Nearly three-quarters of people in the U.S. believe prescription drug prices are unreasonable, according to the monthly Kaiser Health Tracking poll released on June 16.

UnitedHealth Group approached Aetna about a merger in recent days, the Wall Street Journal reports. UnitedHealth, the largest health insurance company in the U.S., sent a letter to Aetna expressing its interest. However, the newspaper reports "it is far from certain there will be any deal between the companies."

A half billion here, almost another billion more there. Cardiologists can contribute to cost savings and revenues, but it may take compelling data and frequent reminders, judging by the example of Providence Spokane Heart Institute in Washington.

CHICAGO—In order to be cost-effective in intermediate-risk patients, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures will need to be stripped down to the necessities in uncomplicated cases, according to one of TAVR’s leading health economists. 

Speaking at the Group of Seven summit on June 8, President Barack Obama said the Supreme Court should not have agreed to hear the King v. Burwell case. The decision, which could affect health insurance marketplaces in 34 states, is expected later this month.

After the federal government released Medicare payment data on June 3, doctors defended and explained their practices. The data did not include information on whether the treatments worked or the disease levels of patients and did not factor in overhead costs that vary among physicians.

The expansion of Medicaid in some states has not helped hospitals' operating margins or cash flow, according to a Moody’s Investors Service report.

More than 10 million people had paid their premiums after enrolling in plans on the health insurance exchanges and remained covered as of March 31, according a report released on June 2 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).