1. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield donates funds to NY nonprofits
Rochester, N.Y.-based Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is offering funds to nonprofit organizations in its upstate New York region, according to 13WHAM.com.
2. Anthem CEO goes public with Express Scripts partnership dispute
Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish said if Express Scripts — the nation’s largest manager of prescription drug benefits — doesn’t give Anthem more money in savings, the insurer might look for another pharmacy partner, according to Bloomberg.
3. Aetna CEO: Humana deal will close in 2016
At the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini said he believes the insurer’s acquisition of Humana will close this year, according to The New York Times.
4. Anthem anticipates higher profit for 2016
Health insurance giant Anthem is expecting positive finances this year, as it said its adjusted net income is expected to rise from an estimated $10.16 per share in 2015 to over $10.80 per share in 2016, according to Reuters.
5. Independence Blue Cross first payer to cover whole genome sequencing
Independent Blue Cross and Culver City, Calif.-based Nant Health agreed to provide insurance coverage for a comprehensive whole genome and proteome diagnostic platform to diagnose molecular differences in an individual’s cancer and identify personalized therapies.
6. 15 state attorneys general join DOJ’s probe of health insurer mergers
Attorneys general from approximately 15 states are working with the Department of Justice in its review of Aetna’s $54.2 billion bid for Humana and Anthem’s $37 billion plan to buy Cigna, according to Reuters.
7. BCBS, Ohio Independent Collaborative ink patient-centered care agreement to lower costs
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio and the Ohio Independent Collaborative will launch a patient-centered care plan for Anthem Medicare Advantage members, designed to lower the cost of healthcare while improving overall quality.
8. BCBS of NC: fixes, refunds to come to 25k customers this week
Thousands of Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in North Carolina can expect refunds this week as it scrambles to fix what company officials are calling the most serious system failure in recent decades, according to The Charlotte Observer.
9. Humana hits financial trouble with ACA enrollment
As open enrollment draws to a close at the end of this month, Louisville, Ky.-based Humana said it likely won’t collect enough money to cover the cost of individual plans, according to Crain’s Detroit Business.
10. Cigna, Aetna hired total of 8 external lobbying groups despite Aetna’s departure from AHIP
Together, health insurers Aetna and Cigna spent over $1.3 million on outside lobbyists last year, according to The CT Mirror.
11. ThedaCare, Network Health part ways
Network Health Plan members will pay out-of-pocket costs at ThedaCare hospitals after the organizations failed to reach a contract extension, according to WBAY.
12. BCBS of NC has technical problems, extends ACA enrollment deadline
As the open enrollment deadline looms, one of North Carolina’s largest health insurers experienced customer service problems, according to The Charlotte Observer.
13. What Aetna’s departure from AHIP could mean
After Aetna announced plans to leave America’s Health Insurance Plans Jan. 5, sources have curiously evaluated the decision and its impacts, according to The Hill.
14. UnitedHealth: Rates for ACA plans in NY could be too low
UnitedHealth, the biggest insurer in the nation, is concerned its rates for Affordable Care Act plans in New York might be too low, according to Crain’s New York Business.
15. BCBS of Minnesota pays $20K penalty for denying patient’s claim
Eagan-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota was charged $20,000 in late 2015 for denying a patient’s claim for healthcare services, according to the Star Tribune.
More articles on payer issues:
Kansas blocks Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood
Tenn. Medicaid expansion supporters rally to greet returning lawmakers
Medicare fraud fugitive hides in Cuba, returns to Miami voluntarily
