1. Humana, Northwest Physicians Network to form ACO
Humana and Seattle-based Northwest Physicians Network agreed to launch an accountable care organization for Humana Medicare Advantage members in the Puget Sound region to improve cost, quality and the patient experience.
2. Cigna, DeKalb PHO launch collaborative care initiative
Cigna and Decatur, Ga.-based DeKalb Physician Hospital Organization launched a collaborative care initiative Oct. 1 to enhance access to care, care coordination, health outcomes, affordability and patient experience.
3. Hospitals consider health plans amid potential insurer mega-mergers
With groundbreaking insurer mega-mergers on the horizon, hospitals are considering growing their own insurance plans, according to a Reuters report.
4. BCBS of SC gives $1M to flood relief efforts
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation are donating $1 million to South Carolina nonprofit organizations aiding flood victims, according to SCNow.com.
5. 4 things to know about the new contract between Middlesex Hospital, UnitedHealthcare
MiddlesexHospital in Middletown, Conn., and UnitedHealthcare/Oxford Health Plans reached an agreement after a more than two-month impasse, according to a Hartford Courant report.
6. Kentucky Health Cooperative to shut down
Kentucky Health Cooperative, a nonprofit insurance company formed under the Affordable Care Act, will not offer health insurance plans on Kentucky’s health insurance marketplace when open enrollment for 2016 coverage begins Nov. 1.
7. Humana laptop, documents with member information stolen in Wis.
Paper and electronic documents containing Humana member information were stolen when a Wisconsin Humana employee’s vehicle was broken into, according to The Associated Press.
8. 6 reasons for ACA insurance dropouts
With open enrollment looming, the federal and state marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act face an unexpected challenge, according to The New York Times. That challenge is to retain existing members.
9. HealthCare.gov to honor Do Not Track requests
CMS will not put advertising-related trackers on the computers of HealthCare.gov users who have selected the Do Not Track option, according to The Hill.
10. Blue Shield of California closes on $1.2 billion acquisition of Care1st
San Francisco-based Blue Shield of California completed a $1.2 billion acquisition of Care1st Health Plan, a provider-founded managed care company in Monterey Park, Calif.
11. BCBS of Tennessee stops individual grandfathered plans
Tennesseans who purchased individual BlueCross BlueShield health insurance plans before the Affordable Care Act was passed have to buy new plans for 2016, according to The Tennessean.
12. New York City Health and Hospitals to expand health plan
New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., made its MetroPlus Gold health plan available to all employees of New York City. The health plan had previously only been available to the public health system’s employees.
13. Premiums for Medicare Part D plans on the rise
Premiums for many Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will increase at double-digit rates in 2016, according to The Fiscal Times.
14. Molina to acquire Loyola Physician Partners’ Medicaid business
Molina Healthcare of Illinois, a branch of Long Beach, Calif.-based Molina Healthcare, is set to acquire Chicago-based Loyola Physician Partners’ Cook County Medicaid program.
15. CMS releases Medicare Advantage 2016 star ratings
CMS’ 2016 Star Ratings released Oct. 8 show more Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage earned top scores this year.
16. Humana, HealthCare Partners grow accountable care partnership
Humana and HealthCare Partners Nevada, a Las Vegas-based division of DaVita HealthCare Partners, furthered their accountable care partnership launched last fall by opening two new primary care practices.
More articles on payer issues:
Health insurers in the news: Week in review Oct. 2-8
Study: Nearly half of HealthCare.gov plans don’t cover out-of-network costs
BCBS of Texas drops individual PPO plans
