expansion Core Points and Arguments Drug Pricing and Policy - The recent executive order regarding drug pricing is seen as a potential threat, with the administration aiming to lower drug prices, which may involve concessions from the pharmaceutical industry [3][4][6] - Eli Lilly supports efforts to make healthcare more affordable, including direct patient access programs like Lilly Direct [5][10] - The company believes that the comparison of U.S. drug prices to international prices is not appropriate due to different market structures [5][6] - There is optimism about working with the administration to find common ground on drug pricing [7][10] Manufacturing and Cost Implications - Eli Lilly is investing significantly in expanding its manufacturing capacity, increasing its investment from $23 billion to $50 billion since 2020 [17][18] - The shift of manufacturing back to the U.S. may lead to increased production costs and impact gross margins, but the company is confident in offsetting these costs through efficiencies [16][20][21] - The company is focused on maintaining stable gross margins despite potential headwinds from increased production costs [15][20] Obesity Treatment Market - Eli Lilly's obesity treatment pricing is expected to remain stable in the near term due to a duopoly with limited competition [22][23] - The company anticipates price erosion in the future as more competitors enter the market, but believes it can manage this through disciplined pricing strategies [37][38] - The cash pay channel, Lilly Direct, is seen as a way to provide access to patients without insurance coverage, with a gradual increase in employer opt-in rates [40][46] International Market Opportunities - Eli Lilly has launched its products in 40 countries, with significant potential in markets like China, India, and Mexico, which have large populations of potential patients [50][51][53] - The company estimates that there are approximately 900 million patients globally who could benefit from its obesity and diabetes treatments [50][52] - The penetration rate in these international markets is currently low, indicating substantial growth opportunities [50][52] Future Product Development - Eli Lilly is advancing its oral GLP-1 medication, orfaglipirone, with multiple studies underway, and expects significant market potential both in the U.S. and internationally [56][59] - The preference for oral medications varies by region, with a higher acceptance of injectables in the U.S. compared to other markets [60][61] Additional Important Insights - The company is focused on maintaining a disciplined pricing strategy across its product portfolio, despite external pressures and competition [25][26] - Eli Lilly is actively monitoring the impact of Medicare pricing negotiations on its business, noting that Medicare represents a small portion of its overall revenue [35][36] - The company is optimistic about the growth potential in the obesity treatment market, emphasizing the importance of expanding market access and patient mobilization [30][32] This summary captures the key points discussed during the Eli Lilly conference call, highlighting the company's strategies, market opportunities, and challenges in the pharmaceutical industry.