1. Anthem, Aetna CEOs defend mergers to Senate subcommittee
The CEOs of health insurers Aetna and Anthem defended their mega-merger deals before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust Sept. 22, according to The Wall Street Journal.
2. HHS Secretary Burwell previews third open enrollment period: 4 things to know
HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell reflected on the first five years of the Affordable Care Act and provided a look at the upcoming open enrollment period in a speech at Washington, D.C.-based Howard University College of Medicine Sept. 22.
3. UnitedHealthcare in Texas invests in housing to lower healthcare costs
Insurance giant UnitedHealthcare is launching an initiative in Texas to provide supportive housing to its members who don’t have a stable place to live, according to the Texas Tribune.
4. Sutter Health’s nonprofit HMO expands to 5 more counties
Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health’s nonprofit HMO plan, Sutter Health Plus, expanded to five new counties in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
5. 25 highest rated private insurance plans by patient satisfaction score
The National Committee for Quality Assurance, a D.C.-based nonprofit, released a system that compares health insurance plans based on patient satisfaction, treatment and outcomes.
6. Department of Justice seeks more information on Aetna-Humana deal
The U.S. Department of Justice asked Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna for more information on its pending $37 billion acquisition of Louisville, Ky.-based health insurer Humana, according to a Reuters report.
7. Cigna CEO defends Anthem deal
Cigna CEO David Cordani said Anthem’s planned takeover of Cigna will not harm customers but will increase choice and affordability, according to Reuters.
More articles on payer issues:
Health insurers in the news: Week in review September 10-17
20 states with the largest drop in uninsured rates
Pennsylvania health insurer to pay $430k over allegations it sold noncompliant plans
