Author: Andrew Cass

The Justice Department reportedly has opened an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group and in recent weeks has been interviewing healthcare industry representatives about issues including relationships between the company's UnitedHealthcare and Optum units. 

Cigna has reached a new multiyear agreement with Trinity Health of New England's Connecticut facilities, the Hartford Business Journal reported Feb. 29.

The Mississippi House advanced Medicaid expansion legislation that includes work requirements, while South Dakota lawmakers are putting a ballot issue on work requirements before voters in November. 

South Dakota voters will decide in the November election if the state can implement work requirements on its Medicaid expansion population, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported Feb. 27. 

Thomas Lee, MD, Press Ganey's chief medical officer, has joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' board of directors. 

The New Mexico Human Services Department has named Dana Flannery director of the state's Medicaid program. 

UnitedHealth Group's board of directors authorized a $1.88 per-share cash dividend to be paid on March 19. 

UnitedHealth Group's Change Healthcare reported a cybersecurity incident Feb. 21 that disrupted connectivity and healthcare operations nationwide, but Fitch Ratings and Moody's are not expecting the event to affect UnitedHealth's ratings. 

UnitedHealthcare and Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health are continuing to negotiate on a new contract but remain at odds as an April 1 split date looms, Fox affiliate WGHP reported Feb. 22. 

UnitedHealthcare and Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network reached a new contract just days before its current deal was set to expire, VTDigger reported Feb. 21.