Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System is terminating its contract with UnitedHealthcare. 

A Kansas judge denied Aetna's petition for judicial review of the state's Medicaid contract awards, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported Oct. 3. 

Editor's note: This story was updated Oct. 1 to reflect Baptist Health and Florida Blue reached a new contract agreement.  Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health and Florida Blue reached an agreement a day before their contract was set to expire. 

Editor's note: This story was updated Sept. 12 to reflect that the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Systems upheld its original contract awards.  Arizona will uphold contracts awarded to UnitedHealth and Centene to manage the state's long-term care Medicaid program. 

Editor's note: This story was updated Sept. 20 to reflect Aetna and HCA Hospitals reached a new agreement.  Aetna and HCA Healthcare hospitals in Florida have reached a new contract agreement, avoiding a split that would have left 48 hospitals out-of-network. 

Several states have shaken up their Medicaid contractors in recent months. Florida added additional insurers to its Medicaid contract awards, and system-owned health plans in Texas are challenging a contract decision executives say threatens the plans' existence. 

In today’s complex healthcare landscape, providers often find themselves grappling with the challenging dynamics of payer negotiations. While the scales may seem tipped in favor of insurance companies, providers possess more leverage than they may realize — if they understand how to wield it effectively. The negotiation table is not merely a battleground for rates; it’s a strategic arena where savvy maneuvering can transform the prospects for both providers and their patients.

Iowa has awarded Centene subsidiary Iowa Total Care a new 4-year Medicaid contract.

UnitedHealthcare has reached contract agreements with HCA Healthcare-owned hospitals in four states. 

As of Sept. 1, University of Florida Health's hospitals and physician groups in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and St. Johns are no longer in network with UnitedHealthcare. 

Renton, Wash.-based Providence has reached a contract agreement with Aetna to keep commercial members in Washington state in network, the two organizations confirmed with Becker's.

Mississippi awarded Medicaid contracts to Centene, Molina Healthcare and new nonprofit TrueCare, Mississippi Today reported Aug. 28. 

Pennsylvania has selected Aetna, UPMC Health Plan, Centene, AmeriHealth Caritas and Jefferson Health's Health Partners to administer its Community HealthChoices  program.

Carson City, Nev.-based Carson Tahoe Health has sent a final contract termination notice to UnitedHealthcare. 

UnitedHealthcare and Denver-based HealthONE will go out-of-network if a new contract agreement is not reached by Sept. 1. 

San Francisco, Calif.-based Dignity Health's Arizona locations will be out-of-network with Cigna if the insurer and hospital do not reach a new agreement by Sept. 1. 

Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners plans to split with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans at the end of 2024. 

UnitedHealthcare and Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health have reached a contract agreement after the health system was out of network for seven months. 

Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health has reached new multi-year agreements with Cigna and Aetna. 

Florida has awarded Medicaid contracts to three additional payers.