1. Implications of proposed health insurer mergers
As the DOJ and the FTC evaluate three proposed mergers between health insurers, three researchers from Leavitt Partners — Austin Bordelon, Douglas Hervey and David Muhlestein — published a report in Health Affairs Blog detailing potential effects of the proposed mergers.
2. UnitedHealth CEO: Participating in ACA exchanges was a ‘bad idea’
UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley defended the health insurer’s possible exit from the Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2017 at an investor meeting in New York, according to Bloomberg report.
3. N.J. insurance chief: Stopping narrow network plans would ‘trigger chaos’
The New Jersey Insurance Commissioner denied the requests filed by hospital systems to prevent Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to sell its OMNIA health plans, saying taking such action would “immediately trigger chaos” in the state’s insurance market, according to NorthJersey.com.
4. UnitedHealth projects 2016 revenue
Less than two weeks after UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest payers, announced it would likely depart from selling health plans on the federal exchange, it released estimates for revenue next year.
5. BCBS of Tennessee severs ties with Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Due to a contract dispute, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee may separate from Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which would leave many Medicare Advantage enrollees without coverage after this year, according to Nashville Public Radio.
6. Cigna settles shareholder class-action lawsuits over Anthem deal
Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna has settled a string of shareholder class-action lawsuits that were filed over its proposed merger with rival health insurer Indianapolis-based Anthem, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
7. Arizona health insurance co-op to close by year’s end
Meritus Health Partners, Arizona’s nonprofit health insurance co-op, will shut down all operations on Dec. 31 after failing to come up with additional financial support, according to Tucson News Now.
8. Blue Cross and Blue Shield expansion brings 70 new jobs to Minneapolis
Eagan-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the state’s largest health insurer, Monday announced the opening of its first Minneapolis office, slated for January 2016.
9. Valence to support Medicaid plan at Cook County Health & Hospitals System
Chicago-based Valence Health, a provider of clinical integration, population health and value-based care solutions and services, will contract with Cook County Health & Hospitals System, also in Chicago, to provide all administrative services for the health system’s Medicaid-managed care plan, CountyCare.
10. Fitch: Health insurer margins feeling pressure from ACA exchange enrollees
Both large and small U.S. health insurers are feeling the effects of weak margins on enrollees who obtain their health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act’s exchange-based system, according to Fitch Ratings.
11. In many markets, renewal for ACA health plans is not an option
In health insurance markets across the country, the most popular, least expensive plan in 2015 will not be offered next year, meaning many people will not be able to renew a plan they’re happy with, according to The New York Times.
12. CMS: Consumers received over $2.4B in premium rebates since 2011
A new report from CMS revealed consumers have collected over $2.4 billion in premium rebates since 2011. In 2014, nearly 5.5 million consumers received almost $470 million in rebates.
13. Aetna, Anthem says business on the exchange is as expected
Despite previously stated challenges about the ACA exchanges and warnings of departure from UnitedHealth Group, both Aetna and Anthem said their businesses had not worsened, according to Reuters.
14. BCBS of Rhode Island to lay off 80 employees
Providence-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island plans to lay off 80 employees, according to the Associated Press.
15. UnitedHealth may exit ACA exchanges due to losses: 7 things to know
UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, significantly lowered its profit estimates for 2015. The health insurer blamed an expected loss on selling individual policies under the ACA for the lower profit estimate and said it is now weighing whether it will continue to offer individual coverage through the online ACA exchanges for 2017.
More articles on payer issues:
Improper home health payments on the rise: 4 findings from the 2015 HHS report
BIOCLAIM’s fraud detection earns final spot in the Fierce Innovation Awards: Payer Edition
Iowa hospitals fear switch to privatized Medicaid
