Payer

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance advised a proposed merger between the state's largest insurer — Anthem — and Cigna be rejected.

Aetna analyzed 8.6 million insurance claims to identify and notify physicians prescribing the highest amount of opioids, The Washington Post reported.

Indianapolis-based Anthem said its acquisition of Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna must close by April 30 or Cigna will walk out the next day, the Hartford Courant reported.

Minnetonka, Minn.-base UnitedHealthcare filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office over its exemption from 2017 TRICARE contracts worth $58 billion, according to an emailed statement.

The New York State Department of Financial Services will hold a hearing before issuing a final decision on Anthem's proposed $54 billion acquisition of Cigna, Bloomberg reported.

Aetna, Cigna, Humana and Anthem have released their financial results for the second quarter of 2016.

Humana reported losses related to its Affordable Care Act plans in the second quarter of 2016, but growth in the Louisville, Ky.-based insurer's Medicare Advantage membership provided a financial boost.

Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare awarded $148 million in quality of care bonuses to more than 1,900 physicians who hit specific performance measures while treating Medicare Advantage members.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Mo.) launched an online platform to help policyholders reduce prescription drug costs.

Attorney General George Jepsen said Connecticut will join the U.S. Department of Justice and 11 other state attorneys general in filing an antitrust lawsuit to block a merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna.