Payer Contracting

Arizona has awarded long-term managed care contracts to Centene and UnitedHealthcare.

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.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System have agreed to a new contract that will keep Wellstar patients in network with the payer through May 2027. 

West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health will be out of network for all Cigna Healthcare members starting Jan. 1 following a disagreement over reimbursement rates, the Reading Eagle reported Nov. 24.

Tennessee has extended three managed Medicaid contracts with UnitedHealthcare, BCBS and Elevance's Amerigroup for one additional year, the Tennessee Lookout reported Nov. 15.

Charleston, S.C.-based MUSC Health and Cigna have reached a new contract agreement just weeks before their contract was set to expire, The Post and Courier reported Nov. 14. 

Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University and Aetna have averted a looming contract split. 

The Illinois Department of Insurance has fined Health Care Service Corp., the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, nearly $1.2 million in less than two years for violating the state's Network Adequacy and Transparency Act, which requires…

Houston-based Memorial Hermann issued termination notices for Humana's Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO networks and could go out of network if a new deal is not reached by Jan. 1, Houston Public Media reported Jan. 1. 

Georgia is seeking bids from payers to manage the state's Medicaid program.