Author: Madeline Ashley

The board of directors for Orange, Calif.-based CalOptima Health  has approved a $526.2 million investment to increase pay rates for hospitals, providers, community clinics, behavioral health providers, ancillary services providers and health networks.  

From Kraft Heinz suing Aetna for alleged mismanagement of employee claims data to Elevance Health being sued by contracted labor unions for reportedly restricting claims data access, certain third-party health plan administrators are being forced to answer the big questions…

Cigna's Evernorth Care Group plans to cut specific specialty services and consolidate certain Arizona care locations in the next few months. The reductions will result in 261 employees being laid off, according to an Arizona WARN notice filed May 31. 

Medicare total spending hit $5.7 billion in 2022 for GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, up from $57 million in 2018, according to a March 22 KFF analysis.

UnitedHealthcare and New York City-based Mount Sinai reached a multiyear contract agreement March 19, effective immediately, after a monthslong contract dispute. 

Providence, R.I.-based Lifespan, the state's biggest health system, might not accept Cigna Healthcare insurance moving forward if an agreement over contract negotiations cannot be met by March 31.

The Justice Department has begun an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group, The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 27.

CalOptima, a Medicaid insurer in Orange County, Calif., terminated its contract with four hospitals owned by Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare on Feb. 5.

While the world of healthcare remains ever changing, Seattle, Wash.-based First Choice Health, a provider and hospital-owned healthcare company, is looking to expand its network footprint in 2024.