Payer Contracting

UnitedHealthcare and Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health have reached an agreement that will keep the health system in the payer's Medicare Advantage network in 2025.

Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners has reached an agreement on a multi-year contract with UnitedHealthcare.

Phoenix Children's is out of network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona as of Oct. 31. 

Ohio has awarded managed care contracts to four insurers to serve residents dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.

Texas will delay awarding Medicaid contracts until 2025, pausing a shakeup that could have led 1.8 million beneficiaries to switch plans, The Dallas Morning News reported Oct. 31. 

CMS has lifted an enrollment suspension on a UnitedHealthcare subsidiary's Medicare Advantage plan following three years of not meeting the required 85% medical loss ratio.

Regence BlueShield of Idaho will remain as the state's health plan administrator after a state judge dismissed a lawsuit from Blue Cross of Idaho that looked to invalidate the new contract, the Idaho Capital Sun reported Oct. 14.

Rhode Island officials agreed to reevaluate bids for its five-year Medicaid contract after two payers appealed the decision, the Rhode Island Current reported Oct. 16. 

UnitedHealthcare and York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health remain at odds over a new contract as their current deal is set to expire Oct. 31, ABC affiliate WHTM reported Oct. 14. 

Michigan has awarded nine health plans contracts to manage its Medicaid program for individuals dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.