From BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee signing on to a healthcare technology innovation alliance to UnitedHealth Group's Optum launching a new specialty drug management solution, here are five recent payer partnerships and expansions:
1. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee joined the Echo Innovation Alliance, a group dedicated to investing in companies on the cutting edge of healthcare technology. With the payer on board, the Echo Innovation Alliance is one of the largest collaborative efforts of its kind.
2. Independence Blue Cross is bringing Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based Patina Medical Group into its provider network, the payer announced Feb. 22. The primary care provider focuses on patients 65 years and older and is available to two of the payer's Medicare Advantage plans in 2022.
3. California-based L.A. Care Health Plan is offering primary care physicians incentives to give members their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination. In-network providers who administer a first dose between Feb. 14 and April 30 will receive a $10 incentive per patient.
4. GuideWell subsidiary Florida Blue is using Olive-created artificial intelligence to reduce the turnaround time for prior authorizations by an average of 10 days. The payer announced the move Feb. 17, making it the first U.S. insurer to use AI-powered clinical reviews to automate its prior authorization process.
5. Optum launched Specialty Fusion Feb. 17, a new solution from the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary that allows payers and providers to manage specialty drug treatments with real-time data. The program targets patients with complex conditions and aims to drive down costs of medication.