Payer Issues Archives - Becker's Payer Issues

UnitedHealth grows subsidiary count | CMS proposal targets MA ghost networks, PBMs | Md. payer lays off 161 | Minn. might claw back Medicaid funds | Software owner sentenced in $1B Medicare fraud scheme

Plus: CVS’ Oak Street Health gets new chief medical officer October 19, 2026 1. UnitedHealth’s subsidiary count gets bigger Full story 2. CMS proposes public scores for Medicare Advantage provider directories, flat-fee limits for PBMs Full story 3. Deploying AI…

5 best MA insurers of 2027: US News | Agents, brokers sue CMS over ACA registration freeze | A look at Optum's financials | UnitedHealth taps marketing chief | Mark Cuban teams up with Epic, Amazon on Rx price tool

Plus: Centene expands CHOICE to more employees October 16, 2026 1. The best Medicare Advantage companies for 2027: US News Full story 2. Agent, broker group sues CMS to block ACA registration freeze Full story 3. Becker’s Fall Payer Issues…

CMS reverses some of its 760,000 ACA cancellations | Cigna sued over ground ambulance payments | ACA subsidy verification rule proposed | 8 notes on MA star ratings | 31 payer exec moves

Plus: Insurers collaborate to improve provider directory data October 15, 2026 1. CMS reinstates some ACA enrollees after cutting 760,000 people Full story 2. IRS, Treasury pitch ACA subsidy verification rule: 7 things to know Full story 3. Everything you…

Optum Health's turnaround accelerates | ACA subsidies wiped for 189,000 duplicate, deceased enrollees | UnitedHealthcare's arbitration awards burden | CMS can bar providers from Medicare, Medicaid | CVS' $315M opioid settlement

Plus: Walmart makes some GLP-1s free for employees October 14, 2026 1. Optum Health’s turnaround picks up speed Full story 2. CMS ends ACA subsidies for 189,000 duplicate or deceased enrollees: 5 notes Full story 3. ACA volatility demands precision.…

UnitedHealth posts $4.1B profit | Humana's $2.8B BlackRock clinic deal | Alignment sues over 2027 MA star ratings | Centene to launch gold card program | Payers face price transparency decision

Plus: The states affected by HR 1’s Medicaid provisions October 13, 2026 1. UnitedHealth reports $4.1B in profit, launches AI recommendations for Medicare Advantage plans Full story 2. Alignment sues CMS over 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings Full story 3.…

No Surprises Act author targets arbitration | Patients take denials to the C-suite | Ascension's insurance pullback | 6 payers entering ACA markets | 'Somebody cares': The ICHRA-to-CHOICE rebrand

Plus: UnitedHealth, Elevance make Fortune’s list of AI pioneers October 12, 2026 1. No Surprises Act author moves to replace arbitration amid $15B payouts Full story 2. Some patients are taking insurance denials to the C-suite Full story 3. CareSource…

Highest, lowest-rated MA plans in '27 | Mich. accuses BCBS of illegal monopoly | Humana achieves star ratings turnaround | Centene to expand CHOICE options | 12 UnitedHealth updates

The ’27 MA star ratings are out + the Blues antitrust saga continues October 9, 2026 1. Medicare Advantage plans with 5 stars in 2027 Full story 2. Medicare Advantage plans with 2.5 stars or lower in 2027 Full story…

HCA ups payment fight with insurers | UHC mistakenly says 8 clinicians died | NY says Bronx won't see Medicaid work rules | Insurers' enrollment drops 2.8% nationwide | Texas payer-provider to buy more VillageMD clinics

Plus: More details on SCAN’s MA plans with Walmart October 8, 2026 1. UnitedHealthcare mistakenly tells members that 8 clinicians died Full story 2. New York moves to exempt Bronx from Medicaid work rules Full story 3. Same charts, twice…

Alignment whistleblower lawsuit moves forward | Fairview sues UHC over MA advertising | Highmark names CEO | Sentara scraps Anthem contract talks | 18 ACA market moves

Plus: GLP-1 spending surges at BCBS Massachusetts October 7, 2026 1. Fairview sues UnitedHealthcare over alleged Medicare Advantage false advertising Full story 2. Judge rejects Alignment’s bid to toss former exec’s whistleblower lawsuit Full story 3. Shared risk isn’t the…

Texas probes UnitedHealth | 66% of adults want Medicare-for-all: KFF | UHC to exit Ga. exchange | Payers deploy AI to schedule member appointments | HCSC talks long-term MA strategy

Plus: MA-PD plans options decline for 3rd straight year October 6, 2026 1. Texas investigating UnitedHealth over care denial concerns Full story 2. ‘This is an agent doing this’: Health insurers deploy AI to make your next medical appointment Full…

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