Health care news from around the web: August 7 – 11, 2023

‘Conscience’ bills let medical providers opt out of providing a wide range of care 
This year, 21 bills instituting or expanding conscience clauses have been introduced in statehouses. 

Cigna sued over algorithm allegedly used to deny coverage to hundreds of thousands of patients 
A lawsuit alleges that Cigna systematically rejects claims, thanks to an algorithmic system put in place to help automate the process, raising questions about how technology could harm patients as more health care organizations look to embrace AI and other new tools. 

Payers should expect a 7% increase in health care costs next year: PwC 
Health care costs will balloon 7% next year, as payers hammer out new contracts with providers, the labor shortage stretches on and drug prices continue to increase, according to a new report by PwC. 

Feds finalize automatic appeal waiver, but threaten to cut penalty reductions 
Federal regulators have finalized plans to make appeal waivers automatic in the case of most civil monetary penalties meted out to nursing homes.