Author: Andrew Cass

A settlement agreement with South Carolina in late December brought the total amount that Centene paid in 2023 to resolve allegations it overbilled state Medicaid programs for pharmacy services to $307 million. 

Cigna and Humana reportedly are in talks to merge in a deal that could be finalized by the end of 2023. Both companies were involved in potential mergers in 2015 that were later blocked by federal judges: Cigna with Anthem…

Here are seven prior authorization updates Becker's has reported since Nov. 6: 

Cigna and Humana reportedly are in talks to merge in a deal that could be finalized by the end of 2023. Both companies were involved in potential mergers in 2015 that were later blocked by federal judges: Cigna with Anthem…

Medical societies representing 95,000 members have expressed their "profound objection" to Cigna's characterization of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation therapy as "experimental, investigational, and/or unproven." 

A Tulsa, Okla., man was sentenced to 54 months in prison for a scheme that involved submitting more than $30 million in claims to major payers for COVID-19 testing services that were never performed. 

Little Rock, Ark.-based Baptist Health could go out of network with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans if the sides are unable to reach an agreement by Dec. 31, Arkansas Money & Politics reported Nov. 30.

North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program began Dec. 1. 

The sale of Cigna's Medicare Advantage business would remove one hurdle in the company's reported goal to merge with Humana, and Health Care Service Corp. might be part of that equation, Bloomberg reported Nov. 29. 

Former UnitedHealthcare and Optum executive William Teague has joined medication engagement company Scene Health as vice president of population health and health plan strategy.